THEATRE list.co.uk/theatre
BULLET CATCH Rob Drummond’s vaudevillian drama comes home
F ollowing on from his recent successful and controversial Quiz Show and the National Theatre of Scotland-supported The Riot of Spring, which scrutinised the London riots, Rob Drummond returns to Glasgow with Bullet Catch. Combining the story of a failed performance of magic’s most dangerous routine with meditations on life, determinism and redemption, it places the author centre stage as he coaxes an audience member to pull the trigger on him.
Although last seen in Edinburgh during the 2012 Fringe, Drummond explains that ‘Bullet Catch’s never really gone away. We have toured it across the world, and it’s matured. It made sense to come back to The Arches, as that’s where it began: kind of like a homecoming.’ Bullet Catch captures Drummond’s mercurial enthusiasms: science, faith and human nature are all covered
as he moves from vaudeville trickster to melancholic philosopher.
He puts this shape-shifting down to ‘being really bored easily’, and although he is not shy of confronting serious issues, he points out that dark motifs are interesting avenues to explore. ‘Anything that is meaningful may be regarded as controversial,’ he says. ‘It’s not something I court for its own sake.’ Partially inspired by Derren Brown, whom Drummond regards as ‘closer to theatre than vaudeville magician’, Bullet Catch focuses on the showman who uses cold reading to manipulate his audience, examining the nature of duping the vulnerable, before performing the piece’s titular stunt. (Lorna Irvine)
The Arches, Glasgow, Tue 1–Sun 13 Oct.
R E K L A W L L A N © O T O H P
I
I
Y E K S M M U C N E H P E T S © O T O H P
HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
✽ The Events David Greig’s latest play attempts to find out how religion can cope
with an act of human violence. See review online. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 17–Sat 21 Sep.
✽ Educating Ronnie A story of First World kindness that successfully explores complex real-life problems. See preview, page 98. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 2–Sat 5 Oct; Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 15–Sat 19 Oct.
✽ The Lion King The popular adaptation of the Disney musical is surprisingly
sophisticated in its use of choreography and puppetry. Playhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 11 Oct– Sat 18 Jan.
✽ The Coming Storm On a good night, Forced Entertainment combine intelligent
theatricality with a dark humour to be the most exciting company in the UK. See preview, page 98. Tramway, Glasgow, Thu 10 Oct.
✽ Scottish Ballet Double Bill
Christopher Hampson’s version of The Rite of Spring is paired up with Elite Syncopations by Fife-born legend Kenneth
MacMillan to showcase the newly energised company. See preview, page 99. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thu 26–Sat 28 Sep.
✽ Dragon Puppet masters Vox Motus
team up with The National Theatre of Scotland to bring Oliver Emanuel’s fantastical story to life. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 11–Sat 19 Oct.
19 Sep–17 Oct 2013 THE LIST 97