Theatre HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
list.co.uk/theatre
Krapp’s Last Tape/Footfalls Double bill of works by Samuel Beckett that brings together one of the dramatist’s best- known plays alongside a neglected classic. See preview, page 127. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 30 May–Sat 9 Jun.
K C A L B E L S E L
I
I
I
R U M R A T S A L A
Sleeping Beauty Insomnia Brilliant characterisation and fast- paced direction make the latest Play, Pie and Pint performance a must-see. See review, page 126. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 26 May.
Oliver! Brian Conley stars as Fagin in this acclaimed revival of Lionel Bart’s pearly-king musical, based on the Dickens classic. See preview, page 130. Playhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 30 May–Sat 23 Jun. The Chairs Acclaimed production of Eugene Ionesco’s classic from Blue Raincoat. See preview, page 126. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 7–Sat 9 Jun; Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 13–Sat 16 Jun.
Macbeth John Tiffany directs Alan Cumming in a radical adaptation of the Scotch Play, in which the Perthshire star plays all the roles, from Lady Macbeth to the witches. See feature, page 18. Tramway, Glasgow, Wed 13–Sun 24 Jun.
N O S T A W T R E B L A
Bard in the Botanics Grab your picnic and don’t forget your umbrella: the Shakespeare festival returns with a season that includes The Tempest and As You Like It. See Stage Whispers, right. Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Wed 20 Jun–Sat 7 Jul.
Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2012 Annual bash to celebrate the best theatrical achievements in an action- packed year. See preview in Noticeboard, page 11. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 10 Jun, 3pm.
The Tempest Dundee Rep dispenses with convention to present a female Prospero, Ariel and Caliban in this production of Shakespeare’s swansong. See preview, page 126. Dundee Rep, Wed 6–Sat 23 Jun.
Summer Season of Classic Cuts The Play, Pie and Pint strand kicks off its season of abbreviated classics with Shaw’s Pygmalian and Jarry’s Ubu Roi. See preview, page 127. Oran Mor, Glasgow, from Mon 11 Jun.
Dance GB The UK’s three national dance companies perform new work by three leading choreographers to celebrate the coming of the London Olympics. See preview, page 126. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 19–Sat 23 Jun.
Stage WHISPERS
GORDON BARR BARD IN THE BOTANICS’ ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR GORDON BARR TALKS ABOUT THE COMPANY’S BRAVE
NEW WORLD SEASON
This season, for us as we move into our second decade, is all about discovery, exploration and new horizons so we were looking for plays that tied in to those themes. The link to The Tempest is fairly clear but As You Like It covers some similar ground, in that the characters go on a physical journey in to the Forest of Arden – a new world for them – and this journey and the experiences they have in the forest allows them to discover things about themselves – their enforced exile from the court to the forest actually opens up a whole new horizon of possibilities for the characters. Romeo and Juliet, then, clearly
does not have any physical journey in its story but so many of the characters we meet in the play, especially the young lovers themselves, are at an age where they’re on the cusp of a brave new world – the adult world, which includes love and marriage but also death and responsibility. The emotional journey they go on certainly opens up new horizons equal to any physical journey in The Tempest or As You Like It.
Also, Romeo and Juliet will be heading out on the road this summer – not for a particularly extensive tour, but we are going to be offering some performances in communities across Glasgow that we haven’t engaged with before. It’s part of our desire, as a company, to bring Shakespeare’s work to as wide a range of audiences as possible and so the community shows are a ‘brave new world’ for us, but will also hopefully open up a brave new world of performance and theatre-going for some new audiences. ■ Bard in the Botanics, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Wed 20 Jun–Sat 7 Jul.
24 May–21 Jun 2012 THE LIST 125