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In this new column, The List talks to a theatre- maker about a quality that makes their work distinc- tive. The Citizens Theatre, under Dominic Hill’s artistic direction, has established a reputation for updating classic stories. Zinnie Harris’ version of Strind- berg’s Miss Julie was first performed by the National Theatre of Scotland, but fits perfectly with Hill’s vision of a contemporary theatre that has a respect for its history. Harris explains how she tackled this iconic work What drew you to adapt Strindberg’s classic play? I have always been drawn to Miss Julie as I like plays that have a strong heroine. But whenever I have seen a production, I am curious that Julie is unsympa- thetic, almost a spoilt brat. I was interested in seeing whether it was possible to present her as a victim of circumstance. I wanted to get under her skin, so when she kills herself, the full tragedy is felt. How did you approach updating it? I choose to set it in the 1920s in Scotland, in a manor house. So Miss Julie’s father, the Lord of the Manor, runs a mill, and the workers are striking. I wanted to explore the relationship between what was happening in the world and in the kitchen. At the heart of the play is the sexual tryst between Miss Julie, the young aristocrat, and her father’s valet. Does a contempo- rary version offer any new angles on this? I am freer now than Strindberg was! Of course, that scene should always be an off-stage moment, but the encounter has been posi- tive and exciting. They have both been changed by it, and then it is very cruel how it plays out for Julie: the valet John has enjoyed her freedom and chucks it back in her face. There is this double standard. ■ Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 6–Sat 15 Feb.
94 THE LIST 23 Jan–20 Feb 2014
■ SCOTTISH MASK AND PUPPET CENTRE 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Oscar and the Highland Castle Sat 25 Jan. See Kids listings. The Three Bears Sat 1 Feb. See Kids listings. The Magic Horse Sat 15 Feb. See Kids listings.
■ SCOTTISH YOUTH THEATRE The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. The Boy Who Cried Wolf Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jan, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £5. Family puppet show about Jack, the boy who plays trick on others then gets his comeuppance. Ages 3–7. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse Sat 8 & Sun 9 Feb, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £5. Interactive storytelling adventure about a visiting town mouse and a visiting country mouse. ■ THE SSE HYDRO Exhibition Way, 248 3000. Strictly Come Dancing Sat 1 & Sun 2 Feb, 2.30pm & 6.30pm. £25–£65. See stars from the hit TV show gather their gowns and don their dancing shoes once again. Featuring judges Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. Ben Cohen, Natalie Gumede and Mark Benton have all signed up for 2014’s tour. See preview, page 92.
■ TRON THEATRE 63 Trongate, 552 4267. A Little Bird Blown off Course (Eun Bheag Chanaidh) Fri 31 Jan & Sat 1 Feb, 8pm. £13. A new piece of music-theatre by Fiona J Mackenzie celebrating the life and songs of Margaret Fay Shaw. Part of Celtic Connections. This Wide Night Thu 20 Feb–Sat 15 Mar, times vary. Chloe Moss’ drama features two women, recently released from long prison sentences, struggling to adjust to freedom. Directed by David Greig. See preview, page 89.
EDINBURGH
■ CAV 3 West Tollcross, 228 3252. The Dreamboys Sat 25 Jan–Fri 28 Feb, 6.30pm. £20–£30. The world famous male strippers strut their stuff. Featuring a special performance from a celebrity drag queen.
■ THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 871 3014. Tonight’s the Night Mon 17–Sat 22 Feb, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat 2.30pm also). £10–£47. Singing, dancing and all the Rod Stewart tunes you can shake a stick at! Set in Detroit and LA, the play follows a young man who strikes a deal with the devil to trade his soul for Rod’s. See preview, page 91. ■ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. War Horse Thu 23 Jan–Sat 15 Feb, 7.30pm (Thu & Sat 2.30pm also; not Sun). £20–£65. The National Theatre’s staging of Michael Morpurgo’s novel about a farm horse called Joey caught up in the horrors of WWI.
■ KING’S THEATRE 2 Leven Street, 529 6000.
✽British Dance Edition Thu 30 Jan, 8.30pm. Fri 1 Feb, 6.30pm. Sat
2 Feb, 4pm. £12. Showcase featuring a wide variety of dancing styles from across Britain. See preview, page 92. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Mon 10–Sat 15 Feb, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat 2.30pm also). £14–£27.50 (premium seats £29.50). Celebrate the man and the music as the popular touring production of the rock musical rolls into town again.
N A L R A H L E U N A M
DIAL M FOR MURDER Lucy Bailey directs a new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s script, made famous by Alfred Hitchcock (and less successfully reimagined as 1998 Michael Douglas thriller The Perfect Murder. A wealthy husband gets in touch with an old acquaintance to arrange a crime: the murder of his own wife, whom he suspects of having an affair. (Niki Boyle) ■ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 18–Sat 22 Feb.
Dial M For Murder Tue 18–Sat 22 Feb, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat 2.30pm also). £14–£29.50. Frederick Knott’s dark thriller, made famous by the Alfred Hitchcock film. See preview, above.
■ ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE Grindlay Street, 248 4848.
✽Long Day’s Journey into Night Thu 23 Jan–Sat 8 Feb, 7.45pm (Sat & Wed 2.30pm also; not Sun & Mon;). £12–£27.50. Eugene O’Neill’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, a semi- autobiographical work about addiction and family dysfunction. See preview, page 91. Private Lives Fri 14 Feb–Sat 8 Mar, times vary. £12–£27.50 (previews £10). Coward’s sparkling comedy about two divorcees encountering their respective new spouses. See preview, page 96.
■ SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. The Mother of All Burns Sat 25 Jan, 7.30pm. £8 (£6). Anne Raitt plays Robert’s mother and Coreen Scott and co perform the songs of Andrew Dallmeyer’s play. Followed up by a traditional and contemporary music session. Part of Burnsfest. Burns Song: The Carrying Stream Sat 1 Feb, 2pm. £18 (members £15). Singer-songwriter Rod Paterson shares his approaches to interpreting Burns’ songs with singers who are interested in getting more familiar with the Bard’s artistry. Burnsfest. Red Riding Hood Sat 15 Feb. See Kids listings. ■ SUMMERHALL 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 1933: Eine Nacht Im Kabarett Thu 23 Jan–Sun 2 Feb, 7.30pm. £12–£15. Spend an evening at Berlin’s most
seditious nightspot. New play by Susanna Mulvihill with music by Fiona Thom and Bev Wright. See preview, page 93. V=mc² Fri 24 Jan, 7.30pm. £8 (£6). Step into the mind of Scottish inventor Robert Stirling to explore ideas of energy, in this first of three themed shows. Rantin Thu 6 Feb, 7.30pm. £12 (£10). See The Arches, Glasgow. Vintage Cabaret – Les Amis d’Onnos Fri 14 & Sat 15 Feb, 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £9–£11. Marvel at the strongman, knife throwing and escapology acts and jive along to the fun musical turns at this retro family-friendly cabaret, featuring lashings of vintage entertainment.
■ TRAVERSE THEATRE Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Class Act Thu 23 Jan, 7.30pm. £6 (£4). The Traverse’s flagship education project is now celebrating its 23rd year. A limited number of public tickets are available for this showcase of plays written by senior Drama and English pupils from Edinburgh and Glasgow schools.
✽Bestiaires Mon 3 Feb, 7.30pm. £16 (£8–£12). Greek Gods go
road-tripping though Europe. Part of Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival. The Seas Of Organillo Tue 4 Feb, 7.30pm. £16 (£8–£12). A Freudian tale of mysterious oceans, where babies are made. Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival. TORN Tue 4 Feb, 9.15pm. £12 (£8). Visual theatre show about one woman’s experience of love. Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival. FREE Snapshots: 6.05 Wed 5– Sat 8 Feb (not Thu), 6.05pm. Short performances followed by Q&A sessions with artists, performers, directors, etc. Introduced by leading animator Iain Gardner. Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival.