Theatre listings
Edinburgh Drama
KING’S THEATRE
2 l.eyen Street. 52‘) (i000. [11. '1”1‘. W(‘. WA]
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Mon 2 Dee Stiti 1‘) Jan (not Mon 9). Mon 2 l)ec & Thu 5 Dec liri (i Dec 7pm; Tue 3 Dec Wed 4 Dec. Sat 7 Dec & Wed 1 1 Dec 2pm tk 7pm; Stiii 8 Dec 1pm & 5.15pm. £12.50 £19.50. Alan Ste“ art. Andy (iray and Kenny Baker star in this year's panto extrayagan/a.
PLAYHOUSE
18 22 (ireenside Place. 0870 6063424. Ill. W('. WA]
Miss Saigon t'ntil Sat 25 Jan (not Sun). 7.30pm (Wed & Sat tiiat 2.30pm). £10 £35. The West lind smash set iii war-torn 70s Saigon. where American (ils and bar girls fall in and otlt of love. with tunes such as ‘1 Still Belieye'. ‘American I)ream' and many more.
ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE (irindlay Street. 248 4848. ll’. 11. '11.. W('. WA]
Merlin the Magnificent Fri 2‘) Not-Sun 2‘) Dec (not Stiti 1 Thu 5. Stiii STUL‘ 10). Magic and entertainment for all \si/ard fans Stuart Paterson's play flies in lot‘ some (’hristmas charms and spells.
TRAVERSE THEATRE
(‘anibridge Street. 228 1404. ll’. H. Ti. W(‘. WA]
The Joy Society Thu 28 Sat 3() Soy. 8pm. £10 (£4 £0). Dark Horse and the Bristol Old Vic present this funny. rude and highly physical piece about the origins o1 carniyal.
P@ckers Sat 30 .\'o\; 4pm. £4 (£2). Performed reading. Boundless Theatre ('ompany presents this black comedy. See preyieyy.
The Night Before Christmas liri () Sun 8 Dec. 8pm: Stiii opin. £10 (£4 £0). See (ilasgoys'. 'l‘ron Theatre.
USHER HALL
I.othian Road. 228 1155. Ill. W(‘. WA] The Happy Gang’s Fairytale Christmas Wed 4 & Thu 5 Dec. See Kids listings.
Christmas at the Musicals - A West End Gala Sat 7 Dec. 7.30pm. £15 £22. London's West lind returns with songs from the best-loy ed musicals over the past 25 years.
Edinburgh Dance
FESTIVAL THEATRE
l5 2‘) Nicolstm Street. 52‘) (3000. Ill. W(‘. WA]
Richard Alston Dance Company Tue 3 Dee. 7.30pm.
£8 £14. New works from the acclaimed company including Stamper/e set to ltaliaii medieyal music and A Stu/(lei: lit/'1. Sec pi'eyieu‘.
ST BRIDE’S CENTRE
10 ()rys'ell 'l'ct'racc. 346 1405. |\\'(‘. WA]
Ballet West Thu 12 Sat 14 Dec. 7.30pm (Sat itiat 2.30pm). £9 (£6). Scotland's Ballet West presents The .\'tt1t'rut'ker based on the original ballet set to 'l'chaikoysky’s magnificent score.
Central Drama 8- Dance
Cumbemauld CUMBERNAULD THEATRE Kildrtim. 01236 732887. ll’. [1. '1”l‘. W(‘. WA]
Rumpelstiltskin t’ntil Sat 28 Dec (not Sun). Thu 5 Dec Hi () 1)ec 10am & 7pm; Sat 50 .\'o\‘. Sat 7 Dec & Wed 1 1 Dec 7pm; .\lon 2 Dec Tue 5 Dec & Mon 9 Dec Tue 10 Dec 10am: Wed 4
clubs 0 theatre - arts cinema - music - leisure tourism - attractions
0131 555 1391 www.eae.co.uk publicity distribution nationwide
60 THE LIST 2T", No: '2 DW; 1200?
SHAKESPLAHE RICHARD III Cottier Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 30 Nov 000
Richard the eye, eye, eye
The distinct emphasis upon the first word of Shakespeare’s play in Rapture Theatre’s production brings the text firmly out of doublet and hose and into modern day. The famous opening speech, beginning: ‘Now is the winter of our discontent . . .’ is read aloud by the eponymous Duke of Gloucester, as if from a pre-prepared address, whilst the reigning royals stand in family unity, waving to an adoring public. It isn’t long, however, before the Plantagenets’ lives are dissolving into sticky pools of blood on the state carpets.
Clinically psychopathic Richard, played with juicy relish by Mike Tibbetts, murders his way through at least three generations of close family, slaughtering brothers, wives, children and not a few innocent bystanders, in order to claim the crown. And Rapture Theatre do it rather well. Except, at three and a half-hours running time, you can’t help but wonder if it’s all strictly necessary.
Shakespeare is always best abridged, and in spite of everything indicating a building urgency and increase in pace towards the end of the second half, the action is slowed by wordy exchanges that could be more concisely communicated in a third of the time. And although ending with Richard’s hatred-ridden mother returning to her son’s body at the end of the play is another of several nice directorial touches by Michael Emans, it’s simply one more protraction to a story that is already in danger of outstaying its welcome.
A wonderful double-act is made of Richard and sometime co-conspirator Buckingham, played by Adam P Tomkins in probably the most enjoyable
performance somehow does.
1)ec & Wed 1 1 Dec 10am & 1pm; 1‘ri 2‘) .\'oy 1pm 8; 7pm. £8 (£6); family
ticket £25. Simon Sharkey's magical
pantomime brings to life the popular story of Rumpelstiltskin.
Dundee
CAIRD HALL
('ity Square. 01382 434040. ll’. 11. W('. WA]
The All American Solid Gold Rock’n’Roll Show Mon 2 Dec. 7.30pm. £10.50 £19.50. See (ilasgtm. Royal ('oiiccrt llall.
DUNDEE REP
'1‘aySquarc.01382 223530. ll’. 11. W('. WA]
The Snow Queen Sat .10 \m Sat 4 Jan (not Sun). 7.15pm; Sat 2.30pm tk 7.15pm. £10 £12 (£5.75 £8.50). Dundee Rep resident company presents Stuart Paterson's acclaimed ('lii'istiiias show emphasising narrati\e. though not neglecting humour and audience participation.
The Night Before Christmas Tue 10 Sat 21 Dec. 10pm. £4.50 (£5.50). Dundee ch's t‘csitlcltl company presents this \\ ickcdly t‘tinny adult alternatiye to the traditional paiito l‘odder by Anthony .\'ei|son.
“I I... 9 ’5.
‘0. .0"
performance of the night. In his patent white leather shoes, snazzy red waistcoat, and pencil-thin moustache, Buckingham’s final realisation of his betrayal by Richard shouldn’t rightfully evoke sympathy, but Tomkins‘
By and large, a gripping and imaginative production of a text that demands much from both cast and audience. (Gareth Davies)
East Kilbride
EAST KILBRIDE ARTS CENTRE
()ltl ('tiacli Road. 01555 201000. ll). ll. W(‘. WA]
Dick Whittington ill 2‘) .\'o\ Sun 22 Dec (not .\1oii Wed). 'l‘liti tk l‘ri 7.30pni1Sat 3pm k -,.§(l]illllSl1115p111. £(i (£4). .loiii Dick in his quest to lind the streets pay c‘tl \\ lllt gtiltl it) Kilfl )'s annual paiito.
The Night Before Christmas l‘ri (i l)ec. 10pm. £0 ( £4). Sec (ilasgoys. 'l‘roii 'l'lieati'e.
St Andrews
BYRE THEATRE
Abbey Sti‘cct. (11334 425000. ll’. \\'(‘. WA]
Round Europe in Song l‘l'l 2‘) Not. 8pm. £12.50 ( £0.50). liiitla ()riiiistoii. .laiiics \icol and .loliii Scriiiigcr take a musical trip iotititl litiropc.
The Firebird lit 0 Sat 28 Dec (iitil Stiii 8 Thu 12). l’ri b Dec q..2llllllll.\';11 7 Dec 2.30pm tk 7.30pm. £11 £12.50 (£7.50 £8.50). Wea\ ing together three traditional Russian (airy tales. the story ol' l\;tii \\ ho tries to capture the titagical l-‘ircbird that is stealing golden apples l'i'oiii liis lather‘s orchard.