Doppler Goes Digital

Aug 17 2020 | By Thom Dibdin More

Grid Iron pull planned live performances

Edinburgh’s Grid Iron has abandoned plans for live outdoor performances of Doppler, pencilled in for later this August. The show will now be presented in digital format.

The company’s chief executive and co-artistic director Judith Doherty says that although there have been no new announcements about live outdoor theatre, the company is out of time for getting the permissions it needs to start the necessary preparation work at its chosen location.

Keith Fleming, Doppler rehearsals. Pic: Delilah Rose Niel

The adaptation of a satirical novel by a Norwegian writer Erlend Loe was to have been performed in true Grid Iron style as an immersive, outdoor production, with a start date pencilled in for 24 August, the intended date for the commencement of outdoor performances in Scotland.

After announcing their plans on July 31 (see: Grid Iron New Show), the company has been following the fast-developing situation concerning Covid closely and, while adhering to the Scottish Government’s guidelines during work on the live show, has also planned for a fall-back solution.

Doherty said in a Grid Iron newsletter today, Monday 17 August: “We have had to make the very hard decision that we will not proceed with the live shows, regardless of what the First Minister announces on the 20th.

focus

“We will now focus on capturing a filmed record of the work we have all been doing this past few months. I can’t give you any more details about that yet as we are still finessing the plan but I will do just as soon as I can.”

Itxaso Moreno, Doppler rehearsals. Pic: Delilah Rose Niel

She said that the company was not able to gain permission from the managers of its chosen location in time to begin the work necessary to present the best live theatre experience.

Moving the performances into September would not be an option as the company does not have the financial resources to extend the contracts of its freelance cast and production team.

Doherty added: “While of course the whole team are beyond disappointed, we are now all looking forward to this new part of the Doppler adventure. And I want to commend our team for their perseverance, inexhaustible skill and boundless enthusiasm.

uncertainty

“The uncertainty has been extremely taxing and not a little stressful but at least we can go to sleep at night knowing we gave it out very best shot and that indeed we shall persevere, just in a different medium for the time being.”

The company will be sharing the progress of the filming of the show on its social media platforms.

All is not lost for a live performance, however. Doherty signed off the newsletter with the positive note: “Vi gleder oss til å fremføre Doppler for dere under Edinburgh Fringe Festivalen 2021.”

(“We look forward to performing Doppler for you during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2021.”)