Two New National Theatre Of Scotland Touring Shows Take To The Road
13 Mar 09
The National Theatre of Scotland presents two touring shows:
Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off by Liz Lochhead, directed by Alison Peebles
and Our Teacher's a Troll by Dennis Kelly, directed by Joe Douglas.
Designed by Kenny Miller
Lighting Designed by Lizzie Powell
Music Composed by David Paul Jones
Choreographed by Marc Brew
The full cast is : Marc Brew, Angela Darcy, Joyce Falconer, Jo Freer, Lewis Howden, John Kielty and Owen Whitelaw.
Both shows will tour the length and breadth of the country, visiting
village halls, community centres and arts venues with their own
in-the-round seating. (15 April to 6 June 2009)
The National Theatre of Scotland has a commitment to taking top class
theatre productions to rural and urban communities across Scotland. In
previous years the Company has toured theatre for adults, children,
teenagers and families including Gobbo (Winner of the CATS award for
Best Production for Children and Young People), Mancub and Julie in
2006 and A Sheep Called Skye and Molly Sweeney in 2007. In 2009, the
Company is delighted to take Liz Lochhead's Scottish classic Mary Queen
of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off on the road, alongside Our Teacher's
a Troll for children and young people.
Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
by Liz Lochhead, directed by Alison Peebles.
Liz Lochhead's trail-blazing theatrical study of regicide, faith and
feminism was first premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987,
directed by Gerry Mulgrew, with Alison Peebles playing the part of
Elizabeth I. Her tale of ‘twa queens on the wan green island', has
become a contemporary classic in the Scottish theatrical canon.
Liz Lochhead is one of Scotland's most popular dramatists and poets.
Her most recent work includes a new version of Educating Agnes for
Theatre Babel (2008) and Good Things for Borderline Theatre Company
(2006). Other highly-acclaimed plays include her adaptation of
Euripides' Medea for Theatre Babel (2000) and Perfect Days for the
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (1998). She has recently been appointed as
the Poet Laureate of Glasgow.
Alison Peebles is one of Scotland's leading theatre directors,
film-makers and actors. For the National Theatre of Scotland, Alison
has directed Transform East Ayrshire: Flit and Home Aberdeen. She is
co-founder of multi-award winning Communicado Theatre Company. Her
recent work as a theatre director includes A Drunk Woman Looks at the
Thistle by Denise Mina (A Play, a Pie and Pint, Òran Mór) and Playhouse
Creatures (Dundee Rep, 2007). Alison has also directed many short films
including the award-winning feature film, AfterLife (Gabriel Films), by
Andrea Gibb.
Our Teacher's a Troll by Dennis Kelly, directed by Joe Douglas
What would you do if your teacher had a breakdown and was replaced by a
troll with a huge purple tongue, who made all the schoolchildren work
in a gold mine? Only the terrible twins, Holly and Sean, can save their
school and everyone in it. Our Teacher's a Troll is a deliciously
gruesome tale for children big and small.
Dennis Kelly is an award-winning playwright whose recent plays include
Olivier-nominated Love and Money at the Young Vic, After the End at the
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh/The Bush Theatre, London, the Meyer
Whitworth award-winning Osama the Hero at Hampstead Theatre and Debris
at Theatre 503, London. Dennis is one of the co-creators/writers of the
BAFTA-nominated TV series Pulling for BBC3.
Joe Douglas has been working with the National Theatre of Scotland for
the past year under the ITV Theatre Director Scheme, supported by the
Mackintosh Foundation. He worked as Assistant Director on Nobody Will
Ever Forgive Us (National Theatre of Scotland/Traverse Theatre), 365,
The Bacchae (National Theatre of Scotland/Edinburgh International
Festival), Six Characters in Search of an Author (National Theatre of
Scotland/Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh/Citizens Theatre, Glasgow).
His directing credits include Videotape (Òran Mór), One for the Road
and Fantasy Football (Battersea Arts Centre).
Marc Brew has worked in the UK and internationally for the past 11
years as a performer, choreographer and teacher. He has danced with the
Australian Ballet, the State Theatre Ballet Company of South Africa,
Infinity Dance Theatre and for five years with Candoco Dance Company.
Recent works have included commissions for The Big Chair Dance, as part
of Big Dance 2008.
Angela Darcy has appeared in Monarch of the Glen. Recent stage work
includes Sub Rosa at the Citizens Theatre, Cinderella at the Byre
Theatre and Slick for Vox Motus.
Joyce Falconer has worked extensively on stage and screen. Well known
to many as Roisin in River City, her other TV appearances include
Taggart and Rab C Nesbitt. Recently she played Jean Guthrie in Sunset
Song for His Majesty's Theatre and the Wicked Witch of the West in The
Wizard of Never Woz at The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow.
Jo Freer has recently appeared on stage in Mary Massacre for Random
Accomplice, Liar at the Citizens Theatre and Trumpets and Raspberries
at the Royal Lyceum Theatre.
Lewis Howden's TV appearances include Taggart, Rebus and Monarch of The
Glen. On stage he has recently appeared in Educating Agnes by Liz
Lochead and played Macbeth for Theatre Babel.
John Kielty has previously played in National Theatre of Scotland's
Elizabeth Gordon Quinn. Other recent stage roles include Macbeth and
Educating Agnes for Theatre Babel and The Bible: The Complete Word of
God Abridged for the Reduced Shakespeare Company. John also co-wrote
and performed in Sundowe, winner of the Highland Quest for a New
Musical.
Owen Whitelaw's theatre work for the National Theatre of Scotland
includes Cockroach at the Traverse, 365 at the Edinburgh International
Festival and Rupture for the National Theatre of Scotland Workshop and
Traverse Theatre.
Touring from 15 April to 6 June: Mull Theatre @ Druimfin, Tobermory,
Mull; Victoria Halls, Helensburgh; Rothesay Pavilion, Isle of Bute;
Queen's Hall, Dunoon; Nevis Centre, Fort William; Sabhal Mor Ostaig,
Skye; Village Hall, Strathy; Assembly Rooms, Wick; Craigmonie Centre,
Drumnadrochit; Unst Leisure Centre; Clickminnin Leisure Centre,
Lerwick; Fisherman's Hall, Buckie; Town Hall, Inverurie; Betteridge
Hall, Newtonhill; Lonach Hall, Strathdon and Nairn Community Centre.
Full listings information below.
Press Performances: Both shows will premiere at Mull Theatre, Tobermory on Saturday 18 April 2009.
Our Teacher's A Troll at 10.30am and Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off at 8pm
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government.
Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has
been involved in creating 74 productions in 101 different locations.
With no building of its own, the Company takes theatre all over
Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies
to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in
the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations,
airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and
forests. The company has performed to over 406,000 people, across three
continents.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACCESS - Free Audio Guides for both shows are available from box offices or to download from
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com. Please see listings below for Signed Performances.
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS - Alison Peebles, Liz Lochhead, Joe Douglas and
Dennis Kelly will be taking part in talks during the tour. For more
information please check www.nationaltheatrescotland.com for details.
WORKSHOPS - The National Theatre of Scotland's Learn team will deliver
a number of educational workshops for both productions. Mary Queen of
Scots got Her Head Chopped Off is supported by practical theatre
workshops aimed at S3 and S4 school pupils and workshops for local
community groups.
Our Teacher's a Troll is also supported by a range of workshops which
are targeted towards younger children in P5 to P7. In addition to this
there will be a number of community family focused workshops for
parents and children.
FULL LISTINGS INFORMATION can be found at www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
For further information please contact:
Michelle Mangan -Tour Marketing and Press Co-ordinator
[email protected]
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