Listings 30 April – 7 May
Listings for week ending Sunday 7 May 2017:
With the initial excitement of the Lyceum’s new season announcement out of the way, and it’s pretty stonking by the way, this week is all about the theatre’s new Douglas Maxwell: Charlie Sonata, directed by Matthew Lenton.
It’s not the only show in town, though. There is a slice of modern Scottish comedy, the last PPP of this season (and the one-off return of a previous PPP hit), animal puppetry and nose-lengthening dance.
Running Wild at the King’s Theatre, Tue – Sat. Tiger (with Darcy Collins, Corinna Powlesland and Stephen Hoo). Photo: Dan Tsantilis
Charlie Sonata should be something of a hoot for those who like their comedy dark, with a sizzling undertow of electric violence and iridescent language. It opens on Tuesday and it runs to May 13.
Sandy Grierson stars as Chick, who arrives back in Scotland for a reunion with his old mates Gary (Kevin Lennon) and Jackson (Robert Jack) only to find that Gary’s daughter has been the victim of a life-changing car accident.
The site of the wild-haired girl lying unconscious, amidst the antiseptic smell of the ward and the relentless beep of life support, inspires the downtrodden Chick to set out on a quest to save her life. With redemptive purpose he wades out into the city night in search of an answer – a gutter-bound dreamer looking at the stars.
On Friday, the Brunton has the closest stop on a very welcome and longish Scottish tour for Linda McLean’s excellent Descent, which was at the Traverse in 1985 as part of the A Play, A Pie and A Pint season (★★★★☆ Passionate).
Wendy Seager reprises her role as Cathy in this CATS-nominated show. Greg Powrie takes over the role of her architect husband who is beginning to not remember things and Fiona MacNeil is the daughter caught between them and adjusting to the new reality.
The current PPP is Safe Place, running at the Traverse from Tuesday, which comes with good notices from last week’s opening at Oran Mor in Glasgow.
The Edinburgh Makars are in action up at the Church Hill Theatre this week (Thurs – Sat) with their take on Liz Lochhead’s four-hander, Good Things. Thematically, this is a follow-up to Lochhead’s Perfect Days and is a great role for the lead actress.
For fans of Warhorse-type puppetry, the King’s is the place to be this week, with the arrival of Running Wild (see picture), Michael Morpurgo’s version of the true story of how a child escaped the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami on the back of an elephant.
Dance is the thing at the Festival Theatre. On Tuesday, the Jasmin Vardimon Company presents a brand new adaptation of the classic tale Pinocchio. While on Friday and Saturday, Breakin Convention takes over the theatre (and the Studio), with the world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance theatre.
Listings
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
Descent
Friday 5 May 2017.
Evening: 7.30pm.
Rob and Cathy are looking forward to reclaiming their own lives now that their daughter Nicola is grown-up and settled; but looming over them is a threat that could rip their future apart. Descent explores what happens as they try to hold on to each other – and themselves – in the face of early onset dementia.
Church Hill Theatre
33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
Good Things
Thurs 4 – Sat 6 May.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
The Edinburgh Makars take on Liz Lochhead’s bittersweet romantic comedy about finding love later in life. Conceived as a loosely thematic sequel to Perfect Days, it is set in a charity shop where Susan – newly single (dumped for a girl half her age) – works as a volunteer.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Pinocchio
Tuesday 2 May 2017
Evening: 7.30pm.
Jasmin Vardimon Company presents a brand new adaptation of the classic tale Pinocchio.
Breakin’ Convention
Friday 5/Saturday 6 May 2017
Evenings: 7.30pm
The world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance theatre showcasing the very best from around the world and around the corner, is coming back to Edinburgh! Spilling off stage and taking over the whole building, dance workshops, graffiti, DJs, and freestyle sessions make Breakin’ Convention an unforgettable experience for all the family.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Running Wild
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 May.
Evenings Tue, Fri, Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Weds, Thurs & Sat: 2.30pm.
Direct from Regent’s Park Theatre’s sensational summer season, Michael Morpurgo’s novel, based on a true story, is brought to lush life with extraordinary heart, vibrant colour. Directed by Dale Rooks and Timothy Sheader with puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié, both Puppetry Directors on War Horse.
Grant Stott’s Tales From Behind The Mic
Sunday 7 May
Evening: 7.30pm.
Grant tells funny, strange, bizarre and slightly awkward tales of his 27 year journey in radio, TV and panto; from pounding the beat as a police officer to treading the boards as a Kings Panto baddie…
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848
Charlie Sonata
Saturday 29 April – Saturday 13 May 2017.
Evenings Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees: Weds, Sat: 2pm.
Chick arrives back in Scotland for a reunion with his old mates Gary and Jackson only to find Gary’s daughter has been the victim of a life-changing car accident. Matthew Lenton directs a new script from Douglas Maxwell.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
PPP: Safe Place
Tue 2 – Sat 6 May 2017
Daily: 1pm, evening performance Fri 5: 7pm.
In the middle of the night a young woman arrives at Martine’s door looking for shelter. Martine, a lifelong feminist and writer, invites the woman into her comfortable spacious home. What follows challenges all Martine’s beliefs and it becomes clear that Rowan is not quite what she seems.
ENDS
