TRAVERSE THEATRE FESTIVAL 2011 BROCHURE
Buying tickets & ways to save
BOX OFFICE OPENING TIMES
Mondays
Mon 1 Aug, 10am – 7pm
Mon 8 Aug, 10am – 6pm
Mon 15 Aug, 10am – 7pm
Mon 22 Aug, 10am – 9.30pm
Week 0
Tue 2 Aug – Wed 3 Aug, 10am – 7pm
Thur 4 Aug – Sun 7 Aug, 9am – 9.15pm
Week 1
Tue 9 Aug – Sun 14 Aug, 9am – start of the final performance of the day (see diary pages for full details).
Week 2
Tue 16 Aug – Sun 21 Aug 9am – start of the final performance of the day (see diary pages for full details).
Week 3
Tue 23 – Sun 28 Aug 9am – start of the final performance of the day (see diary pages for full details).
TICKETS £15 – £19
See show pages for full details.
WAYS TO SAVE
Traverse Theatre Club
Members enjoy a range of benefits and discounts.
See page 32 for further details or contact .
Concessions £6 – £13
See show pages for full details.
Available for students, Under 18s, over 60s, members of entertainment unions, disabled customers, StagePass and Young Scot card holders. Remember to bring proof of your concession status when you pick up your tickets.
School groups
£6 per ticket plus one teacher per 10 students.
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Group bookings
One free ticket for every 10 tickets purchased for the
same performance, regardless of concession.
LATECOMERS
Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your journey to the Traverse. Due to the intimate nature of our theatre spaces and performances, it is unfortunately not usually possible to allow late entry. This is because of the disruption caused to the audience and performers.
SOLD OUT PERFORMANCES
A waiting list for returned tickets will be started one hour prior to the start time. This service is only available to personal callers at the Traverse and is limited to two tickets per person.
EXCHANGES
Tickets booked through the Traverse Box Office can be exchanged (availability permitting) for an alternative performance or for credit, up to 24 hours before the start of the original performance booked and on return of the tickets to the box office. Exchanges are subject to an administrative fee of £1 per ticket up to a maximum of £5 per transaction (plus the difference in ticket price ifapplicable). Any resulting refund will be held as credit for use against future purchases through the Traverse Box Office.
Copies of this brochure are available in large print and audio formats from the Traverse box office. Please contact Kath
Lowe – – or call 0131 228 3223 if you would like to join our mailing list to receive the brochure in either of these formats.
Traverse Theatre text relay number:
18001 0131 228 1404
Traverse Theatre Festival 2011 Venues
Traverse Theatre (Venue 15)
10 Cambridge Street
Edinburgh EH1 2ED
(Also Box Office)
Traverse @ Ghillie Dhu (Venue 236)
2 Rutland Place
Edinburgh EH1 2AD
Traverse @ Lyceum Rehearsal Room
(Venue 151)
30b Grindlay Street
Edinburgh EH3 9AX
Traverse @ The Point Hotel
Conference Centre (Venue 109B)
34 Bread Street
Edinburgh EH3 9AF
Traverse @ University Of Edinburgh
Medical School Anatomy
Department (Venue 132)
Teviot Place (access at gated archway)
Edinburgh EH8 9AG
0131 228 1404
SCOTLAND’S NEW WRITING THEATRE: BIG IDEAS AND EPIC STORYTELLING
Welcome to the Traverse Theatre
Festival 2011
Big ideas and epic storytelling dominate the Traverse Festival this year.
Join us on a journey through the best new British performance this festival and discover a programme packed with big ideas and epic storytelling. Highlights include Marc Almond in a new piece of music theatre by Mark Ravenhill and Conor Mitchell set in a plague-ridden 17th Century London. Siamese twins and a bearded lady are just two of the characters in Futureproof, Lynda Radley’s extraordinary first play for the Traverse. David Hughes Dance will enthral and unnerve you in the nightmarish Last Orders while Dance Marathon explodes onto the dance floor of the reconfigured rehearsal room at the Lyceum Theatre – one of the most exhilarating shows I have ever experienced. And if you missed the hit of last year’s festival – Roadkill – then it’s back by popular demand.
The first festival I programmed at the Traverse featured a major new work by Zinnie Harris. I am thrilled that my fourth and final programme contains her latest play – The Wheel. This brilliant and epic play is a major new production by the National Theatre of
Scotland. In fact, we are celebrating the best of new
Scottish work this year – 11 of our 18 shows are by
Scottish writers or produced by Scottish companies.
In addition, The National Theatre of Wales joins us for the first time this year and we welcome back old friends from Ireland and New York. Look out too for details of readings, talks and discussions throughout the Festival.
I believe that we have put together a programme that demonstrates both the strength and importance of our playwrights, alongside the work of some of the most innovative theatre-makers from the UK and abroad. That is what the Traverse is about. Thank you for your past support and I look forwarding to welcoming you in August.
Dominic Hill
Artistic Director
“The Traverse is the spiritual home of Fringe theatre…the venue has long cultivated a reputation as Scotland’s premier new writing theatre and represents one of the only ‘safe bets’ for audiences looking for quality at the Fringe.”
Fest, 2010
“The…Fringe fan could do much worse than blockbook everything that’s on at the Traverse.”
The Observer, 2010
Be part of the Traverse Festival 24 hours a day. Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
TRAVERSE 1. WORLD PREMIERE. SCOTLAND. 1 HR
TRAVERSE THEATRE COMPANY. PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH DAVID JOHNSON
Ten Plagues
by Mark Ravenhill and Conor Mitchell
7 – 28 Aug
Previews 1 Aug & 6 Aug
A thrilling and unique music theatre experience
Libretto by Mark Ravenhill
Music by Conor Mitchell
Directed and Designed by Stewart Laing
Performed by Marc Almond
In London
Came the plague in sixteen sixty five
One hundred thousand dead
But I alive.
London is infected. The dead fall in the streets. As the plague pits fill, the people of London struggle to maintain a society in the face of overwhelming mortality. Based on eye-witness accounts from 1665 and drawing poetic parallels with modern epidemics, Ten Plagues relates one man’s journey through a city in crisis.
Ten Plagues is an extraordinary collaboration between four of the UK’s most distinctive artists – the internationally acclaimed artist and iconic musician Marc Almond; playwright Mark Ravenhill (Shopping andFucking, Ravenhill for Breakfast, A Life in Three Acts); Traverse Artist in Residence and international theatre and opera director and designer Stewart Laing (untitled projects, Titanic on Broadway) and the award-winning
Conor Mitchell. Conor has written over 40 scores for theatre, including Have a Nice Life at the New York Musical
Theatre Festival.
PREVIEWS. Monday 1 August (7.00pm), Saturday 6 August (6.00pm).
PREVIEW TICKET PRICE. £12 (£6 concessions).
DATES. Sunday 7 August – Sunday 28 August
TICKETS. Sunday – Thursday £17 (£12 concessions/ £6 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £19 (£13 concessions).
TRAVERSE THEATRE CLUB HOT TICKETS. £3 off on Sunday 7 Aug (book before 31 July).
SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE. Sunday 14 Aug (3.45pm).
AGE RECOMMENDATION. 12+
TRAVERSE 1. WORLD PREMIERE. SCOTLAND. 2 HRS
TRAVERSE THEATRE COMPANY & DUNDEE REP ENSEMBLE
Futureproof
by Lynda Radley
7 – 28 Aug
Preview 6 Aug
It’s not the act, it’s the tale
that gets told.”
Robert Riley, owner of Riley’s Odditorium.
Designer Colin Richmond
Lighting Designer Guy Hoare
Composer John Harris
Cast includes John Buick, Irene Macdougall and Robert Paterson
Just give them genuine wonders and nothing else No cons. No peep shows. No gaffs. No novelty acts. Just marvels.
At the fag-end of freak shows’ popularity, science and religion have conspired to make peeping shameful. The audience have turned against them so Riley needs to find a new tale to tell. There’s no money in the coffers and they’ve had to eat the horse. Only the mermaid act is bringing in the punters and even she’s just holding her breath.
To what lengths will Riley go to save his freak family?
Futureproof is a magical and deeply human new play by Lynda Radley and is her first play for the Traverse. Lynda’s previous work includes The Art of Swimming. Futureproof is also the Traverse’s first co-production with the award-winning Dundee Rep Ensemble and includes four members of the superb acting company.
Futureproof re-unites Director Dominic Hill (his last production as Artistic Director of the Traverse) with designer Colin Richmond after the success of The Three Musketeers and the Princess of Spain by Chris Hannan.
PREVIEW. Saturday 6 August (10.00am).
PREVIEW TICKET PRICE. £12 (£6 concessions).
DATES. Sunday 7 August – Sunday 28 August
TICKETS. Sunday – Thursday £17 (£12 concessions / £6 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £19 (£13 concessions).
TRAVERSE THEATRE CLUB HOT TICKETS. £3 off on Sunday 7 Aug (book before 31 July).
SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE. Wednesday 17 Aug (5.45pm).
AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE. Wednesday 17 Aug (5.45pm).
AGE RECOMMENDATION. 12+
TRAVERSE 1. WORLD PREMIERE. SCOTLAND. 2 HRS
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
The Wheel
by Zinnie Harris
7 – 28 Aug
Previews 28 July, 30 July and 6 August
“A glorious luminosity of spirit…really rather special.”
The Financial Times on Zinnie Harris’ Further Than The
Furthest Thing
Director Vicky Featherstone
Designer Merle Hensel
Lighting Designer Natasha Chivers
Composer/Sound Designer Nick Powell
Beatriz and her sister Rosa are happily preparing for Rosa’s wedding. Their world is turned upside down when the groom arrives, pitchfork rabble in tow, ready to occupy their farm. A little girl stumbles into their world, lost and looking for her father. In a moment of determination Beatriz takes the girl to find him – and so begins an unimaginable journey. Beatriz and her charge, in their need to survive, witness more than anyone ever should.
Award-winning writer Zinnie Harris’ (Fall, Julie, Further Than The Furthest Thing) extraordinary and unnervingnew play asks whether it is possible to travel througha world in conflict and remain unaffected. With wit,spirit and dynamism the play draws us into the quest,enchanting and challenging us with the charactersand situations we encounter along the way.
Contains adult themes and some strong language.
PREVIEWS. Tuesday 28 July (7.30pm), Saturday 30 July (7.30pm) and Saturday 6 August (9.15pm).
PREVIEW TICKET PRICE. £12 (£6 concessions).
DATES. Sunday 7 August – Sunday 28 August
TICKETS. Sunday – Thursday £17 (£12 concessions / £6 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £19 (£13 concessions).
TRAVERSE THEATRE CLUB HOT TICKETS. £3 off on Sunday 7 Aug (book before 31 July).
CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE. Thursday 18 August (1.00pm).
AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE. Saturday 20 August (8.45pm)
SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE. Saturday 27 August (1.00pm)
AGE RECOMMENDATION. 14+
TRAVERSE @ GHILLIE DHU. SCOTLAND. 2 HR 30 MINS
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig
4 – 27 Aug
Previews 2 Aug and 3 Aug
“You shouldn’t miss this show for the world…rambunctiously life-affirming and touchingly beautiful.”
* * * * * The Herald
* * * * * The Times
* * * * The Scotsman
Director Wils Wilson
Designer Georgia McGuinness
Composer Alasdair Macrae
Join us in one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric pubs, the Ghillie Dhu, for an afternoon of anarchic theatre, haunting folk music and strange goings-on.
One wintry morning Prudencia Hart, an uptight academic, sets off to attend a conference in Kelso. As the snow begins to fall, little does she know who or what awaits her there.
Come and be swept along on Prudencia’s enchanting dream-like journey of self-discovery, filled with magical moments, devilish encounters and wittily wild karaoke.
Inspired by the Border Ballads, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart will move and amuse as the peculiartwists in the tale unfold around you. Watching theshow with refreshment to hand is strongly encouraged.
PREVIEW. Tuesday 2 Aug (3.00pm), Wednesday 3 Aug (3.00pm).
PREVIEW TICKET PRICE. £5.
DATES. Thursday 4 August – Saturday 27 August
TICKETS. All shows £15 (£10 concessions).
SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE. Saturday 20 Aug (3.00pm).
CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE. Wednesday 24 Aug (3.00pm).
AGE RECOMMENDATION. 14+
TRAVERSE 1. WORLD PREMIERE. USA. 1 HR 10 MINS
THE TEAM IN ASSOCIATION WITH PERFORMANCE SPACE 122, CULTURGEST
Mission Drift
by the TEAM in collaboration with Heather Christian and Sarah Gancher
7 – 14 Aug
Previews 3 Aug and 6 Aug
“The TEAM are theatrical excavators of American culture, American dreams and the American psyche.”
The Guardian
“How stimulating to wake up in 2009 in the hands of a present-tense company who knows what it’s doing.”
The New York Times
Director Rachel Chavkin
Music Heather Christian
Designers Nick Vaughan, Brenda Abbandandolo,
Jake Heinrichs and Matt Hubbs
Technical Artist David Polato
Cast Heather Christian, Amber Renae Gray, Brian Hastert,
Libby King and Mikaal Sulaiman
Mission Drift is a pioneering journey west & east across the USA in search of the character of American capitalism. Told through atomic blasts, lizard ballet and music that fuses Vegas glitz with western ballads & southern blues, it follows the story of an immortal Dutch couple, forever 14, setting out west from Amsterdam to New Amsterdam to financially devastated modern-day Las Vegas.
Created in the blazing heat of a Vegas June. Crossing
American time & space. Composed by downtown New
York darling Heather
Scotsman Fringe First Award Winners (2005, 2006, 2008); Total Theatre Award (2008); Top Ten Time Out New York (2007); Top Ten Portugal’s Público (2009).
Mission Drift was made possible with support from the Greenwall Foundation, the Panta Rhea Foundation, the JMJ Family Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Almeida Theatre, Performance Space 122, and Culturgest.
This engagement was supported by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Mission Drift was developed through residencies and workshop productions at London’s Almeida Theatre, Brooklyn’s BRICStudio, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, LMCC’s Swing Space Grant at Building 110 on Governors Island, the Orchard Project, Soho Think Tank’s Ice Factory Festival, and ArtsEmerson.
PREVIEWS. Wednesday 3 August (7.00pm), Saturday 6 August (2.00pm).
PREVIEW TICKET PRICE. £12 (£6 concessions).
DATES. Sunday 7 August – Sunday 14 August
TICKETS. Sunday – Thursday £17 (£12 concessions / £6 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £19 (£13 concessions).
TRAVERSE THEATRE CLUB HOT TICKETS. £3 off on Sunday 7 Aug (book before 31 July).
AGE RECOMMENDATION. 14+
TRAVERSE @ LYCEUM REHEARSAL ROOM. UK PREMIERE. CANADA. 4 HRS
BLUEMOUTH INC.
Dance Marathon
by bluemouth inc.
3 – 14 Aug
“Perhaps the richest, fullest theatre experience I have ever had.”
NYtheatre.com
Cast Ciara Adams, Stephen O’Connell, Lucy Simic,
Richard Windeyer, Cass Bugge and Clayton Dean-Smith
So you think you can dance?
Toronto’s award-winning interdisciplinary theatre collective, bluemouth inc. presents Dance Marathon, a new duration-based performance event which has been taking the world by storm. An integration of theatre, dance, video and live music all inspired by the physically gruelling spectator sport from the 1930’s Depression-Era North America.
Strap on your dancing shoes and take a spin around the floor. An actual endurance contest and dramatic performance in which hopeful amateurs mix with bluemouth inc. performers under the direction of floor judges and the constant countdown of the clock to shape a night of immersive theatre.
Please remember to wear comfortable shoes. Those who have two left feet, can just sit back and enjoy.
The bar will be open throughout the performance.
Meet at the Traverse Box Office.
A Harbourfront Centre co-production presented in association with the Traverse Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre.
Dance Marathon was commissioned through Fresh Ground at the Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, with support from the Arts
through their Integrated Arts Program.
DATES. Wednesday 3 August – Sunday 14 August
TICKETS. Sunday – Thursday £17 (£12 concessions / £6 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £19 (£13 concessions).
TRAVERSE THEATRE CLUB HOT TICKETS. £3 off on Wednesday 3 Aug (book before 27 July).
AGE RECOMMENDATION. 18+
TRAVERSE 2. UK premiere . IRELAND. 1 HR 30 MINS
THE CORN EXCHANGE, DUBLIN
Man of Valour
by Michael West
5 – 14 Aug
Preview 4 Aug
“Beautifully staged.”
* * * * The Scotsman on Freefall
“Startlingly brilliant, powerful, enthralling.”
* * * * The List on Freefall
“Superb acting. Remarkable and poignant.”
* * * * The Herald on Freefall
Director Annie Ryan
Set and Lighting Design Aedin Cosgrove
Composer Denis Clohessy
Video Artist Jack Phelan
Cast Paul Reid
Farrell Blinks is an office drone with an overactive fantasy gland. His imagined, heroic adventures offer violent release from the pressures and boredom of his ordinary life — until the border between fantasy and reality begins to blur. When his demons come after him, Farrell has to find his voice and face them down.
From the creative team behind the acclaimed Freefall and Dublin by Lamplight (Winner Best Ensemble,Stage Awards Edinburgh 2005), Dublin’s diverse and exciting ensemble theatre company, The Corn Exchange, return to the Traverse with Man of Valour, a one-man action movie.
Backed by an award-winning design team, Man of Valour is a breath-taking, almost wordless performance by Paul Reid in the unique transformational style of The Corn Exchange.
The Corn Exchange are funded by The Arts Council of Ireland and Culture Ireland.
PREVIEW. Thursday 4 August (10.30am).
PREVIEW TICKET PRICE. £11 (£6 concessions).
DATES. Friday 5 August – Sunday 14 August
TICKETS. Sunday – Thursday £15 (£11 concessions/ £6 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £17 (£12 concessions).
TRAVERSE THEATRE CLUB HOT TICKETS. £3 off on Friday 5 Aug (book before 29 July).