list.co.uk/theatre THEATRE
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
■ THE ARCHES 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. Behaviour Thu 20 Mar–Fri 2 May, times vary. Prices vary. The Arches continues its quest to support innovative live performance with five weeks of events representing the forefront of arts practice. FAG Thu 3 & Fri 4 Apr, 7pm. Sat 5 Apr, 5pm. £12 (£10). An exploration of age, sexuality, activism and family. Part of Behaviour. FREE Auteurs Scratch Night Tue 8 Apr, 6.30pm. Free but ticketed. Five of Scotland’s brightest performers present a ten minute idea before moving to the bar for feedback and discussion with the audience. Behaviour.
✽ Job Seekers Anonymous Tue 8 & Wed 9 Apr, 8.30pm. £12 (£10). See
preview, page 97. Ban This Filth! Wed 9–Fri 11 Apr, 7pm. £12 (£10). Bissett plays ‘himself’ telling stories from his own life, and Andrea Dworkin, one of the most controversial women in history, who has a few things to say to him. Behaviour. La Merda (The Shit) Thu 10 & Fri 11 Apr, 8.30pm. £12 (£10). An electrifying exploration of feminism and the culture of sexism told by a ‘young’, ‘ugly’ and literally naked woman. Behaviour.
■ AVANT GARDE 34 King Street, 552 7123. Wild Card Kitty: The Showgirl Show Fri 28 Mar, 8.45pm. £5–£7. A blend of real-life stories with character and physical comedy. Part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival. ■ THE BUNGO BAR & KITCHEN 17–21 Nithsdale Road, 423 0023. The Creative Martyrs: The Sinister Wink Sun 30 Mar, 8pm. Pay what you like on departure. An evening of cabaret satire featuring mime, song and sketches in a 1930s style.
■ CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Star Stricken Wed 26–Sat 29 Mar, 7.30pm. £8–£10. Double bill of plays about life: Emily Entwistle and Good Times Never Seemed So Good. Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Orlando Thu 27–Sat 29 Mar, 8pm. £14 (£12; early bird £10). Cutting-edge music theatre adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s ode to lover Vita Sackville-West. Ages 12+. The Madness of Lady Bright Wed 16 Apr, 7.30pm. £5–£10. On a hot New York night a drag queen reflects on her own mortality, haunted by the memories of those who she has loved and lost.
■ CITIZENS THEATRE 119 Gorbals Street, 429 0022. And They Played Shang-a-Lang Thu 3 Apr, 8pm. £13–£15. Number one hits from the era accompany this tale of growing up in 1970s Edinburgh. Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
✽ The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler Wed 9–Fri 18 Apr (not Sun
& Mon), 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £12–£19.50. See preview, page 97.
■ COTTIERS THEATRE 93–95 Hyndland Street, 357 4000. The Drowsy Chaperone Fri 4 Apr, 7.30pm. £16. Tony award-winning show, in which a musical theatre fan’s favourite album comes to life in his living room.
■ EASTWOOD PARK THEATRE Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, 577 4956. Grease Thu 20–Sat 22 Mar, 7.30pm
CURTAIN UP
WIN TICKETS TO MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE
Max Stafford-Clark was the Traverse’s artistic director in its early years, before going on to work with some of the most exciting playwrights of the past three decades. He’s about to bring his latest production, about the NHS, This May Hurt a Bit, back to Edinburgh How did This May Hurt a Bit begin life? It emerged from a prolonged period of workshops in 2008, but Stella [Feehily] spent three years writing the play, so it veered away from the research we had done. A lot of the time was spent talking to doctors, nurses, health politics academics and Ken Clarke, twice minister of health. We did two periods of workshops, both at the National Theatre studio, in 2008 and 2012. With the latter, we had a script to work on. The press release suggests that the inspiration came from your own experiences.
I think that’s an exaggeration, but I did have a six-month period when I was in a local hospital, and then a national hospital for neurological disorders. That was certainly a first-hand experience of the NHS! Is theatre a good place for political discussion?
Theatre’s engagement with social and political issues is hugely empowering: the issues debated in newspapers can be taken on by theatre. Why do you think theatre is a good place for this? I think it provokes a discussion between participants and observers. The debate is carried forward in the theatre, and I am lucky to have a career where that is the case. Do you feel an affinity with other contemporary theatre-makers?
I think theatre changes all the time. Verbatim theatre was the last pulse forward and we’re waiting for another one. Do you know what it will be? No, no! My job is to present the present, not predict the future! (Gareth K Vile) ■ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 8–Sat 12 Apr.
Premiering at Sadler’s Wells in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s triumphant modern re- interpretation of Swan Lake taking the dance world by turned tradition upside down, taking the dance world by storm. The director/choreographer blends dance, humour and spectacle with extravagant, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston, to create a provocative and powerful Swan Lake for our times. Now firmly crowned as a modern-day classic, this iconic production is perhaps best-known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake on Wed 16 Apr, 7.30pm at the King’s Theatre, just log on to list.co.uk/offers and tell us:
In what year did Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake premiere at Sadler’s Wells?
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Edinburgh Festival Theatre Tue 22 to Sat 26 April 2014 Box Office 0131 529 6000 edtheatres.com
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: COMPETITION CLOSES THUR 10 APR 2014. TICKETS ARE FOR 16 APR PERFORMANCE ONLY. THERE IS NO CASH ALTERNATIVE. USUAL LIST RULES APPLY.
20 Mar–17 Apr 2014 THE LIST 99