THEATRE
REVIEW CLASSIC REVIVAL TIME AND THE CONWAYS Seen at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; Dundee Rep, until Sat 30 Mar ●●●●●
The nature of time, identity and fallibility lie at the heart of JB Priestley’s Time and the Conways, a new co-production between the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company and the Dundee Rep Ensemble. Directed by Jemima Levick, and first written and performed in 1937, when Britain was facing a time of great economic and social uncertainty, teetering on the brink of the Second World War, this piece explores our attitudes to time, mistakes and the future, with startling results. Beginning in 1919, when the well-off Conway family
sets itself on a path that will lead to its destruction, Time and the Conways jumps between 1919 and
1937 to contrast and reflect on the changing fortunes of the family, especially that of the daughters, Kay (Emily Winter), Hazel (Jessica Tomchak) and Madge (Sally Reid).
Exploring similar themes that cropped up in arguably his most famous work, An Inspector Calls, Priestley’s Time and the Conways is one of his so-called ‘time plays’ and questions the very nature of time, regret and change. Featuring a stunning period set by Ti Green, Levick’s revival of this often overlooked play is a beautiful production that features a number of impressive performances from a talented cast. But Priestley’s script, and the lengthy first act – which takes far too long to get to the play’s innovative thoughts on human error and whether we can change our past mistakes – ultimately make it difficult to engage with. (Amy Taylor)
to his death from the World Trade Centre on 9/11. Les Miserables Wed 27 Mar, 7.30pm. £11.50 (£9.50; under 18s £6.50). A new adaptation from Hotbuckle, bringing physicality and humour to Victor Hugo’s sombre classic. Annie Tue 2–Sat 6 Apr, 7.30pm (Sat also 2pm). £10–£12. Musselburgh Amateur Musical Association presents the story of the little curly-topped orphan, her dog Sandy and good ol’ Daddy Warbucks. Murder, Marple and Me Thu 11 Apr, 7.30pm. £11.50 (£9.50; under 18s £6.50). The story of how Margaret Rutherford, the screen’s Miss Marple, nearly missed out on taking up her iconic role due to a behind the scenes feud. Mind Walking Sat 13 Apr, 7.30pm. £11 (£9; under 18s £6.50). Tanika Gupta explores what happens to a family when an old Indian man slips into the first stages of Alzheimer’s. See preview, page 99. ■ DUNDEE REP Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. Time and the Conways ●●●●● Thu 21–Sat 30 Mar, 7.30pm (Not Sun & Mon; Fri, Tue, Thu & Sat 2.30pm only). £12–£19 (£10–£14; children £6). See review, left. This Town Tue 26–Fri 29 Mar, 7.30pm. £8 (£5). Appropriately, This Town tells the story of Dundee and its people. A Play, A Peh and A Pint Tue 9– Sat 13 Apr, 7.30pm. £10 (seniors £8). Another specially commissioned play from Dundee Rep Ensemble and Òran Mór, Glasgow. The Government Inspector Wed 17–Fri 19 Apr, 7.30pm. £12–£16 (£12– £14). See King’s Theatre, Edinburgh.
■ MACROBERT University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 466666. The Government Inspector Tue 2 & Wed 3 Apr, 7.30pm. £13.50 (£12; friends £10.50; students £5). See King’s Theatre, Edinburgh. The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs Thu 11 Apr, 7.30pm. £10.50 (£9; friends £7.50; students £5). Hilarious and harrowing tale where we meet Steve Jobs and Chinese workers toiling to make our beloved iPhones.
■ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. FREE Janis Claxton Dance: Chaos and Contingency Sat 23 & Sun 24 Mar, 1pm & 3pm. The seemingly divergent worlds of maths and art merge in this nine-dancer piece based on the study of mathematical patterns. ■ NORTH EDINBURGH ARTS CENTRE 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. The Magic Horse Tue 26 Mar. See Kids listings. Celeste’s Circus Thu 4 Apr. See Kids listings.
■ OUT OF THE BLUE DRILL HALL 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. The Magic Horse Mon 1 Apr. See Kids listings.
■ ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Takin’ Over the Asylum ●●●●● Thu 21 Mar–Sat 6 Apr (not Sun & Mon), 7.45 (Wed 3 & Sat 6 Apr 2.30pm also). £10–£29. An ageing wannabe DJ and double-glazing salesman revive an old hospital radio station at a fictional mental institution. See review, page 102.
■ SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Celeste’s Circus Sat 23 Mar. See Kids listings. Faerie Stories Mon 25 Mar. See Kids listings. Carpe Jugulum Tue 26–Thu 28 Mar, 7pm. £6 (£5). Terry Pratchett’s comic fantasy satirising the traditions of vampires and witches. The Scarecrow and the Lost Sister Wed 27 Mar. See Kids listings. It’s Raining Cats and Dogs Sat 30 Mar. See Kids listings.
■ ST NINIAN’S HALL Comely Bank Road 104 THE LIST 21 Mar–18 Apr 2013
The Water Engine Mon 8 & Sat 13 Apr, 7.30–9.30pm. £10 (£8). The tale of Charles Lang, exploring big businesses and society.
■ SUMMERHALL 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Substance Wed 27–Fri 29 Mar, 7.30– 9pm. £8 (students £5). Eva O’Connor’s play explores the effect getting mixed up in the drug industry has on four flatmates. How a Man Crumbled Fri 12 & Sat 13 Apr, 7.30–8.30pm. £10 (£8). The award-winning tale of Daniil Kharms, told by three storytellers who mix comedy, philosophy, violence and absurdity. ■ TRAVERSE THEATRE Cambridge Street, 228 1404. ] Quiz Show Fri 29 Mar–Sat 20 Apr, 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £15.50– £17.50 (£11.50–£13.50; unemployed £6 Tue–Thu only). A play about a quiz show that’s not all it seems. See preview, page 98.
■ USHER HALL Lothian Road, 228 1155. Around the World in 80 Steps Sat 30 Mar, 7.30–9.30pm. £13–£15. A showcase of dance from all across the globe. ■ VALLEY PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE 37 Southhouse Road, 0131 664 2210. Celeste’s Circus Thu 28 Mar. See Kids listings.
■ WEST PRINCES STREET GARDENS FREE CrossWords Sat 30 Mar, 2.30–4pm. The story of Easter.
■ WHALE ARTS 30 Westburn Grove, 458 3267. Willie the Wicked Wolf Sat 30 Mar. See Kids listings. Briar Rose Wed 3 Apr. See Kids listings. Pied Piper Sat 6 Apr. See Kids listings.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES ■ BRUNTON THEATRE Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Within This Dust Fri 22 Mar, 7.30pm. £11 (£9; under 18s £6.50). Three dance performances are combined with film, sound and animation of this exploration of the iconic photographs of a man falling
N A L R A H L E U N A M
BLACK WATCH
When Black Watch debuted at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006, could writer Gregory Burke have envisioned the immense success his harrowing, exceptional play would experience? Fast forward seven years, and this politically-charged production has toured three continents and been adorned in a whole host of critical decorations, including four Laurence Olivier Awards. It now returns to Scotland something of a political tour de force on the controversial impact of the second Iraq War. Traditional themes and contemporary disputes are intricately woven through the fabric of an unsettling narrative. Powerful and with the ability to leave an indelible mark on the least military-minded audiences, Black Watch is not to be missed. ■ Black Watch, SECC, Glasgow, Thu 28 Mar–Sat 13 Apr.