SPORT LIST

Festival, conducted by Woldemar Nelsson. Simon Estes sings the title role: Thurs 12 Feb, R3, 2pm.

There is an interesting sweep of international drama this fortnight either in discussion or performance. While there is no lack of contemporary French cinema, modern French playwrights are rather harder to find. Since Beckett, lonesco, Camus and Annouilh in the Fifties and Sixties there seems to have been a falling-off, and Gerard Gould, observer and student of French theatre for many years went to Paris to find out why. In Waiting lorthe New Wave, Sun 15 Feb, R3, 5.30pm, leading directors, arts administrators and authors from Paris put their views. Produced by John Theocharis. '

While we are waiting for the new wave, French authors from the 19th century still hold centre stage. Madame Bovary, Flaubert‘s classic is the new Book at Bedtime, read by Ian Holm in fifteen parts from Mon 16 Feb, R4, 10.15pm. Laterin the week Henry Becque’s The Scavengers, Fri 20, R3, 7.30pm, is the first of two ‘crucial’ plays from 19th century French drama. Maureen O’Brien stars in a cynical observation of the behaviour of the bereaved when the inheritance is not forthcoming. (La Parisienne the second Becque play is on 27 Feb).

Elsewhere contemporary playwrights are better represented. The Brothers of Calanda, Wed 18 Feb,

R4, 3pm, is a political allegory and black comedy thriller by Chilean exile Carlos Cerda, while Close Up Sun 15, R4, 2.30pm, isa South American play in the same week, this time by Carlos Gorostiza.

The contemporary British writing scene is given a fairly healthy, if not particularly new airing this fortnight, a repeat ofTwister, the second play by the highly talented Ronald Frame is on 10 Feb, R4, 3pm. His first play WinterJourney won the Betty Trask award several years ago and a new novel,Sandmouth People is due out in March (published by The Bodley Head). R Scotland, who produced Twister will be producing two new plays by him later this year.

Irish novelist and playwright Maurice Leitch, winner of The Guardian Fiction Prize in 1969 for Poor Lazarus, and currently Editor of R4’s Book at Bedtime, has a second radio play Flutes broadcast on Mon 16 Feb, R4, 8.15pm. A flute band from Ulster prepare for its Orange Parade while on tourin Canada, but with no lessening of politcal or personal tension. Iris Murdoch’s The One Alone. Fri 13 Feb, R3, 9.15pm, changed from a verse play to a play with music by producer Glyn Dearman, is spoken/sung by soprano Fiona Kimm. tenor Bonaventura Bottone and actor

John Church. And a Dick Francis best-seller Proofwith Nigel Havers, is the new Sunday serial, beginning Sun 15 Feb, R4, 9pm.

Finally, The Soviet Paradox 14 Feb. R3, 8.50pm, a new book by Seweryn Bialer), an interval talk by Iain Elliot (editor ofSovietAna/yst), and a paradox of military and domestic identities.

0 Sport is listed as diary: by sport, then by day. then by event.

BASKETBALL Friday 6 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 (Women)

0 Edinburgh Royals v Murray IL Forrester High, Edinburgh. 7.45pm.

Saturday 7

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DIVISION 1 (Men)

0 Team Simpson Donald v Cumnock Stirling University. 7pm.

Sunday 8

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DIVISION 1 (Men)

0 Boroughmuirv Falkirlt Meadowbank Sports Centre. Edinburgh. 3pm.

0 GEAR v Murray IL Eastbank Academy. Glasgow. 3pm.

0 Glasgow Airport v Fair City Barrhead Sports Centre. 3.45pm.

0 Team Harlequin v Magnum Jordanhill. Glasgow. 4pm. DIVISION 1 (Women)

0 Boroughmuir Aces v Bellway Homes Meadowbank Sports Centre. 1.15pm.

0 Paisley 1! All Blacks Barrhead Sports Centre. 1.45pm.

Sunday15

NATIONAL GIROBANK SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINALS (Women)

0 Bellway Homes v Murray IL Meadowbank Sports Centre. 6.45pm.

o All Blacks v Edinburgh Royals Meadowbank. 8.30pm.

0 Race Days Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday, Powderhall Stadium.

Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh. Race meetings are for 10 races, starting at 7.30pm. £2.20 Stand; £1 .30 Ground.

FOOTBALL

Saturday 7

FINE FARE LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

0 Celtic v St Mirren Celtic Park. Glasgow. (Buses 61. 62. 64). Despite their recent patchy form. Celtic should not be unduly troubled by a St Mirren side firmly lodged in their usual mid-table slot.

0 Clydebankv Dundee Kilbowie. Clydebank. (2 mins from Singer Station). Like Saints, Dundee now have only passing interest in the Championship. but Bankies remian relegation favourites. and will be desperate to take something from this match.

0 Hamilton 1! Hibs Douglas Park. Hamilton. ( 15 mins from Bus Station 0 Hearts v Rangers Tynecastle. Edinburgh. (Buses 1.2, 3. 4. 33. 34.

44). An all-ticket sell-out is expected forthis, with Hearts defending a formidable home record against a transformed Rangers side. Hearts may find themselves caught for pace in defence.

FIRST DIVISION

0 Dumbarton v East Fife Boghead. Dumbarton. ( 10mins from Dumbarton East Station).

0 Dunfermline vAirdrie East End Park, Dunfermline. (15 mins from stations). Match ofthe day in this Division , with both clubs pushing strongly at the top. Home advantage should seal it for an impressive Dunfermline side.

0 Kilmarnockv Clyde Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. (15 mins from stations).

0 Partick v Brechin Firhill, Glasgow. (Buses. l, 8, 21. 57, 60. 61). SECOND DIVISION

0 AyrvStirling Somerset Park, Ayr. (10mins from Ayr Station).

0 Meadowbank v Cowdenbeath Meadowbank, Edinburgh. (Buses 4. 5, 26. 44).

0 Queen's Park vAlIoa Hampden Park. Glasgow. (2 mins from Mount Florida Station).

Saturday 14

FINE FARE LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

0 Celtic v Hearts Celtic Park (see above). Celtic‘s frittering away of a‘. point lead in the League began with; defeat at Tynecastle. Neither club can afford to lose ground at this stagl in the title race, and an extremely competitive match is on the cards.

0 Falkirit V Aberdeen Brockville. Falkirk. (100 yards from Grahamston Station). Falkirk have run the big clubs close on occasion this season. but Aberdeen are likely to ensure it remains without tangiblc reward.

0 Hamilton v Dundee Douglas Park (see above). Same applies as for the Clydebank match last week.

0 Hibs v Clydebank Easter Road, Edinburgh. (Buses 4,15. 42, 44). A match Hibs must win iftheir apparent revival is to be credible.

0 St Mirren v Rangers Love Street, Paisley. (10 mins from Gilmour Street Station). The home side are unlikely to put one over on a Rangers side which should be too resourceful for Alex Smith‘s squad. FIRST DIVISION

0 Dunfermline v Montrose East End Park (see above).

0 Morton v Airdrie Cappielow, Greenock. (5 mins from Cartsdyke Station). Airdrie face their second consecutive stiff test against a high-flying Morton side which looks increasingly likely to return to the Premier league.

0 PartIcIt v Kilmarnock Firhill (see above).

TUESDAY 17

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (UNDER 21)

0 Scotland v Republic of Ireland Easter Road. Edinburgh. 7.30pm.

WEDNESDAY 18

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

0 Scotland v Republic of Ireland Hampden Park, Glasgow. 8pm. Stand all-ticket £12. £8: Ground £4.

Friday 13/Saturday 14

O Ayr Ayr Racecourse. Whitletts Road, Ayr. National Hunt meeting. First Race 1.45pm. £8 or £4.

ICE HOCKEY Saturday 7 '

HEINEKEN LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION

0 File Flyers v Soiihuil Barons Kirkcaldy Ice Rink. 7.15pm. £2.75 (£1.75).

SundayB

o Murrayfield Racers v Cleveland Bombers Murrayfield Ice Rink, Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £2.50 (£1 .50).

Saturday 14

o Ayr Bruins v Durham Wasps Ayr Ice Rink. Limekilns Road. 7pm. £2.50. FIRST DIVISION

0 Glasgow Eagles v Swindon Summit Centre, Minerva Way, Finnieston. 5.30pm. £2 (£1).

Sunday15

o Ayr Bruins v Whitley Warriors Ayr Ice Rink (see above).

INDOOR BOWLING Saturday 7—Sunday 15

o Embassy World Indoor Bowling Championship Coatbridge Indoor Arena. 1pm daily. Event ticket £20; Rounds £1 ; Semi-finals £3; Final £6. This popular event offers a record prize money to the biggest ever field of 32 players.

EIIIIIIIII_ Saturday 7

0 British University Sports Federation Cross-Country Bellahouston Park. Glasgow.

0 City 01 Edinburgh Races Jack Kane Centre, Niddrie Mains Road. Edinburgh. 12.30pm. Cross-country. Entries accepted at venue on the day.

RUGBY

Saturday 14

MCEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1

o Boroughmuirv Gala Meggetland. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.

0 Watsonians v Kelso Myreside. Edinburgh. 2.30pm. Both these clubs are tucked in close behind leaders Hawick. in what should be the match of the day.

0 Glasgow Acads v Jediorest New Anniesland, Glasgow. 2.30pm.

0 West of Scotland v Edinburgh Acads Burnbrae, Milngavie. 2.30pm.

0 Ayrv Melrose Millbrae. Ayr. 2.30pm.

38 The List 6 - 19 February