Listings 24 – 30 September
On stage this week: Mon 24 – Sun 30 September 2018
There is plenty of great theatre on Edinburgh’s stages this week, with the Lyceum’s fabulous Twelfth Night just hitting its stride for week two (of three), McLuckies Line touring to the Brunton and Assembly, and the King’s hosting the tour of Still Alice.
The big shout out, however, it is one of the guaranteed highlights of the autumn amateur diary: Showcase, which is at the Church Hill Theatre for five nights of brilliant, soaring vocals and musical theatre numbers – all put together under the guidance of that top class duo of director Andy Johnston and MD, David McFarlane.
Dylan Read is an immaculate Festus in the Lyceums Twelfth Night. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic
The company continues to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Relief, while delivering productions which are known for the strength of their individual performances, the strong song choices which Johnston & McFarlane make in the programming and Claire Smith’s hard driven choreography of the 60 strong company.
Another local amateur company, A-Team Productions, is staging a concert performance this week, with a one off night on Friday at the Pleasance Theatre, with A-Team members and alumni delivering a mix of numbers from the musicals it has staged over the last five years.
There is also plenty to intrigue the theatre palette at the Traverse, which has the great joy of hosting three productions over the week. This week’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint is from Donna Franceschild, the Total Theatre Award-winners Two Destination Language open the short tour of Manpower on Wednesday and the NTS – Abbey Theatre co-pro of bilingual Scotties arrives on Thursday.
Listings
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
McLuckies Line
Saturday 29 September 2018
Evening: 7.30pm.
Unemployed actor and compulsive gambler Lawrence McLuckie waits nervously in a claustrophobic corridor of a Glasgow hospital. He’s expecting the phone call he’s been waiting for his whole life – what could go wrong? Place your bets!
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
McLuckie’s Line
Friday 28 September 2018
Evening: 7.30pm.
A raw, hard hitting and hilarious monologue that delves into the wounded soul of unemployed actor Lawrence McLuckie as he waits nervously in a claustrophobic hospital corridor expecting a phone call.
Church Hill Theatre
33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
Showcase 2018
Tue 25 – Sat 29 September 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinee Sat: 2.30pm.
Showstoppers and chart toppers performed more than 60 superbly talented performers, accompanied by an exceptional orchestra. As ever, proceeds from all shows go to Macmillan Cancer Support, to assist with their extraordinary work helping people who live with cancer.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Still Alice
Tue 25 to Sat 29 September 2019
Evenings: 7.30pm; Matinees Wed & Sat: 2.30pm.
Alice Howland is stubborn, clever and driven – a professional at the top of her game. But, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 50, she is compelled to confront her new reality and draw on her resilience to remain independent for as long as possible.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848
Twelfth Night
14 September – 6 October 2018
Daily Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Wed, Sat: 2pm.
In Shakespeare’s bittersweet comedy genders blur, boundaries are crossed and the world is turned upside down, all with music as the engine for these bacchanalian shenanigans. Director Wils Wilson saturates this tale of magic and wonder with psychedelia and bohemian delight. A co-production with Bristol Old Vic. Read Hugh’s review here: ★★★★☆ Kaleidoscopic.
LYT Curtain Raiser – Twelfth Night
Friday 28 September, 6pm.
The Lyceum Youth Theatre take to the main stage with a short performance in response Twelfth Night.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014
Kevin Bridges – The Brand New Tour
Wednesday 26 – Sunday 30 Sept 2018
Evenings: 8pm.
Scotland’s biggest comedy export is back with his hotly anticipated 2018 tour: Brand New.
Pleasance Theatre
Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance EH8 9TJ.
The A-Team: Five Years in Concert
Friday 28 September
Evening: 7.30pm.
A-Team Productions celebrate five years of supporting young people in Edinburgh. A large cast of young people – all involved in productions over the years – perform songs from Sweeney Todd, Ragtime, Next Stop: Broadway, Oliver! and In The Heights – plus a couple of surprises.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
PPP: The Lottery Ticket
25 Sep 2018 – 29 Sep 2018
Daily: 1pm; Fri: 7pm.
Salih and Jacek are on a run of bad luck. Salih’s asylum claim has been turned down, Jacek hasn’t been able to send money to his wife in Krakow for two months, and they’ve just been ejected from their hostel for ‘rowdy behaviour’. But when a lottery ticket blows into Jacek’s coat as he sleeps, Salih is convinced their fortunes are about to change.
Manpower
Wed 26 – Thurs 27 Sep 2018
Evenings: 8pm.
Silent battles of power drive a politically complex commentary on Britain’s working men over the last 40 years, as a British man and an Eastern European woman share the stage. Sound-tracked on vinyl by the tunes of those years, it’s theatre for the hard-working modern Britain.
Scotties
Thurs 27 – Sat 29 Sep 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm.
A telegram from Ireland in 1937 inspires the untold story of ten young lads from Achill lost in a Scottish bothy fire. The effects reach across the sea, waking the soul of a young Glasgow boy today struggling to find his voice.
ENDS
