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THE TIN FOREST Biggest work to date from National Theatre of Scotland
T he National Theatre of Scotland isn’t shy about working on a gargantuan scale, but The Tin Forest is their biggest work to date. With the plot of the children’s book by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson as an overarching theme, the project encompasses four large-scale community performances across Glasgow in June, and two weeks of events at the revitalised South Rotunda from late July.
The story, about an old man who reimagines his environment by creating a beautiful forest out of discarded things, seemed the ideal metaphor for post-industrial Glasgow. ‘We wanted the idea to ripple out into the communities and further afield to the international community, and when we open the South Rotunda, those ripples will come back in,’ says Simon Sharkey, NTS associate director. The next month will see Springburn Park
90 THE LIST 12 Jun–10 Jul 2014
transformed Rockery into a fantastical steampunk-styled promenade celebrating the area’s locomotive history and Reidvale Community Centre hosting a celebration of Glasgow’s East End led by local actor Harry Ward. Meanwhile, audiences in St Andrew Penilee Parish Church will don hi-vis vests and hard hats for the story of a man’s last day at work at the Rolls Royce factory which once dominated the area.
‘The story of The Tin Forest is such a simple story, one which everyone can identify with,’ says Sharkey. ‘The engagement has been fantastic. When people get the idea of it being a metaphor for Glasgow and their story and their community, that’s when they really go for it.’ (Susan Mansfield)
Various locations across Glasgow until Sat 14 Jun; South Rotunda, Glasgow, Mon 21 Jul–Sun 3 Aug.
HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
✽ Guide Gods Claire Cunningham (pictured) examines the relationship between faith and disability in one of the more bracing productions of Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Culture programme. See preview page 92. Various venues across Glasgow, Tue 12–Fri 20 Jun.
✽In My Father’s Words Partially in Gaelic, Dundee Rep examines how
language can become the carrier of apparently abandoned identities. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 19–Sat 28 Jun.
✽ The Great Yes, No, Don’t Know, Five Minute Theatre Show The
National Theatre of Scotland presents over 840 performers and theatremakers, presenting a series of live songs, skits and rants, as a response to the theme of ‘Independence’. See preview, page 94. Online at fiveminutetheatre. com for 24 hours from 5pm on Mon 23 Jun.
✽ Footprints High Heart Dance Company
with Emily Smith, Jamie McClennan and band present a new dance work as part of the West End Festival. Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 23–Wed 25 Jun.
✽ The Comedy of Errors Gordon
Barr’s production updates Shakespeare’s play to a post-independence Scotland. See preview page 91. Botanic Gardens,
Glasgow, Fri 27 Jun–Sat 12 Jul.
✽ Tragic Magic Scottish Close-Up Magic Champion Michael Neto plays a failed big-
star magician whose wife wants him to choose between her or magic. Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Jun–Fri 4 Jul.