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THE BEAUTIFUL COSMOS OF IVOR CUTLER A touching tribute from Vanishing Point
That gentle anarchist, poet and musician Ivor Cutler was a true original. A national trinket, if you will, whose influence can be seen today in surrealist artists such as David Shrigley. Cutler was a champion of noise abatement, but his subversion was less aggressive than charming. It’s this subversive spirit that really resonates with Matthew Lenton, director of Vanishing Point’s The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler, a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland.
‘I got into Cutler in 2008,’ Lenton explains. ‘The first associations I made were with the Russian absurdists, like Daniil Kharms – people who would write in a fragmented way. Then I thought of a musical work that would weave together some of his poems, songs and stories with a loose narrative.’ More than a nostalgic tribute, the piece
takes in themes that remain pertinent to today’s society. ‘He once said he only found success when he moved from Scotland to London. Cutler being an outsider fits in with Vanishing Point’s remit, and of course it’s interesting, in the year of the Scottish referendum, to look at that.’ Long-time Vanishing Point collaborator Sandy Grierson will play Cutler and perform alongside four musicians. With full backing and support from Cutler’s son, ex-wife Phyllis King and close friends Robert Wyatt and Martin Honeysett, it’s sure to be a real labour of love, as touching as it is hilarious. Much like the wee man himself. (Lorna Irvine)
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 9–Sat 19 Apr; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 29 Apr–Sat 3 May.
HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
✽The Celts in Seville With a script from Tony Roper, author of The Steamie, and a
story familiar to Glaswegians, the Pavilion offers a chance to see how football and theatre can work together. Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 12 Apr.
✽ Union There’s no hiding from the year’s big issue in this energetic romp by Tim
Barrow through that controversial time when the United Kingdom was being established. See preview, page 97. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 20 Mar–Sat 12 Apr.
✽ Village Pub Theatre From the deep north of Edinburgh, the Village Pub Theatre
invades the Traverse with its original ‘rough’ drama and a handful of new, exciting scripts. See preview, p age 97. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 31 Mar–Sat 5 Apr.
✽ Boxe Boxe Sport meets art: hip hop
and contemporary dance examine the drama of the boxing ring. See preview, page 98. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Tue 1 & Wed 2 Apr.
✽ This May Hurt a Bit Legendary theatre- maker Max Stafford-Clark examines the
ins and outs of the NHS in a new play by Stella Feehilly. See interview, page 99. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 8–Sat 12 Apr.
✽ Job Seekers Anonymous
From Sh!t Theatre comes this comedy cabaret / sketch show about being unemployed in the 21st century. Part of Behaviour Festival. See preview, page 97. The Arches, Glasgow, Tue 8 & Wed 9 Apr.
✽ The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler See preview, left. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 9–Sat 19 Apr; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 29 Apr–Sat 3 May.
20 Mar–17 Apr 2014 THE LIST 95