Listings: Mon 9 – Sun 15 Sept 2019
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week
The first big production after the fringe opens this week, with David Greigs much anticipated adaptation of Stanslaw Lems novel, Solaris at the Lyceum.
Elsewhere, the Traverse treats us to the first of this Autumn’s A Play a Pie and A Pints, with Martin McCardie’s From Paisley to Paolo and there is a wealth of shows for a young audience over the weekend.
Sakura Iida, Hannah Cubitt, Constant Vigier, Madeline Squire and Danila Marzilli in Wee Hansel and Gretel from Scottish Ballet. Pic: Rimbaud Patron.
The big one, though, really is Solaris. It’s a play which explores the nature of love, loss and consciousness and is set on a space station in the far reaches of the universe where new arrival Kris is troubled by the evasive habits of her fellow scientists who each seem haunted by ghosts.
The question is whether these apparitions are real or the planet is conjuring them up, to communicate with the spaceship’s crew? Soon the team’s research mission becomes derailed into psychological odysseys of their own.
Some of Scotland’s best companies for children are in town this week. Andy Manley (creator of White) is at the Studio of the Festival Theatre with Stick By Me, winner of this year’s CATS award for children’s theatre.
Musician Daniel Padden’s Whirligig is getting its first outing at the Traverse this week. Created in collaboration with Red Bridge Arts and Catherine Wheels, this is hotly anticipated.
a beautifully scatological dive
Then the brilliant Momoru Iriguchi is at North Edinburgh Arts with his Eaten, a beautifully scatological dive into the ethics of what we eat, framed by the conversation between a lion and the human he has just eaten. It is hilarious but has hidden depths.
Finally, on the kids front, there is Wee Hansel and Gretel at the King’s, which is Scottish Ballet’s wee version of its big ballet and is thoroughly recommended for those who might not be able to focus for the length of the full production. It might be shorter, but there is no holding back on the quality.
Those big kids at Anatomy have their lates live art extravaganza at Summerhall on Friday, while, if you haven’t bought your tickets for Frankie Boyle’s Full Power show at the Playhouse, the best seats are on Thursday – with a handful available on Friday.
And if your tastes are rather more laid back, then you can always go Puttin’ On The Ritz at the Playhouse on Saturday.
Listings Mon 9 – Sun 15 Sept 2019
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Wee Hansel and Gretel
Fri 13 – Sun 15 Sept 2019
Fri 2.30pm; Sat & Sun 11am & 1.30pm.
A wee version of a big ballet from Scottish Ballet. Join Hansel and Gretel in an enchanting gingerbread house where they meet dancing sweet treats and toys that come to life. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Solaris
September 12 – October 5 2019.
Previews: Thurs 12/Fri 13: 7.30pm.
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Weds, Sat (not 15): 2pm.
By David Greig, adapted from Stanisław Lem’s novel, and directed by Matthew Lutton. Within hours of arriving on a space station in orbit around the mercurial planet Solaris, psychologist Kris is troubled by the evasive habits of her fellow scientists who each seem haunted by ghosts. It’s not long before she herself is confronted by the spectre of an old love. Book here.
North Edinburgh Arts
15a Pennywell Ct, EH4 4TZ . Phone booking: 0131 315 2151
Eaten
Sat 14 Sept 2019
One performance: 3pm.
What if your food started talking back? Meet Lionel McLion. He’s just eaten a human called Mamoru. But Lionel hasn’t chewed his food well. So Mamoru’s alive and well in his stomach, and now wants to say hello. A strange friendship between the eater and the eaten starts to grow. Eaten invites children to the fascinating world of food chains and digestion. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014.
Frankie Boyle: Full Power
Thursday 12/Friday 13 September 2019
Evening: 7.30pm
Touring Scotland properly for the first time in over a decade, Frankie presents his sense of mounting horror in the form of standup comedy, Including some of the best bits from his recent Prometheus albums. If you enjoying going to a theatre and seeing Frankie Boyle do a standup show, then this is the show for you. Book here.
Puttin’ On The Ritz
Saturday 14 September 2019
Two shows at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
The most famous songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood are recreated live on stage with award winning singers and dancers. Special guests will include world champion dance professionals from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, “who will wow the audience with their glamorous costumes and ballroom skills”. Book here.
The Studio at Festival Theatre
22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Stick By Me
Fri 13 September 2019
1.30pm & 3.30pm
A “joyful and funny show” (The Guardian) about friendship and play, and the importance of treasuring little things. This “charming, delightful, inventive show” (The Wee Review) is created by Andy Manley and Ian Cameron, co-creators of international hit show White. Book here.
Summerhall
1 Summerhall Square, EH9 1PL
Anatomy #21 Slander
Friday 13 Sept 2019
Evening: 8pm.
Live art cabaret featuring astonishing work in dance, performance art, burlesque, clownery, music, physical theatre and more. Tonight is all about slander and features massively multiartform cabaret from Sean Wai Keung, Helena Salgueiro, gobscure, Alice Mary Cooper, Sarah Bebe Holmes & Bado Reti, Fiona Oliver-Larkin & Kasia Zawadzka. Book here.
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404.
PPP: From Paisley to Paolo
Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 September 2019
Daily 1pm; Fri 7pm [T2]
It’s 2006, Jack is 19 and was born on the same day, in the same hour, in the same hospital as Paolo Nutini. He goes to T in the Park in a stolen hearse with his two best friends Jack and Mavis, and promises that his best pal Paolo will be there to meet them. Nothing will be the same again. Book here.
WhirlyGig
Friday 13/Saturday 14 Sep 2019
Fri: 6:30pm: Sat: 11am, 2.30pm [T1]
A madcap musical adventure for everyone aged 6 and over. WhirlyGig is 4 brave musicians, 30 instruments, and countless musical puzzles to solve. Join us for an extraordinary theatrical experience where music will happen in ways you’ve never seen before. Musical maverick Daniel Padden comes together with award-winning Red Bridge Arts and Catherine Wheels to celebrate the thrills and spills of making music. Book here.
ENDS
