Mannequins at the Pianodrome
Citadel Arts stages new plays in Ocean Terminal
The Citadel Arts Group is to stage an evening of new works under the title A Mannequin for All Seasons, in the Ocean Terminal, where the Pianodrome has set up its latest temporary residency in the Wee Hub at the Old Debenhams.
The new short plays, all written by members of the Citadel Playwrights Workshop, will be performed this Saturday, 26 November 2022. All six pieces are works in progress and take their inspirations from mannequins.
The evening of script-in-hand performances will be directed by Hilary Spiers. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance.
Alan Mountford and William Haddow in the Pianodrome. Pic: Citadel Arts
Director Hilary Spiers said: “It’s such an exciting space to work in – the imagination runs riot. As do the imaginations of our six writers who use the mannequins as launch pads for some very weird and wonderful stories.”
The 78-seat tiered auditorium of the Pianodrome was recently based at the Royal High during Hidden Door festival, where it stayed on through the Fringe and into September.
The Pianodrome is built entirely of old, unused pianos and is the brainchild of Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright. In today’s throwaway culture, they have created: ‘a unique playable community centre built entirely from otherwise disused pianos’.
residency
It has now taken up residency in the empty Debenhams building which has been leased by the Wee Museum of Memory and transformed by the Living Memory Association into a Leith community hub.
In the building you can find everything for arts and crafts, poetry readings, a fencing club, kids’ discos and even a circus. Later in December it is to be the home to Forth Children’s Theatre’s pantomime.
William Haddow and Alan Mountford with mannequin in the Pianodrome. Pic: Citadel Arts
The Pianodrome is just the latest of a series of Leith venues where Citadel Arts Group has presented plays to the local community.
Earlier this year Citadel was at the Custom House, with the site-specific piece Leithers Live. Before that the company presented plays in the Granary, South Leith Church Hall, numerous schools and sheltered housing centres and, most frequently, in Leith Dockers Club where they are based.
The cast for this Saturday’s performances are all Citadel regulars: Gregor Davidson, Chelsea Grace, Mark Kydd, Mairi Jayne Weir and Deborah Whyte.
The scripts are by Citadel Playwrights Workshop members: Elaine Campbell, William Haddow, Rhona McAdam, Lizzie McLean, Alan Mountford and Hilary Spiers.
Listing
A Mannequin for All Seasons
The Pianodrome, The Wee Hub at the Old Debenhams, Ocean Terminal, 74 Ocean Drive, Leith, EH6 6JJ
Saturday 26 November 2022
One performance only: 7pm.
Tickets are free and can be booked from lizhare@blueyonder.co.uk.
ENDS
