AUTUMN HIGHLIGHTS
▼ 8 OCTI
GLASGOW CABARET FESTIVAL FESTIVAL Nine-day celebration of real cabaret
Focussing on the cream of the Scottish cabaret crop, Glasgow Cabaret Festival began in 2009 as a way of highlighting the popularity of the genre and combating the confused idea that cabaret is amateur burlesque with slightly more clothes. Featuring magicians, singers, dancers, bone fide burlesque artistes and street and circus performers, this year’s programme is fun, diverse and good value for money in venues such as Cottiers Theatre, The Arches and Glasgow Art Club. With some events tied into Glasgay! (see below), there will be opportunities to see acts from further afield as well such as previous List cover stars Frisky and Mannish. (Lauren Mayberry) Various venues, Glasgow, Sat 8–Sun 16 Oct. glasgowcabaretfestival.com
8 OCTI SPACE WEEKEND
MUSEUM Two days of events celebrating World Space Week
Hard Ton (pictured here impersonating Grace Jones) will be performing at Death Disco
13 OCTI DOCUMENT 9
FILM Glasgow human rights film fest with a radical agenda Now in its ninth year, this diverse social issues-led film festival is unique in its variety, radical agenda and commitment to outreach education. This year’s theme is protest, and highlights include Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey, a new biopic about Ulster firebrand politician Bernadette Devlin, and How to Start a Revolution from Inverness filmmaker Ruari Arrow. With other feted films from Poland, Cambodia, Germany, Holland and even Glasgow, plus art exhibitions and live music, Document is all about the writing on the walls. (Paul Dale) CCA, Glasgow, Thu 13–Sun 23 Oct. documentfilmfestival.org
15 OCTI GLASGAY!
15 OCTI
LIFE’S A PEACH @ DEATH DISCO CLUBS Gender-bending electroclash
Arguably the founding force of dirty electro, Peaches has been turning the music scene on its head for over a decade. Her records are filled with expletives, DIY beats and one finger up at the rules; her club performances are opportunities for cross-dressing, high-octane performance and gender-blurring debauchery. Whilst preparing her new 40-person production which she has dubbed ‘the Rocky Horror Picture Show for the next generation’, Lovertits herself will DJ a celebratory Glasgay! edition of Death Disco, alongside the filthily fun Hard Ton (the most glamorous bear-queen you ever did see, with a knack for slithering, hi-NRG acid house-infused disco) and Optimo’s JG Wilkes. (Lauren Mayberry) The Arches, Glasgow, Sat 15 Oct.
21 OCTI
LGBT Annual arty celebration of LGBT culture 27 BY ABI MORGAN
Every year, Glasgow gets to host Scotland’s only arts festival for creative LGBT folks and their friends, with a broad range of entertainment including dramatic theatre, comedy, film, clubs and workshops in venues across the city. In the theatre programme this year James Ley returns with Spain, a one-man play about a mid-life crisis. Glue Boy Blues tells the story of a young man addicted to glue and Judy Garland, whilst Love Hurts is a darkly comic tale of bisexual love. On the more glam side, there’s Jonny Woo, Cabaret Chordelia and Amy Lamé’s Unhappy Birthday, plus special line-ups at Menergy and Death Disco. See interviews with Bourgeois and Maurice, page 20, Liz Lochhead, page 24, and LGBT, page 74. (Lauren Mayberry) Various venues, Glasgow, Sat 15 Oct–Sat 12 Nov. glasgay.co.uk
THEATRE Poignant co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland
Acclaimed writer Abi Morgan examines ageing, loneliness and science in her latest play, 27. Having recently penned the 1950s-set, Dominic West-starring TV treat The Hour, BAFTA Award-winner Morgan has created Ursula – the next Mother Superior of a convent given the opportunity to take part in a unique scientific study. The nuns will donate their brains on their death to allow doctors to discover more about Alzheimers and dementia, pitting Ursula’s beliefs against her wish to do good. Faced with taking over a convent in trouble, plus a series of existential questions, Ursula must make a difficult, unsettling choice. (Lauren Mayberry) Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 21 Oct–Sat 12 Nov. ▼
22 Sep–20 Oct 2011 THE LIST 19
World Space Week is a collective, global ‘oh wow’ at the wonders of the galaxy, taking place annually between 4–10 October. Glasgow’s Science Centre is offering a weekend of science, art and music events to encourage folks of all ages to take their hats off to the beauty, intrigue and mystery of space with age-specific live planeterium shows, talks from renowned astronomers and workshops on how to make your own comet. Live music gigs and science shows such as Stellar Sounds and Astro-Forces! take place in the planetarium itself, plus there will also be daily 3D showings of Fly Me to the Moon, Alien Adventure and Hubble in the IMAX. (Lauren Mayberry) Glasgow Science Centre, Sat 8 & Sun 9 Oct.
11 OCTI
SLAVA’S SNOW SHOW KIDS European clown sensation back in Scotland
Prepare to enter a second childhood, as Russian clown Slava brings his talented ensemble back to Scotland. All those who caught this remarkable show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe many years ago will remember just how captivating, poignant and funny Snowshow is. Water, bubbles, fake cobwebs and dry ice are all used to turn the auditorium into a winter wonderland. By the time the real snow melted in Scotland earlier this year, it was loathed by one and all – Slava’s is a snowstorm you won’t want to end. (Kelly Apter) Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 11–Sat 15 Oct; Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Tue 18-Sat 22 Oct. Not suitable for under 8s.