Strange Town Nights

Jun 8 2015 | By More

TV appearances and shows for youth company

Edinburgh-based Strange Town youth theatre has a double celebration this week as four of its members appear in the BBC’s new drama Stonemouth and five of its productions hit the Scottish Storytelling Centre stage.

The four appear in scenes in the opening episode of Stonemouth featuring the main characters as youngsters. The romantic mystery delving into love, loyalty and vengeance screens on BBC1 Scotland Monday 8 June 2015, 9pm, repeated Thursday on BBC2.

Publicity image for Stonemouth. Image: BBC Scotland

Publicity image for Stonemouth. Image: BBC Scotland

The first TV adaptation of Iain Banks’ work since his death in 2013, Stonemouth follows Stewart Gilmour as he returns to his childhood home and tries to discover the truth behind his best friend’s death. Strange Town’s Ruaridh Mollica plays the young Stewart with Kyle Fitzpatrick as young Fraser. Ben Petrie and Miles Collins play characters Hugo Ancraime and Big George.

The castings come as a result of Strange Town’s young actors’ agency which it runs for the members of its various companies, putting them forward for theatre, film and TV work.

Five of those companies will be in live action this weekend as Strange Town takes over the Netherbow theatre of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Thursday to Sunday.

The youngest are the 8-10s age group who take on a Tim Primrose play: Max to the Future, in which Max has not done his homework. His solution? Build a time-machine and travel into the future of course. Duh! Suitable for the whole family.

“Based on Homer’s Odyssey. Sort of.”

Tim Primrose’s quirky sense of fun is also in evidence with The Ollissey, performed by the company’s Wednesday 11-14s age group. It’s Penny’s birthday and Ollie has to get all the way to Colinton from deepest, darkest Trinity. Simple – if he only he knew where his bus pass was. Based on Homer’s Odyssey. Sort of.

The Friday 11-14s age group have gone for a Duncan Kidd play: Gone. On a school trip to the mountains the adults all disappear. Will the pupils have the time of their lives or fight for survival?

Alan Gordon is the writer behind the 14-16s age group production: Viral. A play which examines questions surrounding mental health issues, it looks at the point where someone finds themselves on the edge without knowing how they got there or where to go next. In a world that won’t let us stop, if we’re not careful, things may end up going viral.

The 16-18s age group take on the second Duncan Kidd play: Wearing Badges Is Not Enough. Based on real events – and containing a strong language warning – it examines what happens when young people are politicised, motivated and attempt to have their voices heard. Set in 2003, with America and Britain preparing to go to war with Iraq, across Edinburgh school children are organising themselves to protest against this war.

Tickets for all five productions are available from the Scottish Storytelling Centre, priced £8 (£5 concessions). Running time for all productions is on hour. Links below.

Listings

Stonemouth Episode 1
BBC1 Scotland. Monday 8 June. 9pm.
(Repeated BBC2: Thursday 11 June 2015, 9pm)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02qxkvz

Gone by Duncan Kidd:
Thursday 11: 7pm; Sunday 14  5pm.
http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/centre-events/2613/gone

Wearing Badges Is Not Enough by Duncan Kidd
Thursday 11 9pm; Sunday 14 June 7pm.
http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/centre-events/2633/wearing-badges-is-not-enough

The Ollissey by Tim Primrose
Friday 12, Saturday 13 June: 7pm.
http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/centre-events/2630/the-ollissey

Viral by Alan Gordon
Friday 12, Saturday 13 June: 9pm.
http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/centre-events/2632/viral

Max to the Future by Tim Primrose
Saturday 13: 3pm; Sunday 14 June: 2pm.
http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/centre-events/2625/max-to-the-future

ENDS

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