Theatre HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
www.list.co.uk/theatre
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Journey’s End David Grindley’s revival of RC Sherriff’s poignant World War I drama arrives in the capital following an 18- month run in London and a Tony-award winning Broadway stint. See feature, page 108. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 15–Sat 19 Mar.
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Girl X Robert Softley and Pol Heyvaert explore issues surrounding disability sexuality. See preview, page 114. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 4-Sat 12 Mar; Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 16 Mar–Sat 19 Mar.
The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy The Ramshorn stages Douglas Adams’ space comedy using the original radio scripts. See preview, page 116. Ramshorn Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 24 Mar–Fri 1 Apr. Around the World in 80 Days Lung Ha’s mounts an epic stage version of Jules Verne’s novel. See Q & A, right. Platform, Glasgow, Thu 31 Mar & Fri 1 Apr; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 6 & Thu 7 Apr.
Wild Life Contemporary horror about a couple who become convinced that a feral child is lurking just outside their house. See preview, page 109. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 11 & Sat 12 Mar; Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 16 Mar.
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King Lear Shakespeare’s great tragedy about a deluded monarch cast into the wilderness, featuring an acclaimed performance by Derek Jacobi in the lead. See preview, page 109. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Mon 7–Sat 12 Mar.
Sweetness Kevin MacNeil adapts Torgny Lindgren’s novel of brotherly strife for Dogstar theatre. See preview, page 109. Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Thu 3 Mar; North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Fri 4 Mar.
Mother Courage and her Children A new version of Brecht’s classic. See preview, page 109. Paisley Arts Centre, Thu 10 Mar; Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Thu 12 Mar; Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 30 Mar–Sat 2 Apr.
Janis Claxton: Humanimalia New work inspired by Enclosure 44 – Humans where Claxton’s company spent 11 days inside an enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo. See preview, page 112. Tramway, Glasgow, Fri 4 & Sat 5 Mar.
Northern Ballet: Cleopatra The company brings one of the most famous women in history to life, with music by composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. See preview, page 112. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Thu 10-Sat 12 Mar.
108 THE LIST 3–31 March 2011
StageWHISPERS MARIA OLLER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, LUNG HA’S
What inspired you to go Around the World in 80 Days? I wanted to give the company members a chance to do a classic play. Around the World in 80 Days came to mind as a story that is rarely produced for the stage, and is funny, with lots of characters. I contacted Finnish playwright Bengt Ahlfors who has written a stage version and he gave us free rein to adapt his script. How did your collaboration with Douglas Maxwell come about? I was thinking of who would have the right spirit for an adventure piece and who would know and understand Lung Ha’s well enough to adapt the script. Douglas was my first choice: he has a brilliant sense of humour. Is this Lung Ha’s most ambitious show to date? As a sole Lung Ha’s production it is probably the most ambitious. The members are going from strength to strength with the help of choreographer Christine Devaney, composer and musician Pete Vilk and a great set by Becky Minto. Is theatre a particularly good medium with which to engage people with learning difficulties? Definitely. Theatre not only teaches you communication and raises your confidence it also gives you a chance to understand other people by creating characters. What has been the highlight of your career with Lung Ha’s? Maybe when members were awarded the Cats Award for the Best ensemble for Huxley’s Lab together with Grid Iron. This meant so much to them and has had a long-term effect on their work. If you were to travel around the world in 80 days where would you most like to stop off? It would be at our family sauna in Finland. You need a good sauna if you are travelling around the world. I am a Finn after all . . . ■ See Hitlist, left, for full performance schedule.