FESTIVAL THEATRE | Hitlist

THEATRE HITLIST

Gareth K Vile rounds up some theatrical highlights from across the festivals

LEMONS, LEMONS, LEMONS, LEMONS, LEMONS

A sparkling new play that looks to a future when even language is put onto an austerity footing. See review, page 88. ZOO Southside, 662 6892, until 22 Aug, 4pm, £9 (£7).

THE ENCOUNTER Psychedelic in content and impact, the artistic director of Complicite and sometime star of TV sit-com Rev Simon McBurney learns about time and teaches about sound in this stunning solo show that goes back to the source of being. EICC, 473 2000, until 23 Aug (not 13, 18), 7.30pm & 2.30pm (14, 15, 20, 23), £32 (£16).

POLYPHONY Daniel Kitson pushes further into experimental theatre with an astonishing monologue that sets him against 15 recorded voices from his past, revealing him as the Samuel Beckett of post-modern comic theatre. See reveiw, page 82. Roundabout @ Summerhall, 560 1581, until 29 Aug (not 18, 25), 12.15pm, £12.

FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT Bryony Kimmings drags her partner into the witty live art action, making a tough issue palatable and playful. See review, page 85. Traverse, 228 1404, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £18 (£13).

HOW TO KEEP AN ALIEN Less an interstellar adventure than a love story that describes the way that legislation and knee jerk xenophobia can challenge even the most loving and creative relationships. See review, page 86. Traverse, 228 1404, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £18 (£13).

A GAMBLER’S GUIDE TO DYING Fringe favourite Gary McNair takes a trip into the real life adventures of an old man and his grandson, testing their luck and celebrating the biggest gamble of all. See review, page 92. Traverse, 228 1404, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £18 (£13).

ABACUS The lecture format is ripe for parody, but Paul Abacus takes it too far, until his future vision becomes a nightmarish world of information which only he can deconstruct. See review,

A Girl is a Half-formed Thing

page 85. Summerhall, 560 1581, until 30 Aug (not 18, 25), 6.10pm, £15 (£10).

A GIRL IS A HALF-FORMED THING

Eimear McBride’s Bailey’s Prize- winning novel gets a theatrical treatment, in this stunning production starring Aoife Duffin and directed by Annie Ryan. See review, page 86. Traverse, 228 1404, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), times vary, £20 (£15).

CLEANSED Sarah Kane is no easy author to direct,

despite her popularity at the Fringe. This production gets to grips with her violent imagination and finds the traces of hope in the midst of bloody fury and excessive violence. See review, page 87. C nova, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug (not 17, 24), 1pm, £8.50–£10.50 (£6.50–£8.50).

PAUL BRIGHT’S CONFESSIONS The magical remembering of one of Scotland’s greatest failures, the attempt to update the classic novel for the stage of the late 1980s. See feature, page 79. The Queen’s Hall, 668 2019, 19-22 Aug, 8pm, £20 (£10).

T H E R A D I C A L U R B A N C I R C U S W H E R E S T R E E T M E E T S E L I T E

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