Theatre HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
list.co.uk/theatre
Manipulate Puppet Animation Scotland returns with the annual festival of visual theatre, which includes companies from France, Poland and Russia and a mix of live theatre, puppetry, film and animation. See Stage Whispers, right. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 30 Jan–Sat 4 Feb.
M A R N W E C N E R U A L :
I O T O H P
Scottish Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Welcome revival of the Ashley Page-choreographed version of the classic fairytale. See review, page 100. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 11–Sat 14 Jan. The Infamous Brothers Davenport Peter Arnott’s Victorian sensation drama. See preview, page 100. Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, Thu 19 Jan–Sat 11 Feb; Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 14–Sat 18 Feb.
The Captain’s Collection Tale of an army officer who publishes his Highland music. See preview, page 100. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 25 & Thu 26 Jan; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Fri 27 Jan.
Loic Lalande and Tom Pritchard Double Bill Smallpetitklein rehearsal director Pritchard appears on an Arches double bill with French improvisational dancer Loic Lalande. See preview, page 102. Arches, Glasgow, Sat 28 Jan. Swallows and Amazons Arthur Ransome’s Lake District-set adventure is adapted for the stage, with music courtesy of Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy. See preview, page 101. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Tue 31 Jan–Sat 4 Feb.
Jackie and the Beanstalk Christmas may be over but there’s still time to catch the multi-talented Johnny McKnight, who writes, directs and stars as Dame Dott McTrott in this festive favourite. macrobert, Stirling, until Sat 7 Jan.
Cinderella Another winning panto, this time from Edinburgh’s King’s, with lively performances from usual suspects Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Andy Gray. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sun 22 Jan.
Moving in Houses Collaboration between an architect, choreographer, sound artist, lighting designer and performers, which explores how we behave in different spaces. Tramway, Glasgow, Thu 12–Sat 14 Jan.
Rehearsal Room 17 Stellar Quines give a taster of new writing by Angela Cairns and Jennifer Tremblay, presented for discussion with the writers, directors and actors. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 25 & Thu 26 Jan.
Stage WHISPERS SIMON HART ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, MANIPULATE VISUAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
What can we expect from this year’s programme? A great festival with an eclectic international mix: of stylish and sophisticated object theatre, digital projections, animations – and lots of water – in the Theatre Sans Soucis’ Hamletmachine; a beautifully charming and bizarre family of rod puppets with their very wild and priapic dog in Invisible Thread’s Plucked; powerful and theatrical images of desperation and loneliness as two 19th century Polar explorers lose their way both physically and mentally in Wariot Ideal’s Polaris; vibrant, in-your-face Russian madness and mayhem from performance artists Akhe, and their new show Gobo. Digital Glossary, and a disturbing and striking visual meditation of the dangers our unchecked experimentation with our natural world’s genetic make-up and identity, in Editta Braun’s Luvos.
How do you choose the work? First and foremost my choices are guided by the quality of the shows I see, and the passion and commitment of their creators. Then I look for a balance of work that highlights the many different styles and techniques practitioners are synthesising into their works. I do endeavour to create a festival programme that is difficult to be non-committal about, be that enthusiasm for a piece or strong dislike.
What have been your particular highlights over the last five festivals? My personal highlight was last year when we filled Traverse Two at 9pm on a Wednesday night with 100 people who watched – with great engagement and attentiveness throughout – a two- hour Armenian film of great visual beauty and integrity, but with an almost completely impenetrable non-linear narrative, about an 18th century poet-troubadour. ■ Manipulate, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 30 Jan–Sat 4 Feb.
5 Jan–2 Feb 2012 THE LIST 99