Festival Theatre list.co.uk/festival
music@list.co.uk
THE SUN ALSO RISES The Edinburgh International Festival’s theatre programme kicks off with this world premiere adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s first major novel by acclaimed New York ensemble Elevator Repair Service. The company apply their trademark stylised bullfighting, striking sound design and choreography to Hemingway’s story of American and British ex- pats in the Europe of the 1920s. ■ Royal Lyceum Theatre, 473 2000, 14–16 Aug, 8pm (Sun mat 11am) & 17 Aug, 2pm, £10–£27. 5THINGS
1 If yer gonnay be on at the Embra Fringe first thing is: dinnay get nervous. It’s only fuckin Embra, ken whit I mean? Hoose prices cannay get ye doon by the hair. And onywey, it’s just actin, which ye dae aw the time. Polis at the door? There’s yer drama school right there. Many times we covered for them laddies noo, Babs? Aye too many, hen, you are right. 2 If ye forget yer ‘lines’ onstage, just hae a wee blether tae the audience. Tell them aboot yer dug or yer work or yer karaoke night. Folk like a blether. Especially aboot that premier night spot, The Martell (or the Tartell, as it’s kent in Falkirk, even though it’s only classy lassies like me and Babs whit go there). 3 Ye should demand what’s kent as a ‘rider’ fae the venue. Depends on yer tastes, obviously. I like them in Navy uniform. But always try and maintain a good relationship wi the venue, in case ye set the fire alarm aff when ye’re havin a cheeky toke in the toilets. 4 Being on tour isnay borin! Ye’re in a hotel iviry night, so how can it get borin? Nae meals tay cook, dishes tay dae or dug shite tay pick up fae the gairden. Just you, the telly, a braw big bed, a half bottleay Smirnoff and a packetay Silk Cut. If it’s a Setirday, ye’ve probably even got The X-Factor. Newsay the World delivered tay yer door next moarnin. I love bein on tour. 5 Get yer laddies tae hand oot flyers advertisin yer show. Many times ye ironed their shirts? Exactly. Get their arses oot there. They can pick up some Pepsi Max while they’re at it. (as told to Alan Bissett) ■ The Moira Monologues, National Library of Scotland, 226 0000, until 21 Aug (not 14 & 15), 7pm, £8 (£6).
P E O S Y N N E J
Being on tour can be a stressful business, what with staying away from home, forgetting your lines onstage and, erm, setting off the fire alarm in the venue. Scotland’s newest stage superstar, Moira, shares her tips on how to survive a fortnight at the Fringe
Hitlist FESTIVAL THEATRE *
S E L T T E B L E N I
✽✽ Blackout Deceptively simple monologue told from the point of a young man on probation by Davey Anderson and brand new theatre company ThickSkin. See review, page 72. Underbelly, 0844 545 8252, until 29 Aug, 2.55pm, £6.50–£10 (£8–£9). ✽✽ My Romantic History Funny, sharp dissection of contemporary relationships from DC Jackson. See review, page 76. Traverse Theatre, 228 1404, until 29 Aug (not 16, 23), times vary, £15–£17 (£11–£12). ✽✽ Beautiful Burnout Bryony Lavery’s powerful new play gets to grips with the brutal yet disciplined and inspirational nature of boxing. See review, page 70. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug (not 16, 23), 7.30pm, £11.50–£14 (£10–£12.50). ✽✽ Penelope Playwright Enda Walsh draws eye-watering contemporary parallels with Homer’s Odyssey. See review, page 80. Traverse Theatre, 228 1404, until 29 Aug (not 16, 23), times vary, £17–£19 (£12–£13). ✽✽ Harlekin This beautiful pared-down show provides another memorable chapter in Derevo’s history. See review, page 78. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 30 Aug (not 16, 23), 1pm, £12–£14. ✽✽ Pedal Pusher Muscular show that does justice to the toughest sporting event in the world, the Tour de France. See review, page 74. Zoo Roxy, 662 6892, until 30 Aug (not 15, 22), 4pm, £12 (£10). ✽✽ Sub Rosa Typically inspired, immersive Victorian gothic promenade show from David Leddy. See review, page 81. Hill Street Theatre, 226 6522, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), every 20 mins from 10.20–11.20pm & midnight–12.40am, £10–£15. ✽✽ The Sun Also Rises World premiere adaptation of Hemingway’s classic novel by New York’s Elevator Repair Service. See Big Pic, left. Royal Lyceum Theatre, 473 2000, 14–16 Aug, 8pm (Sun mat 11am) & 17 Aug, 2pm, £10–£27. For festival index see page 136.
12–19 Aug 2010 THE LIST 69