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Events are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to theatre@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Murray Robertson. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry GLASGOW
■ 29 PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB 29 Royal Exchange Square, 225 5610. A West End Christmas in Glasgow Sun 15 Dec, 9.15pm. £20. A star-studded concert featuring Yuletide merriment from some of the greatest musicals ever written. ■ THE ARCHES 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. The Night Before Christmas Thu 12–Sun 29 Dec (not Mondays, Wed 25 & Thu 26), 10.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm (Sat & Sun 1.30pm & 3.30pm only). £9.50 (children £5.50; family £25). Seasonal offering from the Arches. It’s Christmas Eve and everyone’s excited – except for Carol who hates Christmas. Until one night when she finds an elf under her bed. Ages 3–7.
✽ A Gay in a Manger Thu 12–Sat 21 Dec (Thu–Sat only), 7.30pm.
£8 (£6). Alternative Christmas experience presented by Tranny and Roseannah featuring Adrian Howells as Grandma. Ages 18+. See preview, page 121.
■ BRAEHEAD ARENA Kings Inch Road, 0844 499 1700. The Singing Kettle: Christmas Wishing Well Thu 12–Sun 15 Dec. See Kids listings. ■ CITIZENS THEATRE 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. Bauble Trouble Thu 12–Sun 29 Dec (not Mondays, Wed 25 & Thu 26), times vary. £7 (family £18–£30). Can you help the wee girl and her hapless dad get the Christmas tree up in time for Santa? Fun and songs in this comical celebration for ages 3–6. The Jungle Book ●●●●● Thu 12 Dec–Sun 5 Jan (not Wed 25 Dec), times vary. £13–£20 (children £7–£12; family £30). The adventures of Mowgli the man cub and his animal friends. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s stories by veteran children’s theatre scribe Stuart Paterson. Ages 6+. See review, page 122. Ciara ●●●●● Tue 21–Sat 25 Jan, 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £12– £19.50. Blythe Duff stars in David Harrower’s award-winning play about a woman coming to terms with her gangster father’s past. Ages 14+. See preview, page 121.
■ COTTIERS THEATRE 93–95 Hyndland Street, 357 4000. The Pure Amazing Wizard of Oz Thu 12–Sun 29 Dec (not Wed 25), times vary. £10–£13. Insideout Productions presents a very Glaswegian take on the classic tale of Dorothy and her pals, featuring Joanne McGuinness (Glasgow Girls, The Wee Man), Connor McAllister (Billy Elliott), Alison Rona Cleland, Neil McNulty (River City) and Lee Reynolds. ■ EASTWOOD PARK THEATRE Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4970. Mother Goose Thu 12–Sat 14 Dec, 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £10–£14. Runway Theatre presents its take on the traditional festive tale of Mother Goose. Scottish Opera: Platypus in Boots Sun 15 Dec, 11am & 2pm. Festive children’s play about Sydney the Platypus and his holiday to Glasgow. A blend of comedy,
TOP 5 WIN SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN TICKETS AND PYJAMAS
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PRODUCTIONS OF 2013
Rob Drummond’s Quiz Show was one of the most successful shows of 2013. Despite the dark (and sadly, timely) subject matter and its challenging structure, it grabbed the attention with its uncompromising examination of the consequences of child abuse by a celebrity. The dissolving set design and Eileen Walsh’s complex performance as the victim trying to disentangle her past made it uncomfortable and impressive. Although Stewart Laing has
been directing and designing since the 1990s, Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner delved into the lost archives of the 1980s. In tandem with Pamela Carter, Laing reconstructed a Scottish masterpiece that never was, taking satirical swipes at both pretentions past and contemporary lack of ambition. Vox Motus has been flying the
flag for visual theatre since its debut Slick. In Dragon, a collaboration with the NTS, it stripped away language for a physical fantasy that elucidated the process of grief. Oliver Emanuel’s script was a charming yet serious study of the impact of a mother’s death. It was the company’s most fully realised production to date. The most exciting theatre
performance of the Edinburgh Fringe slipped into the comedy section. Any theatremaker who ignores the lessons of Red Bastard isn’t paying attention: his one man show was a reminder of clowning’s vulgar poetry and ability to reveal the unvarnished truth through lies. Another one-man Fringe show
proved that, at least for Gary Beadle, there is life after Eastenders. Banksy: The Room in the Elephant was a powerful meditation on the relationship between raw survival and art. Based on a true story of how Banksy’s graffiti made one man homeless, it was theatre with a fierce conscience. (Gareth K Vile)
Direct from the West End, this critically acclaimed production of Singin’ in the Rain is a smash hit with critics and audiences alike. It tells the story of the first Hollywood musical, when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies - and some of its stars – behind.
h d
f h
k d f ll This spectacular show is packed full of the charm, romance, comedy and tinseltown glamour of one the world’s best loved movies and features all the songs from the glorious MGM score including ‘Good Morning’, ‘Make ‘em Laugh’, ‘Moses Supposes’ and the classic ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. Full of high energy choreography and sumptuous set design (including 12,000 litres of water!), Singin’ in the Rain showers you with everything you could wish for in a hit musical.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Singin’ in the Rain on Tue 25 Feb, 7.30pm at the Festival Theatre, and a pair of the snazzy pyjamas pictured here, just log on to listco.uk/offers and tell us:
How many litres of water are used in the show? Singin’ in the Rain Tue 25 February to Sat 15 March 2014 Festival Theatre Edinburgh 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT edtheatres.com/singin
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: COMPETITION CLOSES 22 JAN 2014. TICKETS ARE FOR TUE 25 FEB 2014 PERFORMANCE ONLY. THERE IS NO CASH ALTERNATIVE. USUAL LIST RULES APPLY.
12 Dec 2013–23 Jan 2014 THE LIST 123