McNair Joins Traverse
Cast announced for Locker Room Talk
Gary McNair has joined the Traverse Theatre as an associate artist, ahead of the performance of his Trump response piece Locker Room Talk, next week, 17 and 18 February 2017.
The award-winning playwright joins a group of five directors and writers who are already associates of the theatre. Morna Pearson, Tim Price, Emma Callander, Stef Smith and Rob Drummond all work closely with the theatre, sharing and supporting its commitment to new writing and talent development.
Gary McNair. Photo: Jassy Earle.
McNair’s first production as an associate artist will be the verbatim piece Locker Room Talk, inspired by Donald Trump’s dismissal of controversial comments made during his presidential campaign as ‘locker room talk’.
McNair has been having honest conversations with men about women to explore this phenomenon and the words of these men will be performed by an all-female cast. Directed by Orla O’Loughlin this cast is Caroline Deyga (seen in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour), Jamie Marie Leary (seen in Expensive Shit), Communicado co-founder Alison Peebles and Improbable associate artist Rachael Spence.
How to choose?
McNair’s most recent work includes the fringe first winning A Gambler’s Guide to Dying which enjoyed a successful run at the Traverse during the 2015 fringe. His Donald Robertson is Not a Stand Up Comedian was a co-production between the Traverse and the National Theatre of Scotland. In 2014, he staged the innovative radio-station-in-your-mind piece How to Choose? ahead of the Scottish referendum.
McNair describes the Traverse as his “favourite theatre in the world”, saying that he has performed there more than in any other theatre and that it never loses its excitement.
“The first time I performed there it felt like the theatre equivalent of playing Glastonbury and I still get that same buzz now,” he said. “I’ve also seen some of the most exciting and important theatre at the Traverse so you can imagine my delight at being asked to join the team.”
Acknowledging the reputation and high quality of the work at the Traverse, McNair spoke of the pride in being asked to become an associate, and the “real honour” of standing alongside his fellow associate artists.
He added: “I look forward to being an ambassador for the theatre as I travel with my work but also to my responsibility of helping, along with the rest of the brilliant Associates and creative team, to shape the future of this important theatre.”
Listing
Locker Room Talk
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED.
Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
Friday 17, Saturday 18 Feb 2017.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Both performances will be followed by an audience discussion.
ENDS
