New Traverse Shows

Feb 14 2019 | By More

Shows announced for May and June

Work from Rona Munro, Strange Town, Annie George and Harry Josephine Giles will feature in productions in the Traverse’s May-June 2019 programme.

The eleven newly announced shows start off with two rehearsed readings of Rona Munro’s latest play, Donny’s Brain, directed by Village Pub Theatre co-founder Caitlin Skinner and performed by the Traverse company in early May.

Blue Raincoat with Alice in Wonderland. Pic Peter Martin

They are rounded off with two performances each of two plays from youth company Strange Town in mid June. The company’s 14-18s group will be performing Little Boxes, an exploration of mental health and societal pressure on young people today  by Catherine Expósito in the early evening slot.

The later evening slot is taken up by a new play from James Beagon, Stolen Futures, performed by the 8 – 18s group. Struggling to live in a post-apocalyptic world, Becky had never seen a plane until the strangers landed, offering a better future…

It’s not all new plays – Annie George is making a return with her EdFringe 2018 hit Twa (★★★★☆ lucid and involving), her collaboration with visual artist Flore Gardner which unwinds contrasting stories about women who are silenced. The show also plays the MacRobert in International Women’s Day.

Music plays an important role in several of the productions, including Harry Josephine Giles’ Drone, Kema Sikazwe’s Shine and Wildcard Theatre’s Electrolyte.

There’s also the return of Traverse favourites Blue Raincoat, with a production of Alice in Wonderland, and Scottish Dance Theatre with another of their famous double bills, as well as an appearance of the Lyceum Original Sixty who are the Lyceum’s 60+ group with Hero.

Spain features in the final two productions. Mark Lockyer, known recently for Living with the Lights On, returns with Keep on Walking, Federico. WonderFools bring their short tour of 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War, which looks at the true stories of four miners from Prestonpans who joined the International Brigade to fight fascism in Spain 80 years ago.

Traverse website: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/
Facebook: @TraverseTheatre.
Twitter: @traversetheatre.

Also see our regular Traverse Listings page.

Listings

Donny’s Brain
Fri 3 – Sat 4 May 2019
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1)
Donny wakes up in hospital after a car crash, desperate to see his partner Emma and unable to recognise the strange woman crying at his bedside. Funny and moving in equal measure, Rona Munro’s new play presented as a rehearsed, script-in-hand reading directed by Caitlin Skinner, raises fascinating questions about the essence of love, human nature and our sense of self Book here.

PPP: The Origins of Ivor Punch
Tue 7 – Sat 11 May 2019
Lunchtimes Tue – Sat: 1pm; Fri evening: 7pm (Trav 2).
Based on the Edinburgh International First Book Award-winning novel The Letters of Ivor Punch by musician and author Colin MacIntyre (Mull Historical Society). Set in the present day and in the 1860’s on a remote Scottish island (based on the isle of Mull) that is about to give up its secrets, it explores mythology and how it washes up against faith. Book here.

Keep on Walking Federico
Thurs 9 – Sat 11 May 2019
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1)
One day, Mark gets a letter. This letter takes him to a sleepy Spanish town. He can’t speak the language and he knows nobody, but he’s not here for fun. He’s here to grapple with the past. Book here.

PPP: Toy Plastic Chicken
Tue 14 – Sat 18 May 2019
Lunchtimes Tue – Sat: 1pm; Fri evening: 7pm (Trav 2).
At Edinburgh Airport, a toy plastic chicken is suspected to be a bomb. A woman is screened for domestic radicalisation, while her interrogators decide to perform a violent and radical act of their own. Based on a true story, Toy Plastic Chicken is a violent comedic exploration of degradation and revolt. Book here.

Electrolyte
Tue 14 May 2019
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1)
Follow Jessie through gigs, parties, city streets and warehouses, journeying from Leeds to London, on a quest to find her mother. Wildcard Theatre’s multi award-winning gig theatre show combines spoken word and original music to powerfully explore mental health for a contemporary audience. Book here.

Harbour
16 May 2019
Evening: 8pm (Trav 2).
Inspired by David Greig’s adaptation of Local Hero, Lyceum Original Sixty explore the idea of community, love and communication in search of their own local hero. Book here.

Shine
Thu 16 – Sat 18 May 2019
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1)
Actor, rapper, singer and rising star Kema Sikazwe, also known as Kema Kay, makes his powerful stage debut mixing a bittersweet coming-of-age story with an electrifying live soundtrack and heartfelt words. Book here.

Traverse Young Writers’ Scratch Night
Sat 18 May 2019
Evening: 8pm (Trav 2).
A night celebrating the freshest new writing talent. Book here.

Double bill: RITUALIA & The Circle
Fri 24 – Sat 25 May 2019
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1)
An exhilarating new double bill from Scottish Dance Theatre: RITUALIA by Colette Sadler and a new commission, The Circle, by world renowned Emanuel Gat, promise an evening of exquisite, cutting-edge dance. Book here.

Twa
Fri 24 – Sat 25 May 2019
Evening: 8pm (Trav 2).
In a powerful blend of theatrical storytelling, animation and live performance drawing, award-winning writer Annie George and visual artist Flore Gardner unwind contrasting stories about women who are silenced. Book here.

June 2019

Drone
Tue 4 – Wed 5 June 2019
Evening: 8pm (Trav 2).
Harry Josephine Giles & Co. with a live jam of sound, visuals and poetry, telling the story of a military drone’s life and fears. Book here.

Alice in Wonderland
Thu 6 – Sat 8 June 2019
Evening: 7.30pm (Trav 1)
Alice in Wonderland, Blue Raincoat style, promises to be a visually sumptuous and physical re-telling of Lewis Carroll’s beloved work. Follow Alice on her strange journey through Wonderland with the Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, the frantically late White Rabbit and Ireland’s longest running theatre ensemble. Book here.

549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War
Thu 6 – Sat 8 June 2019
Evening: 8pm (Trav 2).
Wonder Fools with the true story of four miners who, 80 years ago, travelled from the streets of Prestonpans to the valleys of Spain to join the International Brigade. Book here.

Little Boxes
Fri 14 – Sat 15 June 2019
Evening: 7pm.
It’s not easy being a teenager – but is it getting harder? Sarah and Claire think so. Watching as their generation suffers in silence. Will they see each other and know that they aren’t alone? Can they break out of their little box? Strange Town with Catherine Exposito’s exploration of mental health and societal pressure on young people today. Book here.

Stolen Futures
Fri 14 – Sat 15 June 2019
Evening: 8.30pm.
Strange Town with James Beagon’s Stolen Futures. Is survival enough? Struggling to live in a post-apocalyptic world, Becky had never seen a plane until the strangers landed, offering a better future. Book here.
ENDS

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