Listings 1 – 7 October
On stage this week: Mon 1 Sun 7 Octber 2018
There are some big shows on Edinburgh’s big stages this week, while its smaller stages and even outdoor venues have some pretty choice offerings as well.
Biggest of the big, it is your last chance to see the Lyceum’s magnificent Twelfth Night this week, while the musical version of Calendar Girls drops in for a fortnight at the Festival and musical take on Madagascar is at the Playhouse for the week.
Dawn Sievewright, Joanna Holden and Guy Hughes in Twelfth Night at the Lyceum. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic
If you have not seen Twelfth Night (ends Sat 6) yet, then it comes hugely recommended – maybe it isn’t perfect, but it is a thrilling, daring take on the play. And one which takes the way Shakespeare plays with gender and examines it through a 21st century lens.
Be warned that it is long though, at a mighty three hours. And leave plenty of room to dissect it afterwards in the bar with your friends. It’s that kind of production: one which demands plenty of discussion and provokes lively debate.
Much looking forward to Calendar Girls – The Musical (Tue 2 – Sat 13), which has had huge and vocal audience support in its touring incarnation since changing its name from The Girls. And a whole raft of five star reviews for the London original. It’s a great story and it will be fascinating to see what Gary Barlow has made of his first foray into musicals.
At the Playhouse, X-Factor 2016 winner Matt Terry is roaring into town as Alex the Lion in the major UK tour of Madagascar – The Musical (Tue 2 – Sat 6). It’s from vibrant young production company Selladoor, who have Fame coming this autumn and have taken over Avenue Q. It is definitely one for the kids, but whether it hits all the musical spots we will see.
Venerable producer Bill Kenwright is behind the latest tour of Rain Man, which drops in to the King’s all week (Mon 1 – Sat 6). Matthew Horne – Gavin from Gavin & Stacey – and Downton Abbey’s Ed Speleers play brothers Raymond and Charlie Babbit in the stage adaptation of the Oscar winning movie.
One of the most pleasing events of the week is one of its smallest, however. Twelve Twelve Theatre are staging Arrivals & A Becoming – the fourth of an anticipated six double bills of new writing – at the Wee Red Bar in the Art School (Mon 1 – Thurs 4).
A young company, formed last year, Twelve Twelve aim are to bring young and emerging talent together for the shows. It’s just the latest of several grassroots companies that are focussing on the new and vibrant side of theatre, seeking to make their own rules and do exciting and innovative work.
Another company working on the innovative side of theatre – albeit a lot more established – is Vision Mechanics, which is bringing Quest for Oz, a new augmented reality theatre adventure to Drummohr House. Opening Thursday 4 and running until the end of the month (Sun 28), this is fun-for-all-the-family stuff with a show based on the Wizard of Oz.
The Traverse continues its Autumn season of A Play, A Pie and a Pint with Tipping the Hat (Tue 2 – Sat 6), a tribute to the great Flanders and Swann – of Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud, fame. But the big news there is Clare Duffy’s Arctic Oil (Sat 6 – Sat 20) which has its preview on Saturday before a full opening next week.
Listings
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
Girls Night Oot!
Thurs 4/Fri 5 October 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Join the girls on a hen night that you won’t forget, with a smash hit retro sound track and songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and now! Age guidance: 18 plus only.
Drummohr House
Meet Wallyford Park & Ride, 33 The Loan, Wallyford, Musselburgh EH21 8BU
Quest for Oz
Thursday 4 – Sunday 28 October.
Evenings (not Mondays): 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm & 8pm.
Augmented reality theatre adventure from giant specialists Vision Mechanics sees the Yellow Brick Road destroyed. Download the Quest for Oz app to help the Wizard of Oz rebuild the Road and reunite the Land of Oz.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Calendar Girls the Musical
Tue 2 to Sat 13 October 2018
Evenings Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Wed, Thu & Sat: 2.30pm.
Created by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, this award winning production based on the true story of the calendar girls – a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. Starring Fern Britton, Anna-Jane Casey, Sara Crowe, Karen Dunbar, Ruth Madoc, Rebecca Storm and Denise Welch.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Rain Man
Mon 1 – Sat 6 October 2019
Evenings: 7.30pm; Matinees Wed & Sat: 2.30pm.
Inspired by the heart-warming Oscar winning movie. When self-centred salesman Charlie Babbitt discovers that his long-lost brother Raymond, an autistic savant with a genius for numbers, has inherited the family fortune, he sets out to get ‘his half’. With Mathew Horne as Raymond and Ed Speleers as Charlie.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848
Twelfth Night
14 September – 6 October 2018
Daily Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Wed, Sat: 2pm.
In Shakespeare’s bittersweet comedy genders blur, boundaries are crossed and the world is turned upside down, all with music as the engine for these bacchanalian shenanigans. Director Wils Wilson saturates this tale of magic and wonder with psychedelia and bohemian delight. A co-production with Bristol Old Vic. Read Hugh’s review here: ★★★★☆ Kaleidoscopic.
Talk Show – Twelfth Night
Friday 5 October, 5pm
The Whirligig of Time – Shakespeare, Psychedelia and the ‘60s
David Greig hosts a discussion around issues raised by Twelfth Night. Panel includes Andrew Greig, Mike Heron and Tim Crouch.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, EH1 1JF
Chronicles
Saturday 6/Sunday 7 October 2018
Three times daily: 12 noon, 2pm 3.30pm
Scottish dance collective Project X (UK) and Thulani Rachia (UK/South Africa) have been working with young people from Edinburgh to co-created a new piece of dance theatre performance. This alternative audio guide and immersive performance uncovers hidden and (re)imagined histories as the audience promenade through the Scottish Galleries of the National Museum of Scotland.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014
Madagascar – A Musical Adventure
Tuesday 2 -Saturday 6 Oct 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees Weds, Sat: 2.30pm.
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture.
Soul Unlimited: Heatwave, Odyssey, Jaki Graham & Gwen Dickey
Sunday 7 Oct 2018
Evening: 7.30pm.
Return to the glory days of disco, funk and soul with real dance music legends.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
PPP: Tipping the Hat
Tue 2 – Sat 6 Oct 2018
Daily: 1pm; Fri: 7pm.
Presented in classic revue format, Tipping the Hat brings the satirical songs of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, a stage duo of the 50s and 60s, to a contemporary audience. Two men and a piano invite you to enjoy some silliness, be touched by elegant sadness, savour humanity and revel in delicious wit.
Workshop: Playing with Big Questions
Sat 6 Oct 2018
Afternoon: 3pm.
Connected to Traverse commission Arctic Oil, this workshop offers the opportunity to work with playwright Clare Duffy to explore writing about the being and politics of Environment.
Arctic Oil
Sat 6 – Sat 20 Oct 2018
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Thurs 11, Sat 20: 3pm.
A mother and daughter battle to save their children. While Ella fights for her son’s future, Margret is terrified that Ella’s activism will her get killed. Not all mothers know best. Arctic Oil gets under the skin of what climate change could make us do to the people we love.
Wee Red Bar
Lady Lawson Street, EH3 9DF
Arrivals & A Becoming
Mon 1 – Thurs 4 October 2018.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Double bill of new work from Dougal Thomson and Jim Rennie. Established in late 2017 by Andrew Johns Cameron, Twelve Twelve Theatre staged their first DB – of a planned six in a year – in February. It brings together emerging actors, writers and directors to produce new work that spans genres.
ENDS
