list.co.uk/theatre Previews & Reviews | THEATRE
POLITICAL DRAMA DEMOCRACY Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 6–Sat 10 Sep; King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 29 Sep–Sat 1 Oct; touring Scotland through Sep & Oct
Although writer Michael Frayn is best known for his playful parody of theatre folk, Noises Off, his play Democracy is a weightier look at cold war politics. Based on true events, it goes back to 1969 to capture the anxiety of Willy Brandt, newly elected chancellor of West Germany, as he faces internal and external threats. With his party plotting against him, and a possible East German spy in his inner circle, Brandt’s predicament is suddenly, and sadly, relevant in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, but director Michael Emans notices an even deeper resonance. ‘The play is one that I have always wanted to tackle,’ he says, ‘as it has echoes of the great Shakespearean power plays that I love.’ Emans’ Rapture Theatre has long toured great scripts around Scotland – including Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, given a Scottish twist. Yet Democracy is an explicitly political story.
‘It is extremely prescient in a world that is becoming
increasingly politicised,’ he admits. However, he sees theatre as, if not a remedy, part of the political narrative. ‘The feedback we receive at post-show discussions tells us that theatre is the ideal forum for discussion: our work is there to entertain but by entertain we mean to stimulate, challenge and provoke and that feedback tells us we do that.’ Having enlisted a couple of famous Scottish actors, Colin
McCredie from Taggart and River City’s Sean Scanlan, Emans maintains the vision that has marked Rapture’s productions: a serious script, given his distinctive directorial touch, with popular appeal. Democracy is timely, but it also has the intrigue of a classic spy story, evoking John Le Carré, and places the current problems in the EU within their historical context. (Gareth K Vile)
P H O T O
:
C L E A R P H O T O G R A P H Y
P H O T O
: S A L L Y J U B B
POLITICAL THEATRE THE RED SHED Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 6–Sat 8 Oct, then touring. Reviewed at Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe ●●●●●
Well known for his ability to sweeten his socialist message with a spoonful of comedy and effortless theatricality, Mark Thomas is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wakefield Labour Club, where he first engaged in political theatre. He begins a quest to discover whether the romantic story, upon which he has built his political beliefs, has any basis in truth, making a show that is part tribute to the resilience of the labour movement and part local history.
Thomas’ usual tactics – interviews with allies and supporters, a personal take on large events (this time, the miners’ strike) and his amiable persona – are placed at the service of the big question: is it important that a story tells the complete truth? Inevitably, this isn’t resolved, but his adventure allows him to cast light on an increasingly marginalised era. It also reaffirms his socialist beliefs.
Less interested in persuading the audience of the rightness of his cause than strengthening its importance, Thomas strays from his central story, adding detail but occasionally shifting attention from the cause to himself. Nevertheless, it provides the passion and thoughtfulness that has characterised his recent theatrical outings. (Gareth K Vile)
CRIME DRAMA A STEADY RAIN Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 16–Sat 24 Sep
Theatre Jezebel has a reputation for selecting scripts that are unafraid of addressing provocative issues: A Steady Rain, from Mad Men and House of Cards writer Keith Huff, dives into themes of friendship, police corruption and violent crime. A familiar scenario – two cops on the mean streets of Chicago – becomes a raw study of men surviving on the edges of justice. Enlisting Robert Jack (Gary: Tank Commander) and Andy Clark (who is becoming a contemporary legend on the Scottish stage with his performances in Lanark and Prudencia Hart), director Mary McCluskey sees this production in the company’s tradition.
‘Theatre Jezebel has a belief in the strength of creatives working in Scotland today,’ she says. ‘We produce plays that Scottish audiences have not had the opportunity to see. Our approach is simple yet stylish, allowing the actors to tell the story and shine.’ With Kenny Miller on design duties, Jezebel promise a subtle yet striking set, and, for all its streetwise plot, McCluskey recognises A Steady Rain’s deeper qualities. ‘It deals with universal issues that challenge the human condition. What is loyalty? How does a good man turn bad? Are people born evil or does circumstance make it so? How far is too far?’ (Gareth K Vile)
ADAPTATION TRAINSPOTTING Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 14 Sep–Sat 8 Oct
Citizens Theatre stage director in residence, Gareth Nicholls, is taking on an iconic story 22 years after it first arrived at the Gorbals’ theatre. Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh’s famous 1980s-set story of a group of drug addicts from Leith, will this year be adapted for the stage by Harry Gibson and directed by Nicholls. Having recently received plaudits for his
uncompromising work on Vanya and Into That Darkness, Nicholls has enjoyed the challenge. ‘I think we’ve such a good balance between honouring the book, play and all those iconic scenes,’ he says, ‘while also subverting a few expectations, popping in a few surprises and reimagining the world for a 21st- century audience.’ Having confessed to never seeing any stage
productions of Trainspotting before, Nicholls believes he can bring a fresh perspective, and that it still speaks volumes as a meditation on contemporary society. He adds: ‘What the piece explores, politically, socially, culturally, seems more urgent than ever, and the more we work on it, the more I realise just how important this story is . . . of a disenfranchised group of people marginalised by society, struggling to escape their own limited circumstances – and that story feels very modern indeed.’ (Lorna Irvine)
1 Sep–3 Nov 2016 THE LIST 81 1 Sep–3 Nov 2016 THE LIST 81