Mark Pencack paddles into the Glasgow Comedy Festival
Tum laugh back his humour.
UTTER NONSENSE
Delving into the mind of a storytelling guru
It's not just heavy drinkers from St Helens with a platform at this year‘s Glasgow Comedy Festival. but deranged Canadians too. And this one's for the kids. Mark Pencack of Blueboat Theatre Company returns with a specially devised play. Utter Nonsense. starring the character Tum Tum Tinker. as previously seen in a show of his own name. ‘It’s the story of Tum Tum Tinker who loses his sense of humour because he‘s been working too hard and so goes on a journey,‘ says Pencack. ‘He meets other travellers who are looking for things. like Horace the handsome slug who's driven to be a star in Hollywood. and the duck who wants adventure. Then he meets Sigmund Freud, who says his problems are all in the mind, so Tum has to go inside his own where he discovers that his play head‘s wilted.‘
The psycho-analogy of a stressed-out head neglectful of balancing yin and yang is a scenario many parents will relate to. But Pencack believes it is something children will recognise and understand too. ‘I think stress
runs through our society right down to kids: there’s more pressure there now, it seems to kind of get in the air,‘ he says. And as we are told laughter is the best therapy (scientifically proven — executives in Japan are being taken on ‘how to laugh' courses). so Pencack helps
Is there not a touch of Pencack‘s own subconscious coming out in this parable? Despite his almost unfettered success with Blueboat. Pencack is indicating a level of weariness with the way things have developed since he moved here five years ago. ‘I think children’s theatre in general is still concentrated in the hands of a few people. I really don’t know if I‘m going to be doing this the following year. I don‘t know whether the system wants new
companies. I feel like there’s a big sign outside that says: “Full. No vacancies.
So could this be his last show? ‘I wouldn’t be surprised. Certainly at the moment I feel I‘ve worked five years to
come in a big circle.‘
There are many who would disagree, and it would be a crying shame if there was no more Blueboat Theatre in Scotland. So you better get yourself along to potentially the last performances of Tum Tum Tucker, aka Mark Pencack, storyteller and animator extraordinaire. (Ruth Hedges)
I 11331.” .'
\\llll lllL' locux oii llic .'\ll\'lt'lll l'.fJ}]1ll;lll (iiillci‘) Ilici'c \\ i1| 1w ;l chanct' loi lll;l\l\ iiigikiiig.
Musket, Pipe and Drum Sui 23 Mg”. llillll.lli1illl. Spunk 3pm, [X
it) UH. l'.iliiiliiii'g_'li ('iixllc. Ro}.i1 .\lilc. 23.5 93.11). SCL‘ lllt' \‘liilllt‘x \\11lll;llltlll1t' \\t';l|1i1ll\ ll\L'\l 1i} llic lfllll ('culur} \Ulillcl.
Theatre and Dance
Beauty and the Beast l'nul Sui I3 -\pi' iiiol Sum. “.i11piu. \Vcd i\* S.il
3. 111pm tk 7.311piii (‘1.511 (N. 1’1;i)|iou\c. l3 3: (ilL‘L'll\ltlt‘ l’ltlt't‘. (“all (111(1355i. llll\ t'llt‘llilllllllgj \lill'} ol .i girl and .iii u§_'1_\ l‘t‘;l\l\‘11lllt‘\111lllt‘\\llll 1)i\iit'}'\ .i\\;iiil \\llllllll:_' lllll\l\';ll,
Quest 1‘11 1-1 .\l;ii. .‘piii. t5. lillllll_\ lulu! £111. \Ul'lll lailiiiliuigli .\l'l\ (‘ciilitz 15.1 l’t‘llll)\\t'll (‘oui'L 315 2151. .-\g_'c\ () plux. \Vcc Sloi'it'x il'liculic loi ('liililivii picxciil lllt‘ll l.ikc on llic Icgciitlui} lulc ol King .\lllllll.
Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker luv 35 Sal 2‘1 Mai. 7‘11piii; 11m & Sal _‘..i11pui .\ “311piu {17.511 {30.511 l'i'\ll\;il l‘llcull'L‘. l5 3‘1 \lt‘olvill Sllt‘t‘l. 521111111111 .'\\\;lltl \iiiiiiiiig lillll\ll choiciigmplicr .\l;illlic\\ liouiiic lii'iiigx lll\ 11C“ production lo liilinhuigli. l11ll11\\lllf_' lllL‘ \ut‘u‘xx ol' lll\ llllli1\;lll\L‘ llt‘“ \Cl\l11ll\ ol (Livit‘ l‘illlt‘h. \\lllL‘ll incluilc 5mm liikr .llltl ('unlu‘r/lu.
Exhibition
The Golden Ages of Toys l'niil Sui ‘ Juii. l'il'CC. Muwum ol'('liili1hooil. 43 High Slim. 52‘) 4142. Shaw llic magic ol \lcccuiio. ll11l'lll1} ll';llli\cl\. lcdd) l‘L‘;ll\ illltl lhc \xoiiilcrlul .ii'i‘u) ol [0) x that uiiiic 111 lll-L' lk‘l“ CL‘ll 13‘)” glllil 19511.
Outside the Cities
Activities and Fun
Unpicking the Past l'niil Sun 3" Apr. l‘i'cc. l.o\\ l’Jllo .\lll\Clllll. 1211 Mini Sli‘ccl. 11;iiiii11oii.11l(i\)x 328233. l'iii'uwlliiig llic
I’t/ll.‘1(,‘l’/:}‘x}. \)A(l’,)\l', \)I(1f)(;(1n.a. \)(l.’ i 4 .114“.
4 1.1;], (.1.
\loi} lk‘llllltllllt‘11l1lL‘\l\"11\llllllt‘ 111 [hr iuuwuiii'x L‘Ullt't'llUll.
Jammin’ l‘ll H (k .‘.| .\1;ii.3 551111111 [1 llomlcn l’;u1.(‘ciilic. 11o\\ili'ii.
1n iiigxion, 11] 5110 »l i in i-l .\ luiik} iluncv t‘lzixx loi ilf.‘t‘\ 111 lo t'11\k‘llll_L' t'\t'l}llllll:.!ll'11llll‘lt‘illxlllgliilllj‘lllljl. Ghost Box Cameras Sui IS \‘un 11» .\l;ii. 8.11 111 i11giiii 13 i11piu .\
1 i11 i 5llj1lll; Sun 1‘11 i illplll l’im' liul hooking L‘\\L‘llll;ll 1o“ 1’;iik\ .\lll\L‘lllll. 13‘1.\luii Slim-1.11;iiiiilloii.11l1i‘)N
3383 i3 \Voiluliop loi S 1-1 _\c;ii' Ultl\ (It‘llllllf: I‘lllllt1\lllllllillllll‘(l\ (illllt'lil. luuiiiiig .ilioul ll\lllj_‘ llf._‘lll .inil tlt‘\t‘l11]111lj_‘ Ill llic (lilllxlUUlll. ’m/ n! .Vulmmi/ .Si [1/111 Hi (L
GR8 Paints and Cool Papers Sui l5 .\l;u. |l;uii 1pm 1.1 .\lt‘.\l;iiiu~ (iilllt‘l'lt‘\. .'\ll\t‘ll Squgu'c. l)lllltlt't‘. 111 “I 453134 .\j_‘\‘\ N 1:. l-“U 11:1} \xiill>\\l111|1 hiking: lll\|‘ll';llii1ll lioiii lllt‘ RSW C\llll‘lll11ll.
Felt Making Workshop Sun lo \ltll.
l’iu' (lililciglcu ('ouiili‘} l’ui'k. Sluilliuu‘li Rouil. l'.il\l Killiiiilt'. 111 :55
3 mm: |)i'op iii \\11ll\\l111|1 loi Clllltllt'll MM \\;1111 lo haw .i go .11 llll\ luii linililioiiul \‘lilll
West Lothian Youth Dance I'uc Ix & 35 Mai. 1 i11 5.i11jiiii& 5 ;11 "pm
til [1 511. Houdcil l’;u'k (’L'iilic. ll11\\tlL'l1. l.i\iiig.'~lou.111511o-lii1i3-1 .-\g_'c\ x ll & l: 111 ll} Hill tllllL'lClll (lullu‘ \l)lL‘\ li'oiii hicuk dancing lo hip hop
Theatre and Dance
The King Whose Name was Forgotten Siil 22 Mai. 3pm. lit-c, 'l‘olhoolli l'liculi‘c. J;ul \\'_\iii1. Sliiliiig. 111-311 3-4111111. l.oc;il [il'llll;ll'_\ \L'l11111l\ 1i;i\ c uoi‘kcd \\llll lllll\lL'l;lll (ii'cg 'l'i'uckcll and coxluiiic iiiukci‘ l.oui\c .\1;ii'liii to bring llll\ll';ltlllli1ll;ll :\ll'lL‘;lll \lol'} lo lllL‘. Telling Tales Sul 32 Mar. 1 1;uii,
{I {I 5111(11, l)llll\lCL' ch. la} Square. Ullllilcc. lll 533 :2 5.5 511 \lL‘llllk‘h 111 lllL' 1>undcc ch coiiipiui} lcll l;llC\ old illltl IN“ 111 kltl\ ugul .5 N.
M,"’, /ini',.1(,./. I' €'.i."e', A." ’ ’j, .>.,'
Utter Nonsense Sun 3‘ Wm. .‘piii H. l11ll‘1111lll lllL‘illlt', .|;ii| \\}iiil. \liiliii;.‘. 111 “No 271111111 Soc (il;i\;_'o\\ .iiiil
pm lk'\\.
The Stones ll11'3< Sgil “1\l.'u.liiui'\ \;ii). 1.1 \lilt'RHl‘t‘ll. liiixvixilx ol Sliiliiiy. Sliiliiig. 111 ‘31» -l(l(\l\(\(\ Sm“ (il;l\;‘11\‘.
Moontel Six lllll .“ \'.ii .‘0 \1.ii.
" i11piii. L5 \l;it'l{olwil.l iiiu‘ixiu ol Suiliiig. Kiiiliiip. 11] ‘xn "mum. \lilt'RHl‘t'll Youlli lllL‘illlt‘ picwul .i \‘11lllt'lllj‘11lill_\ kind ol 11i.i\i- \k-u \\oili| “llt'lt' .i j..‘l11lll\ oi git-iii-Iii'ull} .illciml lt‘t'11\l1£1\t‘l‘t't‘ll "lll\l|t'1l iiiloliiiluig' |\\ lllt‘ lt'\ltlt'lll\ 111 \liiiilhlt'mll'\1.ili‘\lll.i with 1mm
The International Purves Puppets H1179.” 1’uppcl llimui'. liiougliloii Roiiil.111.\‘1‘1 32111111 151111. l;iiiii1) llt‘lu‘h 1.3 i k t ‘1» Hook iii iltl\;lllt't‘;l\lllllt'\L11t' \ulijci'l lo \‘l1.IH_‘.‘t‘ Rt‘tlllt'llfllh loi l‘;llllt'\11l ll\1‘ oi mon- Sliimx on 11llt‘l im-i lllt'llL'\ll\\11\\t't'l\\
Pips and Panda in Circus Land lllll li\l;ll. 111 “tun. lllll IX .\l.ii. 13-l5piu. Sun 3* \l.ll. 311111i\' lllll 3‘ .\l;ii. 111511.111] \gt'x * l’ipx .lllll l’.iiiil.i \ iin lllt'I1111\\llt'lt'lllk'} iiici-i mo git-cw L'illlt'tl .lill} .lllll 1.111) .llltl Sir-mi lllt' 11min”; l111l\t‘\\llll lolxol \1111}J\.ll1111_‘_' llu' \\.i_\.
Snow White 8.11 15 \l;ii. :[‘ll1.\\1‘1l 1‘1.\l;u. 1|;iiii «k 8.11 .‘..‘. .\l.ii. 3pm \ iicu \L‘l\li1l111l lllL'L'l.l\\1\' lgili' lvuiuiiiig: Sill)“ \\llllL'-\l‘l:.fll11:..‘, St‘l\.i\ll.il1;iliillllt' “lk'lxk'tl 1‘1uu'ii‘x \ulluic [1l11\.111 \‘11lll\t'. 11w \mcn tl\\illl\
Exhibition
A Land of Shadows l'iilil Sun 3. Jul l‘icc ('liulcllii'ixiull (‘ouiilii link. (RulixlcRouil.ll;iiiiilloii.111(i‘1\131131i lll\|‘llul 1i} .IRR lolkicii'x 1 oiil oi ihc Riiigx. .‘l l;m‘iii;iliiig c\lii1\iuoii loi .111 .igcxlculuiuig .i lli‘l‘l‘ll \illiii§_v liN‘lll.1lltl .i uhunuc to IUUIIIL‘) lliiougli [In ([111!!! [fut/A
5731:: Kids
Gossip from school yards across Scotland
Launch of the Citizen Y campaign
NOTORIOUS EDINBURGH ACTOR Gary McCormack, who‘s starred in Sweet Sixteen, The Acid House and Gangs of New York launches a new campaign for Edinburgh‘s youth, Citizen Y. The actor is an interesting choice for being the campaign‘s ‘face'. but says he can understand issues affecting young people due to his experiences growing up and performing in punk rock band the Exploited. He says his outward appearance drew a lot of negative responses. The campaign aims to celebrate the positive role played by young people in Edinburgh. We'll keep you posted on future events.
, [L :1 ' ,
THERE‘S GOOD NEWS FOR swimmers as Edinburgh follows Glasgow's suit with an initiative for free swimming. From this month onwards admission charges will be waived for unlimited access to most Edinburgh Leisure pools. Glasgow kids have gone free with a Kidzclub card for some time now. Log on to www.kidzcard.org. uk to find out details of further discounts and to download an application form.
°. . i . w .«w: . :1 ‘ 11’” ' '4' '} ' r/U {1 b
i v y 4 y ( 'r-;‘ 'r (i .
| I ill, t: } ‘1,.,.‘:i,,"{,.{1.,1,.(:.1,_,,.:iy.
AND NOW BACK TO FESTIVALS. Edinburgh Science Festival, running 11-22 April. has just launched its programme. and very fun it looks too. Visit www.5ciencefestival.co.uk for details and check out future issues of the The List for listings and highlights.
' :'. 'THE LIST 97