‘IT'S ABOUT THAT STAGE OF LOVE THAT'S BIGGER THAN ANY OTHER'
T
A life less ordinary
Steve Cramer talks to writer and cartoonist Daniel Jackson about love, ordinary life and his new play, The Wall
he smell ol burnt toast and old earpet. the
l‘amiliar Sunda} re—runs ol' popular tele\ ision
sllo\\s glinting lrom the sereen in the eorner. the dreieh \sealher outside . . . there‘s something about the home people shared \\ilh parents in the earliest _\ears ol' their li\ es that spells l'amiliarit} and seeurit}. The ad\anee ot‘ our teenage _\ears tlsuall) L‘\ptises. as \\ ell. a bit nli btil'etltilll tllltl tllst‘tilltellt with these eonditions. bill at base rool _\ou might .speeulate that \\ e still lind a comfort in this ewryla§ suburban \sorld.
It‘s in the quiet and seemingl} banal moments of This kllltl 0!. lllt‘ “here the WW”) Uli 23-}L‘tll'-Ultl dramatist and cartoonist Daniel .laekson resides. Whether it's the familiar problems of l'latsharing that \\ e eneounter later in Me or ehildhood e\perienees ol the lainil} home. .laekson‘s obser\ations are lull ot' \\;tl'lillll. humour and of. the simple soeial rituals ot‘ da} to da} lile. something that is a great strength ol' his \sork. llis ne\\ pieee. \shieh. belore its premiere has alread} \\on him a eouple ol‘ axxards and a one- _\ear residene} at the Ro}al (‘ourt. is \er) much about the quotidian li\ es ol‘ teenagers still residing “till their parents. in sleep} Steuarton. But there's no shortage of grandeur there for all that.
‘lt's a lo\ e stor_\ that's about that stage ol~ lo\ e that‘s bigger than an} other. \\ hen _\ou tirst e\perienee it as a teenager. It's that big. grand melodramatie stage of
86 THE LIST '~1 Q“ is»: . 5
lute. lt L‘L‘l'tttllll} \\il\ T‘UT' mef .lllL‘l’s\()lT s;l_\s. lll it. \\ e meet a l7-_\ear—old protagonist. his sister. and his one great lot e. a lb-_\ear—old goth. Then there's his mate Barr}. \tho‘s described as a barn. ‘l lind the \\t)l'tl ned ol‘l'ensi\e.‘ .laekson e\plains. ‘\\'hen I \\ as at sehool. I kneu gu} s Wilt) \tould ha\ e been relerred to that \\a_\. but the} prel‘er the \xord bam. so it it‘s oka} l‘or them. it's oka_\ \sith me. 'l‘heyre no dil‘l‘erent than an} kids
there‘s light drugs. light drinking. tumbling attempts at se\ual e\ploration that would eatlse their parents some consternation. btlt l i\lltT\\ I got tip to that kind ol thing.’
.laekson is keen to stress the popular appeal ol his subieet matter his eomersation is about his t)\\l] e\perienee. _\et man} of the themes and situations he e\p|ores \\ ill be lamiliar to people in the audienee.
.laekson is keen to stress that he‘s intent on producing light. it" thoughtful l‘are l‘or his audienees. "l‘here's an element ol teen moxie about it ~ it~ )ou like that firm/tins! ('lub kind of mo\ie. then _\ou'll like this'. he sa_\s. "This is more of a fun night at the theatre. 'l‘here ha\e been plent} ol‘ plays about the \arious \\.‘.tl'\ \se're in and politieal crises and so on. and tlit*}'i‘e good work. but this delinitel} isn't that kind of pla}. I hope it‘ll reach an audienee \\ ho are interested in just a fun night out.‘
Tron, Glasgow, Thu 28 Feb-Sat 8 Mar
LIST
THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
just the normal stul'l'
>l<
* The Visible Mon Clever slapstick humour as well as inspiring physical theatre combine with this dynamic two-man piece from Tom Roden and Pete Shenton. the Reeves and Mortimer of movement theatre. See preview. page 88. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 16 Feb.
* Ballogangalre Tom Murphy's tale of an old storyteller tended by her two surviving granddaughters in rural Ireland is an intriguing yarn about family tensions and social change. Andy Arnold. fresh from his success with Translations. continues with his cycle of drama on Irish themes. See preview, page 87. Arches, Glasgow, Tue 26 Feb—Sat 8 Mar.
'3 The Well A comical tale of teenage love in suburban Stewarton. the piece promises warmth and humour in an everyday setting. See preview, left. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 28 Feb-Sat 8 Mar.
* X Factor Dance Company In Other Voices. Other Rooms the acclaimed contemporary dance troupe move into uncharted territory in using a found location for their show. The dark corners and staircases of the Edinburgh Freemason's Hall should add to the sense of adventure so noted in this company's work. See preview. page 88. Freemason's Hall, Edinburgh, Tue 19 Feb—Sat 1 Mar.
# Resurrection Nicola McCartney’s new adaptation of Tolstoy's last and least-known novel promises love. social progress and individual choice. all falling inside an hour at Oran Mor. See preview. page 90. Oran Mor, Glasgow, until Sat 16 Feb.