Theatre
Promising hilarity and poignancy and all manner of recreated natural phenomena, this show has been a hit with audiences around the world and now flurries into Scotland’s theatres. Not suitable for under 8s. Dirty Dancing Wed 19 Oct–Sat 12 Nov (not Sun), Mon–Thu 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £12.35–£79.50. See Baby not put in the corner in the musical based on the late Patrick Swayze’s popular film. ■ ÒRAN MÓR 731-735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. A Play, a Pie & a Pint: Supply Until Sat 24 Sep, 1pm. £8–£12.50. A newly qualified English teacher meets more than his match in a class of S4 girls who have their own ideas about what they want to learn from him. Ticket price for all Play, Pie & Pint shows includes a pie and drink. A Play, a Pie & a Pint: Watching the Detective Mon 26 Sep–Sat 1 Oct, 1pm. £8–£12.50. Lunchtime theatre about a forensic detective who dreams of being a gourmet chef. A Play, a Pie & a Pint: Dig Mon 3–Sat 8 Oct, 1pm. £8–£12.50. A play by Katie Douglas about money and hard work in hard times. A Play, a Pie & a Pint: You Cannot Go Forward From Where You Are Right Now Mon 10–Sat 15 Oct, 1pm. £8–£12.50. Lunchtime theatre from the pen of David Watson. A Play, a Pie & a Pint: Eternal Source of Light Mon 17–Sat 22 Oct, 1pm. £8–£12.50. This play by Leo Butler tells the story of a heroic Arab millionaire recluse.
■ PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. My Romantic History Wed 28 Sep, 7.30pm. £10 (£6). See Eastwood Park Theatre, Glasgow. Lord of the Flies Mon 10 Oct, 7.30pm. £10 (£6). Sell A Door Theatre Company presents an adaptation of William Golding’s tale of the gradual descent into savagery of a group of English schoolboys marooned on a desert island.
■ PAVILION THEATRE 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. Singin’ I’m No a Billy He’s a Tim Until Sat 24 Sep, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2pm). £17.50. Goldfish Theatre presents its take on Des Dillon’s classic anti- sectarian play, which has a Rangers and a Celtic fan locked up together in a cell for the duration of an Old Firm match. Jukebox Memories 2 Tue 27–Fri 30 Sep, 7.30pm. £13.50–£16.50. The retro comedy musical continues. Gordon Smith: Beyond Belief Mon 10 Oct, 7.30pm. £20. Medium Gordon travels the world looking to connect people with their departed loved ones. An Evening of Burlesque Sat 15 Oct, 7.30pm. £21 (£19.50). Live touring stage show, featuring West End burlesque scene stalwarts such as Amber Topaz, Chrys Columbine, Slinky Sparkles, Piff the Magic Dragon and Kalki Hula Girl, as well as mistress of ceremonies Kiki Kaboom. The Fifth Beatle Thu 20–Sat 22 Oct, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2pm). £15–£17.50. New stage show that looks back at the 60s and the rise of the Fab Four, starring Steven Arnold and Philip Olivier. ■ ROSE AND GRANTS 27 Trongate, Merchant City, 552 7575. Dually Andrews Wed 19–Sat 22 Oct, 8.05pm. £10. Andrew Agnew (songs, stories and panto magic) and Andrew Salmond (piano) guide you through the highs and lows of this queer old life. Part of Glasgay!
■ STRATHBUNGO For info contact The Arches, 253 Argyle Street 565 1000. FREE Bungo Fest Sat 8 Oct, 11am–8pm. The Arches and Strathbungo 110 THE LIST 22 Sep–20 Oct 2011
N A L R A H L E U N A M
Society join forces to present a day of spoken word, poetry, theatre, children’s workshops and music, with static and roving performances all around Strathbungo.
■ THEATRE ROYAL 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647.
✽✽ Scottish Ballet Thu 29 Sep–Sat 1 Oct, 7.30pm. £6–£24.50. A superb
double-bill from our national ballet company, featuring Jorma Elo’s quirky, modern yet entirely accessible Kings 2 Ends and Ashley Page’s gorgeous 1930s inspired Pennies from Heaven. See Choreographer of the Month, page 108. Para Handy Tue 4–Sat 8 Oct, 7.30pm (Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm). £8.50–£27.50. Join the crew of the good ship Vital Spark in this new take on Neil Munro’s stories of the irrepressible captain (played here by Jimmy Chisholm) and his crew. See Stage Whispers, page 103.
■ TRAMWAY 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501.
✽✽ The Missing Until Sat 1 Oct (not Sun/Mon), 7.30pm (Sat 1 Oct mat
2.30pm). £12–£16 (£10–£12). The National Theatre of Scotland, with John Tiffany at the helm, brings to the stage Andrew O’Hagan’s own adaptation of his acclaimed 1995 novel about a young Scottish journalist’s journeys in the footsteps of those who go missing. Post show discussion on Tue 27 Sep. See review, below.
✽✽ Saturday Night Fri 7–Sat 15 Oct (not Sun–Tue), 7.30pm. £14 (£10;
previews Fri 7 Oct all tickets £6). The dreamy and surreal companion piece to Vanishing Point’s innovative play,
Interiors. See preview, page 106. ■ TRON THEATRE 63 Trongate, 552 4267. My Romantic History Until Sat 24 Sep, 7.45pm. £7–£15. See Eastwood Park Theatre, Glasgow.
review, page 104.
✽✽ Kes Thu 29 Sep–Sat 1 Oct. See ✽✽ Calum’s Road Tue 4–Sat 8 Oct, 7.45pm. £7–£15. David Harrower and the National Theatre of Scotland’s take on the true tale of a man on the Isle of Skye who, faced with council indifference to his remote village’s isolated plight, built a two-mile stretch of road himself. See preview, page 106. Apocalypse Wed 5–Sat 8 Oct, 8pm. £9 (£7). Satirical cabaret from Occasional Cabaret and Clancy Productions in which the audience are prodded into asking questions about the stories told to keep us in our place. Ages 14+. See preview, page 106. Tall Tales for Small People Sat 8 Oct. See Kids listings. ✽✽ Days of Wine And Roses Fri
14–Sat 29 Oct (not Sun/Mon), 7.45pm. £7–£15. Theatre Jezebel presents the story of the shattered dreams of an Irish couple who seek their fortune in 1960s London. See preview, page 104. FREE Whose Story is it Anyway? Sat 15 Oct, 2.30pm & 8pm. BloodWater Theatre presents a show that incorporates live performance, interactive media and a talk on new ways of making, spectating and funding theatre. Extracts From The Players’ Hamlet Sun 16 Oct, 7pm. £3. A re- imagining of verses from the famous
play, with the aim of discovering something new through audience interaction and play. Presented by the Bell Rock Company (formerly known as Poorboy). Ages 18+. Love Hurts Tue 18–Sat 22 Oct, 8pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £9 (£7). Some seemingly perfect new neighbours have moved in, but what are they hiding? A dark and funny play presented by Random Accomplice. Part of Glasgay!
EDINBURGH ■ BEDLAM THEATRE 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893. Dissidents Wed 5 Oct, 2.30pm. £4 (£3.50). Student theatre company performs a new play by James Beagon, about a pub landlord caught in the middle of a sectarian conflict. The Elephant Man Tue 11–Sat 15 Oct, 7.30pm. £5 (£4.50). Edinburgh University Theatre Company performs the true story of a young doctor’s attempted rehabilitation of the Victorian side-show freak, John Merrick. Stockholm Wed 19 Oct, 2.30pm. £4 (£3.50). Bryony Lavery’s play about an outwardly perfect couple whose relationship turns sour ahead of a planned romantic getaway to the Swedish capital. ■ BRUNTON THEATRE Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Singing Far Into the Night Fri 23 Sep, 7.30pm. £11.25 (£9.25; under 18s £6). See Eastwood Park Theatre, Glasgow. My Romantic History Fri 30 Sep, 7.30pm. £11.25 (£9.25; under 18s £6).
REVIEW ADAPTATION THE MISSING Tramway, Glasgow, until Sat 1 Oct ●●●●●
Part memoir, part investigative journalism, Scottish writer Andrew O’Hagan’s powerful non-fiction work doesn’t easily fit into any generic pigeon hole. It is fitting, then, that this stage adaptation of The Missing is accompanied by complementary art exhibitions, making this project similarly difficult to categorise but incredibly rewarding. The National Theatre of Scotland production,
directed by John Tiffany, is based on a script developed by O’Hagan himself, which follows a young journalist intent on finding out more about sons, daughters, husbands, wives and friends who have apparently just vanished. What had happened to them? And why were some of them apparently never even reported missing? The on-stage result is at
times heart wrenching and always visually engaging, with screens and lights used to complement the poignant observations in the dialogue. A strong home-grown cast, led by Joe McFadden, play multiple characters, from police to social workers and family members of victims, highlighting the intense hurt which can result from the perpetual lack of closure surrounding missing loved ones.
Created in partnership with the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, artwork has been commissioned to accompany the play, consisting of Missing, a video installation by Graham Fagen (see review, page 113) and a 20-minute audio journey around Tramway on the same themes, created by artists Kim Beveridge and Kat Wilson. Whether viewing just one part of the package, or looking at the topic through the multiple artforms on display, The Missing makes an emotional impact across the board. (Lauren Mayberry)