Theatre

Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score performed by one of Russia’s leading ballet companies. Carnival Du Vampires Rock Mon 12 Mar, 7.30pm. £26. Expect to find yourself air-guitaring along to this unique future-set vampirific musical as Steve Steinman’s band The Lost Boys blast their way through rock anthems by Led Zeppelin, Meatloaf, AC/DC, Bon Jovi and the like. Fangtastic. Good Mourning Mrs Brown Tue 13–Sat 17 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2pm). £21.50–£30.50. Brendan O’Carroll stars in the continuing hilarious tales of this typical Dublin Mammy. Spamalot Mon 19–Sat 24 Mar, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm). £19.50–£43.50. See King’s Theatre, Glasgow.

EL BAR 6–8 Howden Street, 667 7033. Flamenco Noche Fri 2, Sat 17, Sat 24 & Fri 30 Mar, 8.30pm. £12 (£10). Live flamenco music and vivacious dance performances. EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Funny Peculiar Until Sat 3 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £15–£28. A small-town grocer is led astray into the arms of his neighbour in this comforting comedy featuring Craig Gazey, Suzanne Shaw and Vicky Entwistle. Beauty and the Beast Thu 15–Sat 17 Mar, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £12–£32.50 (£9–£29.50; family £80). Northern Ballet’s adaptation of the classic tale of the handsome prince who is disfigured as punishment for his arrogance. Accompanied by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia playing the music of Bizet, Debussy, Poulenc and Fauré. Scottish Dance Theatre Wed 21 Mar, 7.30pm. £13–£18 (£10–£15). A triple bill from Scottish Dance Theatre featuring Lay Me Down Safe by Kate Weare, Drift by James Wilton and Pavlova’s Dogs by Rachel Lopez de la Nieta. Nederlands Dans Theater 2 Fri 23 & Sat 24 Mar, 7.30pm. £12.50–£22.50 (£9.50–£19.50). Dutch ensemble return with their high-energy work which features no dancers under the age of 21. See preview, page 113. Scottish Opera: The Rake’s Progress Tue 27, Thu 29 & Sat 31 Mar, 7.15pm. £10–£67.50. See Theatre Royal, Glasgow.

INSTITUT FRANÇAIS D’ECOSSE 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. Un Fou noir au pays des Blancs Tue 20 Mar, 6.30pm. £8 (£5). See Alliance Française de Glasgow, Glasgow.

THE PLEASANCE CABARET BAR 60 Pleasance, 556 6550. The Sugar Revue Sat 10 Mar, 8pm. £12–£15. The delectable Madame Myfanwy is your host for this evening of dazzling burlesque and cabaret from the likes of Millie Dollar, Diva Hollywood, Gypsy Charms, The Great Aziz and Dizzy Godiva.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Of Mice and Men Until Sat 17 Mar (not Sun/Mon), 7.45pm (Sat 3, Wed 7 & Sat 10 Mar mats 2.30pm). £14.50–£29. John Steinbeck’s powerful tale of two field workers’ pursuit of the American Dream is directed by John Dove, the man behind the Lyceum’s successful run through Arthur Miller’s back catalogue in recent seasons.

✽✽ The Marriage of Figaro Fri 23 Mar–Sat 14 Apr (not Sun/Mon),

7.45pm (Wed 28 & Sat 31 Mar, Wed 4, Sat 7 & Sat 14 Apr mats 2.30pm). £14.50–£29. The first Lyceum commission from DC Jackson (My

118 THE LIST 1–29 Mar 2012

Romantic History, The Chooky Brae) is an adaptation of the Pierre Beaumarchais’ classic comic opera. See Stage Whispers, page 109. SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Goddess Thu 8–Sat 10 Mar, 7pm (Sat mat 3pm). £9 (£7). A new piece of drama created by Strange Theatre for International Women’s Day. Suitable for ages 14+.

ST BRIDE’S CENTRE 10 Orwell Terrace, 346 1405. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Thu 22 & Fri 23 Mar, 7.30pm. £3. St Bride’s Stagecraft and Drama perform their adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic 1964 book, with the Junior Drama group as the Oompah Loompahs.

TRAVERSE THEATRE Cambridge Street, 228 1404.

✽✽ ANA Thu 1–Sat 10 Mar (not Sun/Mon), 7.30pm. £6–£17. See

Tron Theatre, Glasgow. Chow Mein & Hex Thu 8–Sat 10 Mar, 8pm. £6–£15. See Platform, Glasgow.

✽✽ Antigone Thu 15–Sat 17 Mar, 7.30pm (Fri mat 1pm). £15–£17

(£6–£13). See Platform, Glasgow. Victim Sidekick Boyfriend Me Thu 15–Sat 17 Mar, 7pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £15 (£6–£11). The Lyceum Youth Theatre returns after the success of last year’s Bassett with a play by Hilary Bell about guilt, retribution and redemption.

✽✽ Errol White Company: IAM Thu 22 Mar, 7.30pm. £15 (£6–£11). See

Tramway, Glasgow. Bated Breath Thu 22–Sat 24 Mar, 8pm. £10 (£6). Six new pieces over three nights, created by final year Directing students from Queen Margaret University. PUSH Sat 24 Mar, 7.30pm. £15 (£6–£11). Multimedia dance theatre conceived by Christine Devaney and Curious Seed (also behind 2009’s found), following the twisted logic of a dream and exploring what pushes our buttons. Talent Night in the Fly Room Thu 29 Mar, 7.30pm. £6. It’s the end of time, and the last survivors of the human race are gathered together in a library containing the sum total of all human knowledge. But everyone has forgotten how to read. Songs, poems and sketches in a revue written and directed by Peter Arnott, Resident Playwright at the University of Edinburgh ESRC Genomics Forum.

WHITESPACE 11 Gayfield Square, 07814 514771. Arch in the Greenhouse Thu 1–Sat 3 Mar, 7pm. £7 (£5). New work by Michael Shand and his company, That’s Lunch Productions. OUTSIDE THE CITIES

BYRE THEATRE Abbey Street, St Andrews, 01334 475000. Launch Tue 6 Mar, 7.30pm. £8

PREVIEW DOUBLE BILL CHOW MEIN & HEX Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 8–Sat 10 Mar

After the success of their shows Chow Mein and Hex at last year’s Fringe Festival, Edinburgh-based theatre company Strangetown has combined both into one night of humour at the Traverse. The double bill includes Chow Mein, a comedy drama about the perils of becoming too comfortable in a relationship and Hex, which gently lampoons the world of new age medicine.

While the plays are billed as dark comedy, co-writer Tim Primrose believes the term risks being misinterpreted: ‘It’s not necessarily the case that it’s hardcore, sick comedy, but we advertise it as “dark” as opposed to “family friendly”.’ Added to this sombre humour are minimal sets and small casts, as

well as an almost awkward intimacy in the shows’ quick-fire performances: Chow Mein lasts 50 minutes, Hex 35, something Primrose maintains wasn’t necessarily intentional. ‘When you set out to write a comedy based on one joke it’s

interesting to see how long you can string that out for. The plays are set in real time from start to finish, so, as we’re always working to a low budget, this set up makes it technically easier for us.’ With Chow Mein having previously touched a nerve with couples in the audience (‘they really ought to be in therapy!’) and Hex taking off on wild flights of fancy, Primrose and co-writer Steve Sprigg are glad to be fulfilling their main aims:

‘The audience leave baffled and amused. It’s quite fun watching

people leave the theatre with a big grin on their faces.’ (Kirstyn Smith)

(£6). Debut performance from the Byre Theatre’s new dance company.

✽✽ Errol White Company: iam Thu 8 Mar, 7.30pm. £12

(£8–£10). See Tramway, Glasgow. Matchmaker Sat 10 Mar, 7.30pm. £14 (£8–£12). A new interpretation of John B Keane’s Letters of a Matchmaker, the tale of a would-be Cupid to the tragi-comic inhabitants of Ballybarra in rural Ireland. A Drunk Woman Looks at the Thistle: Karen Dunbar Sun 18 Mar, 3.30–4.20pm. £7 (£5). Actress and comedian Karen Dunbar performs Denise Mine’s response to Hugh MacDiarmid’s seminal 1926 poem. Part of StAnza. Are You Being Served? Wed 21–Sat 31 Mar (not Sun/Mon), 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). £12 (£10). A stage adaptation of the much-loved television show by the programme’s original creators, Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft.

CITY NIGHTCLUB 8–12 Princes Street, Falkirk. Booking via Falkirk Town Hall Steeple Box Office, 01324 506850. FREE Reasons to Dance Tue 27–Sat 31 Mar, 7pm (Sat mat 2.30pm). The National Theatre of Scotland has worked with a large community cast for this immersive, interactive show, which gathers Falkirk residents’ dancing memories. Tickets are free but must be reserved with a £3 deposit, refundable on the night.

DUNDEE REP Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. Steel Magnolias Until Sat 10 Mar (not Sun/Mon), 7.30pm (Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm). £15–£19 (£6–£14). A tale of friendship between six small- town American women who regularly meet at Truvy’s beauty parlour. See review, page 112. Reasons to be Cheerful Tue 20–Sat 24 Mar, 7.30pm (Thu mat 2.30pm). £13–£19 (£9–£17). Punk musical set in 1979 and based on the music of Ian Dury & the Blockheads following a group of fans desperate to get into the band’s gig at the Hammersmith Odeon. Ages 18+.

✽✽ The Man Who Lived Twice Wed 28 Mar, 7.30pm. £10–£14

(seniors £4–£12). See The Arches, Glasgow. Call Mr Robeson Thu 29 Mar, 7.30pm. £10–£14 (£4–£12). Tayo Aluko’s play detailing the life of actor, singer and civil rights campaigner Paul Robeson.

MACROBERT University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 466666. The Sound of Music Mon 5–Sat 10 Mar, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat mat 2pm). £17 (£15). Bridge of Allan Operatic Society performs the family musical. Stirling Gang Show Wed 14–Sat 17 Mar, 7.30pm. £9–£11. Stirling’s Scouts and Guides present an evening of song, dance and variety with their annual feast of family fun. Myths & Legends Thu 22 Mar, 7pm, Sat 24 & Sun 25 Mar, 2pm (Junior Showcases); Fri 23–Sun 25 Mar, 7pm (Senior Showcases). £10 (£8). Ballet, tap and jazz from students of dance at the Monument Dance Centre, with separate junior and senior showcase shows.

PAISLEY ARTS CENTRE New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. Barflies Tue 6 Mar, 8pm. £10 (£8). See Tron Theatre, Glasgow.

✽✽ The Man who Lived Twice Sat 17 Mar, 7.30pm. £10 (£6).

See The Arches, Glasgow. The Lions of Lisbon Thu 29–Sat 31 Mar, 7.30pm. £10 (£6). See Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow.

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