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Matthew Bourne has enjoyed critical success in his previous outings in Scotland BRIEFS
AHEAD OF a conference looking at how we value post war architecture, Historic Scotland is looking for people to contribute their opinions and comments to be addressed by a panel of experts. The conference, Scotland: Building For the Future, will take place at the Bonar Hall at the University of Dundee on Tue 24 Nov. Interested parties should submit questions at www.celebrat ingscotlandsarchit ecture.org
THREE NEW beers: Embra, St.Giles and Hollyrood have been created by Stewart Brewing. Named in celebration of Edinburgh’s brewing traditions, the bottle labels feature iconic images from Edinburgh’s landscape and its architecture including Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat. A GROUP OF fifty-six paintings selected for the BP Portrait Award 2009 will be shown at the Dean Gallery in Edinburgh this winter.
IN THE FRAME ■ One of Scotland’s most historic art galleries has been given a £2m cash injection by the Monument Trust. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery said it would use the funding to open parts of the building which have been closed for over 120 years. Following the cash boost the gallery is now believed to have raised 80% of the £17.5m required to complete plans to open areas and show works, previously unseen by the public.
TALENT LAID BARE Nic Green’s Edinburgh Fringe show Trilogyis heading to the Barbican in London this January. The piece attracted praise for its joyous naked dance performed by local female volunteers. The work played to sell-out audiences at The Arches at St Stephens this August.
WWW.LIST.CO.UK Visit us daily for arts & entertainment news 19 Nov–3 Dec 2009 THE LIST 7
Making a pointe The future looks bright as Glasgow’s King’s Theatre and Theatre Royal receive funding for a Matthew Bourne showcase Words: Anna Millar
A new piece of work by dance legend Matthew Bourne will be staged as a result of National Lottery funding. The King’s Theatre and Theatre Royal have been awarded £265,905 by the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) as part of a £2.5million National Lottery Inspire Fund, which will enable the commissioning of a new piece of theatre by Bourne, to be showcased in 2011. The project will be managed in communication with West Dunbartonshire Council, establishing a new and long-term Council relationship with the theatre arts, and specifically the young men of the area, offering them the opportunity of a ‘quality artistic experience’.
Iain Munro, Co-Director of Arts at the Scottish Arts Council said: ‘Each of these projects will create new opportunities for people, who have had few opportunities to experience the arts, to find authentic and meaningful ways to enjoy the best of Scotland’s arts.’
Bourne also talked of his excitement, saying: ‘We have built up, over a number of years, an excellent relationship with Scottish audiences and we are delighted to have been chosen by Glasgow theatres, and then funded by the SAC, to initiate
this unprecedented dance project in Glasgow. To combine the talents of professional dancers and promising young local talent to create an original production, using all of [Bourne’s company] New Adventures’ world class creative team, is surely unique.’
to This will be the first major initiative for his charity Re Bourne, whose principal aim is to expand the accessibility and understanding of dance and theatre and to encourage widespread audience participation in dance. ‘I am particularly happy that this project is aimed at young men and will help to lift the stigma that is still sometimes attached their involvement in dance’ said Bourne. Richard Wingate, Chief Executive of Glasgow Theatres Ltd, part of the Ambassador Theatre Group who own Theatre Royal and King’s Theatre, added: ‘We are delighted to have been awarded the largest project-based award to have been made to any ATG venue to date. Matthew Bourne is an extraordinary choreographer and his involvement in creating a new production heralds a truly exciting period for Theatre Royal, the participants and the dance community at large.’