Theatre
Tristan and Yseult Wed 16 Mar, 2.30pm. £4 (members £3.50). Students take on the 12th-century love story. Theatre Uncut Sat 19 Mar, from noon. £1 per play. Well-known playwrights have donated their work to be performed in support of the Uncut movement, which opposes cuts to public spending. There are seven short plays on offer, starting throughout the afternoon between 12.30pm and 7pm. ■ THE BONGO CLUB Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. The Vagina Monologues Thu 10–Sat 12 Mar, 7pm. £10. Eve Ensler’s famous, hilarious and brave celebration of female sexuality.
£10.50 (£8.50; under 18s £6). See
■ BRUNTON THEATRE Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Sweetness Thu 3 Mar, 7.30pm. £11 (£9; under 18s £6). See preview. The Virginia Monologues: Why It’s Great To Be Sixty Wed 9 Mar, 7.30pm. £11 (£9; under 18s £6). Defiantly ungrumpy old woman and veteran agony aunt Virginia Ironside explains why old age is the best and funniest time of your life. ✽✽ Humanimalia Fri 11 Mar, 7.30pm. Tramway, Glasgow and Dance Q&A, page 112. ✽✽ Mother Courage and her (£9; under 18s £6). See Tron Theatre. ✽✽ Wild Life Wed 16 Mar, 7.30pm. page 109. Gagarin Way Sat 19 Mar, 7.30pm. £11 (£6–£9). See Tron Theatre, Glasgow. Chekhov’s Shorts Wed 30 Mar, 7.30pm. £11 (£9; under 18s £6). Five of the Russian master’s early plays showcasing his magnificent comedic talents. Presented by European Arts Company. Children Sat 12 Mar, 7.30pm. £11
£11 (£9; under 18s £6). See preview,
■ CHURCH HILL THEATRE 33a Morningside Road, 529 4147. Guys and Dolls Fri 4–Sat 12 Mar 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm & 7.30pm). £12–£14. New production of this classic musical from the Bohemians Lyric Opera Company. 84 Charing Cross Road Wed 16–Sat 19 Mar, 7.30pm. £9 (£7). Edinburgh People’s Theatre presents James Roose- Evans’ celebrated adaptation of Helene Hanff’s book. ■ KING’S THEATRE 2 Leven Street, 529 6000. The Haunting Thu 3–Sat 5 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £14.50–£27.50. Charlie Clemens (of Eastenders fame) stars in this ghostly adaptation of a tale by Dickens. Yes, Prime Minister Tue 8–Sat 12 Mar, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm). £14.50–£27.50. The writers behind the original classic television series have teamed up again for this production which updates the antics of Hacker and Appleby to the present day. ✽✽ Journey’s End Tue 15–Sat 19 Mar, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm). £14.50–£27.50. See feature, page 108. The Mikado Tue 22–Sat 26 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £12–£19 (£5). By the Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society. The Hard Man Thu 31 Mar–Sat 9 Apr (not Sun/Mon) 7.30pm (Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm). £15–£26.50. Powerful drama about the Scottish penal system.
■ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Scottish Opera: Orlando Thu 3 Mar & Sat 5 Mar, 7.15pm. £15.50–£63.50 (concessions available). See Classical Music listings. ✽✽ Northern Ballet: Cleopatra Thu 10–Sat 12 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £11.50–£31.50. See preview, 118 THE LIST 3–31 March 2011
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8.30pm; Sun 6 Mar, 6.30pm. Ticket price includes a pie and drink. National Theatre of Scotland: Works in Progress Thu 3 & Sat 5 Mar, 8pm; Fri 4 Mar, 7pm. £6 (£4). See Citizens Theatre, Glasgow. Both plays are showing in a double bill at each performance. ✽✽ Girl X Fri 4–Sat 12 Mar (not Mon), £14–£16 (£10–£12; Fri 4 Mar preview, tickets £10 (£6)). See preview, page 114. A Play, a Pie and a Pint: A Dead Man’s Dying Wed 9–Sat 12 Mar, 1pm. £12. See Òran Mór, Glasgow. The Confidant Tue 15–Sat 19 Mar, 1pm. £12. Two-hander about an argument between a husband and wife. Written by Gilberto Pinto, adapted by Alan Bissett and directed by Sacha Kyle. Roman Bridge Fri 18 & Sat 19 Mar, 8.30pm. Pay what you can. Rehearsed reading of a new play by Martin Travers set in an alternate, plague-ridden reality. Bassett Thu 24–Sat 26 Mar, 7pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £14 (concessions £6–£10). A group of pupils are locked in a classroom in Wootton Bassett as the repatriation of another fallen British soldier goes on outside. Scottish Dance Theatre: Letters from America Thu 31 Mar, 1.30pm & 7.30pm; Fri 1 Apr, 7.30pm. £14–£16 (£6–£12). Brand new work from American choreographers Kate Weare and Benjamin Levy. The Thursday matinee show is an engaging part-lecture, part-performance for those interested in learning more about dance.
■ WORD OF MOUTH 3a Albert Street, 554 4344. Mother, à la carte Tue 8 Mar, 1pm & 7pm. £6 (£5). One-woman show from Liberty Des Roches-Dueck, in which she will serve up her own mother in celebration of International Women’s Day. Food is available to buy before and after the performance, which takes place in the popular café just off Leith Walk.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES ■ DUNDEE REP Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Until Sat 19 Mar (not Sun/Mon), 7.30pm (Thu 10, Sat 12 & Sat 19 Mar mat 2.30pm). £12–£19. Play about a woman who discovers she can mimic the greatest vocalists of the 20th century. A Play, A Peh and A Pint Wed 30 Mar–Sat 9 Apr (not Sun/Mon), 8.30pm. £10 (meal deals available). Two specially commissioned plays by Michael Marra (Wed 30 Mar–Sat 2 Apr) and Linda Maclean (Wed 5–Sat 9 Apr).
■ MACROBERT University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 466666. Scottish Dance Theatre: Letters from America Wed 9 Mar, 8pm. £12 (£9; students £6). See Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. Smalltown Sat 12 Mar, 8pm. £12 (£9; students £6). See review. Forth Valley Schools Dance Competition Mon 14 & Tue 15 Mar, 7pm. £7 (£5). Annual competition for young dancers. ✽✽ Mother Courage and her Children Wed 16 Mar, 8pm; Thu 17 Mar, 10.30am. £12 (£9; students £6). See preview, page 109. ✽✽ Humanimalia Thu 17 Mar, 8pm. £12 (£9; students £6). See Tramway, Glasgow.
Children Thu 10 Mar, 7.30pm. £10 ■ PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. ✽✽ Mother Courage and her (£6). See preview, page 109. Gagarin Way Thu 17 Mar, 7.30pm. £10 (£6). See Tron Theatre, Glasgow. Beachy Head Mon 21 Mar, 7.30pm. £10 (£6). Two young men making a documentary discover they have accidentally captured the image of a man jumping from some cliffs.
PREVIEW ADAPTATION THE HITCH-HIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Ramshorn Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 24 Mar–Sat 2 Apr
DON’T PANIC – the Ramshorn has finally gained permission to bring The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy back to the stage, after Disney purchased the rights over 10 years ago. A collaboration between the Strathclyde Theatre Group and the Radio Theatre Group, this production goes back to the roots of the popular series, using the original radio scripts that Douglas Adams first penned in the 1970s.
‘It’s a bit difficult to cross the galaxy on stage,’ says co-director Bruce Downie. With this in mind, Downie and co-director Susan Triesman have come up with an innovative solution: the cast will perform as though in a radio studio, while a crew creates live sound effects around them. It’s not just actors at mics though. Downie is aware of the importance of creating an exciting production to watch, as well as listen to. ‘Radio is the most visual of mediums, you’ve really got to engage your imagination to make that work, you’ve got to interact with the audience – but when we’re transferring that to stage, we have to bring some of that visual quality with us. The stage set will be something like a recording studio, but also something like the control desk of a space ship.’
This production, which Downie describes as being like ‘a surreal bomb [that] has gone off’, looks set to capture the offbeat magic that has made the intergalactic romp such a crowd pleaser for three decades. So grab your towel and head to the Ramshorn to celebrate the return of this cult classic. (Amy Russell)
page 112.
■ NORTH EDINBURGH ARTS CENTRE 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. ✽✽ Sweetness Fri 4 Mar, 7pm. £5. See preview, page 109.
■ OUT OF THE BLUE DRILL HALL 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Ornithology Sat 12 & Sun 13 Mar, 7.30pm. £3. Strange Bird Zirkus presents work in progress which combines Chinese pole and floor acrobatics and a double-option soundtrack to tell a surrealist story. An installation of work by Christine Banks is also on show. ■ PLAYHOUSE 18-22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. The Chippendales Thu 3 Mar, 7.30pm. £25.75–£29.75. See King’s Theatre, Glasgow. The Russian State Ballet of Siberia Tue 8–-Sat 12 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £16–£33.50. The acclaimed ballet presents Don Quixote (Tue), Romeo & Juliet (Wed), Sleeping Beauty (Thu & Fri) and Swan Lake (Sat). Blood Brothers Mon 14–Sat 19 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £22.25–£40.25. Family drama set in writer Willy Russell’s native Liverpool.
■ THE PLEASANCE THEATRE 60 Pleasance, 650 4673. The Pirates of Penzance Wed 16–Fri 25 Mar (not Mon/Tue) 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £8 (£5). Edinburgh
University Savoy Opera Group presents its version of this rip-roaring tale of pirates, maidens and policemen.
ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Age of Arousal Until Sat 12 Mar (not Sun/Mon), 7.45pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £11–£28 (£5–£26). See review, page 110. Marilyn Tue 15 Mar–Sat 2 Apr (not Sun/Mon), 7.45pm (Wed 16, Sat 19, Wed 23 & Sat 26 Mar mats 2.30pm). £11–£28 (£5–£26). See review, page 110. ■ ST BRIDE’S CENTRE 10 Orwell Terrace, 346 1405. Bits n Pieces II Fri 4 & Sat 5 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 3pm). £9 (£5). The Andrea Douglas School of Dance presents its latest showcase. Email andreadouglas@hotmail.co.uk for tickets. Shakespeare & Greek Tragedy Double Bill Tue 8 & Wed 9 Mar, 6.30pm. £2. The Mary Erskine School presents a double bill for the truly hardcore theatre-goer: Shakespeare’s darkest existential tragedy, Hamlet, and Euripides’ Greek tragedy Medea. Luckily for those of you with homes to go to, both are in abridged versions.
■ TRAVERSE THEATRE Cambridge Street, 228 1404. A Play, A Pie and a Pint: Four Parts Broken Until Sat 5 Mar, 1pm. £12. Black comedy about how people try to fix themselves and each other, written by Brazilian playwright Fernanda Jaber and adapted by Tron Open.Stage competition winner Abigail Docherty.