THEATRE
stage
Scottish theatre scales new heights in 2009, as Allan Radcliffe discovers
ecession? What recession?
If you believe the old
adage that entertainment thrives in hard times (proven by the rise of the cinema in the austere 30s) surely theatre, which offers escape into alternative worlds, is the ideal diversion from dreary reality. Certainly. the variety and depth of theatre in Scotland deserves mighty audiences in 2009.
As ever, new work jostles alongside innovative revivals of classics. Glasgow’s Citizens’ launches its Spring season with Sub Rosa, a gothic promenade piece by maverick theatre-maker David Leddy. leading an audience of 15 through the backstage spaces of the historic Gorbals building. Over at the Tron. Year of the Horse (Feb), devised and performed by Tam Dean Burn and with original music by Keith McIvor of Glasgow club night. Optimo, explores the Bush/Blair years through cartoons produced by the award-winning children’s author Harry Hors for the Sunday Herald. The Tron also hosts the UK premier of Irish playwright Stuart Carolan’s Defender of the Faith, directed by Andy Arnold.
Over at Arnold’s former place of work, Nic Green brings her recreation of Town Bloody Hall to the Arches theatre festival (Apr) as a double bill with Sacha Kyle‘s The Library.
The National Theatre of Scotland kicks off the year collaborating with Hush Productions on Dolls, a dramatic reimagining of the film by Japanese director Takeshi Kitano.
Be Near Me
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intertwining tales of love. loss and
obsession. Acclaimed NTS productions showcasing their wares further afield include Dundee Rep's breathtaking revival of Ibsen's Pier Gynt. which heads for London‘s Barbican Centre in April/May. The John Tiffany- directed stage version of Andrew O‘Hagan‘s novel Be Near Me. about a priest assigned a new parish in Ayrshire. premiers at Kilmarnock‘s Palace Theatre in January. transferring to London‘s Donmar Warehouse before embarking on an English and Scottish tour.
Edinburgh‘s Royal Lyceum teams up with Perth Theatre to revive The Mystery of Irma Vep the ultimate parody of gothic romance. by American playwright Charles Ludlam. while renowned director Tony Cownie helms Michael Frayn‘s powerful World
War II drama Copenhagen. Dance lovers can look forward
to an electrifying version of
Carmen choreographed by Richard Alston for Scottish Ballet. in a double bill with Ashley Page‘s Cheating. Living. Stealing. The Richard Alston Dance Company will also appear at Glasgow‘s Theatre Royal (Feb). marking the choreographer‘s 40 years in the business. while the same theatre hosts the all-male Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.
For those who relish the triple threat of visual spectacle. virtuoso dance and show-stopping tunes. the Central Belt will welcome touring productions of Fame. Cabaret. Joseph and Chess while the ultimate high-kicking hoofalong. 42nd Street heads up to Glasgow‘s King‘s in March. It‘s going to be one helluva year.
NOVEMBER :
DECEMBER
BOOKS
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Book lovers have ample reason to be cheerful wth new offerings at home and abroad
It‘s another hot year for the Scottish contingent with Denise Mina, Irvine Welsh and Ewan Morrison all bringing out books (July) although arguably the country's most intriguing 2009 publication comes from Dundee debutant Gavin Bain. California Schemin' (7 Sep) details his somewhat cheeky success in convincing the US music industry that he and a pal were a new American rap duo. Silibil 'n' Brains. Other music memoirs come from Ian McCulloch with Silverfish (18 Jun). Jo Whiley's Down to Earth (18 Jun) and Kelly Osbourne's eponymous autobiography (28 May).
Two high-ranking movie-makers publish debut novels; David Cronenberg's Consumed (5 Oct) delves into matters of the body with ‘1 cancer and cannibalism, while Guillermo del Toro's The Strain (1 Jon). is ‘a high-concept thriller with a supernatural edge“. a
No year would be complete without eyebrows being raised as you utter ‘what. he/she has written a book? Well, I never.’ Underneath this umbrella stands Jenny McCarthy, former Playboy poster girl, on a moral crusade about her son‘s autism with Louder than Words (2 Jul) while the name Daniel Depp should ring bells (alarm or otherwise). Yes. he's ol' handsome teatures' brother and Loser’s Town (2 Mar) is his Hollywood crime caper.
Those who remember the 803 may recall Sara Stockbridge. one of Vivienne Westwood's clothes' horses. Hammer (5 Mar) is her literary debut set in London’s Victorian underworld. And Mackenzie Crook joins the kids-books-by-celebrities' market with The Secret Diary of Flagetti (Oct).
The Fantastic Mr Fox
Another children's classic gets the silver screen treatment. Roald Dahl's masterpiece has Bill Murray, George Clooney and Cate Blanchet among its stars. 23 Oct.
28 1'"! LIST 8—22 Jan 2009
BBC Good Food Show Scotland Halloween weekend sees a return of the interactive foodie exhibition. with chef demonstrations. wine tastings and new produce on show. SECC, Glasgow, 30 Oct—l Nov.
Sherlock Holmes Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective series hits the big screen directed by Guy Ritchie. Robert Downey Jnr will be playing Sherlock. and the dahing Jude Law is his trusty sidekick Watson. 20 Nov.
Homecoming When the Wild Edinburgh and
Scotland’s Finale Things Are Glasgow Weekend Spike Jonze hopefully Christmas and j A fitting and to the creating movie magic Hogmanay l
celebrations: a major celebration of Scotland's music with massive shows being planned for a St Andrew's day bash. 27—30 Nov.
with his adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children's story, staring Forest Whitaker among others. 7 7 Dec.
Another year, another festive shindig. Expect an oI' fashioned knees up. Princes Street Edinburgh; George Square, Glasgow, 31 Dec.