Back to Italy and Switzerland

In April I’ll be back in Italy and Switzerland teaching, directing and performing.

This will be my fifth time teaching in Italy. I’ll be teaching workshops in slapstick, physical theatre and directing a kids show in Varese (where I usually work), but I’ll also be leading workshops in mask work, puppetry and clowning for schools in Milan and Switzerland.

I’ll also be performing a new murder mystery “Dinner at Silvius‘”.
The Emperor Silvius Berlosconius has been murdered and it’s up to Gaius and his sidekick Angela Murki to crack the case. Expect murder, mayhem and plenty of bad jokes!

Looking forward to what’s going to be a busy, but exciting April!

“Scrap Yard” at Traverse Theatre

Next month I’ll be performing at the Traverse Theatre in “Scrap Yard” a scratch evening of new pieces of theatre and puppetry, as part of the Manipulate Festival.

Join us for an exciting evening of new performances.

Participating artists have been placed in four teams, given a masterclass from a mystery guest artist and challenged to create a short play in two weeks, for a single performance.

Scrap Yard is a place to discover the unexpected, to take risks and where the best work is often unfinished. An innovative new project which invites theatre makers of all disciplines to experiment with new ideas and collaborations.

Scrap Yard is at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, 5th February at 7:30pm

You can buy tickets by phoning: 0131 228 1404 or online here

See you there!

Children’s Theatre, Political Theatre and Youth Theatre

This autumn I’m involved in three different theatre events.

The first was Imaginate Ideas Exchange at Summerhall in Edinburgh last Sunday.
I was working with Ellie Stewart on “My Heavy Heart“, a new adaptation of “Dog So Small” by Philippa Pearce. The piece tells the story of one boy’s relationship with his imaginary dog. I spent the day working with fellow actor Belle Jones and director Eleanor Morrison to create a really touching and thoughtful version of the story.
The hope is to the develop the piece further for a full performance and possibly a tour.

Next I will be playing Munro in Davey Anderson’s “True or False” for Theatre Uncut at Summerhall on Friday 15th November at 7:30pm.
Theatre Uncut is an evening of political theatre organised by Culture Pie. It will consist of various political pieces written and performed for the event by professional and community theatre companies, the aim of which is to facilitate political debate and also raise money for Amnesty International.
Tickets are only £5 each.
You can find out more about Theatre Uncut and book tickets here

Finally I am producing and directing (alongside Ellie Stewart) and acting in “Guid Scratch” for Firefly Youth Theatre for the fourth year running.
The evening consists of new plays from youth theatre participants and professional writers, which are performed and directed by the kids alongside professional actors and directors.
This year’s “Guid Scratch” looks set to be the most exciting yet!
It will be at Howden Park Centre in Livingston on Saturday 16th November at 7pm.
Tickets are £6 (£4 concessions) and are available by phoning 08447 744496
You can find out more here

Hopefully see you at one of the events!

Teaching in Italy

At the end of August l’ll be back in Italy for the fourth time, again working with The Benvenuto Youth Theatre.
This time l’ll be running a workshop in directing for the older members of the youth theatre.
I always enjoy teaching in Varese. The passion and enthusiasm of the participants is infectious and their keenness to learn new drama skills is fantastic!

“Laquearia” at the Edinburgh Fringe

I will be playing the Narrator in the world premiere of “Laquearia” by Victoria Miguel at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

A new play based around a conversation between Samuel Beckett and John Cage over a game of chess.
While drinking, smoking, and discussing friends and ideas—punctuated by the narrator’s clumsy interpretations—they play the game of chess described in Beckett’s novel Murphy, providing the structure for the first performances of a new digital version of Cage’s composition Reunion, commissioned by the John Cage Trust. Asking, and answering, the narrator’s question: could the game from Murphy be used as the structure for a performance of Reunion?
Supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and the John Cage Trust.

“Laquearia” will be at Summerhall, 2-9 August at 6pm.

You can find out more about the show here
and book tickets here

See you there!

Off to Italy with Peapod Productions!

Next week I’ll be heading to Italy and Switzerland with Peapod Productions!

Our production of “Passing Through” will tour to Lugano in Switzerland and Milan and Varese in Italy.
We’ll also be running drama workshops and a murder mystery evening for the Benvenuto Youth Theatre in Varese.

I’m really looking forward to retuning to Italy for a third time and to be working with the Benvenuto Youth Theatre again!

Ciao!

Traverse 50 – Work in Progress

On Monday I’ll be performing in plays by J A Sutherland and Sylvia Dow as part of “Work in Progress“, a scratch night of new writing organised by members of the Traverse 50.

Rehearsed-Readings, Read-Throughs and Revelations from writers in The Traverse Fifty.
Hear new writing from some of the 50 writers currently being mentored by the Traverse Theatre.

“Work in Progress” will be at the Tightlaced Studio at Art’s Complex in Edinburgh on Monday 11th March at 8pm and tickets are free!

See you there!

UK, Switzerland and Italy Tour with “Passing Through”

I’m very excited to say that “Passing Through” will be heading out on the road for one more tour.
It will be touring to theatres in Scotland, England, Switzerland and Italy! We’ll also be doing a private performance of the play at the Scottish Parliament!

There’s been a terrible mistake! The Dockers Social Club booked ‘The Ace of Spades’ thinking it was a Motorhead tribute band, but they got Tommy the Magician instead. Tommy’s made a sharp exit and is nursing a pint and a bruised ego in the pub down the road when Alice stomps in from the rain. She’s soaked, been stood up and that’s it, she’s had it forever with romance.

What neither of them know is that some magic might just be round the corner. Or is true love just another conjuring trick, a sleight of hand?

“sure to put a smile on the face of all but the hardest-hearted”
The Herald

“bright, perky, observant, with an occasional shimmer of pure conjurors’ magic”
The Scotsman

14-16 March at 8:00pm
The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
Tickets: 0131 556 9579 or at http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

22-23 March at 7:45pm
Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Tickets: 08448 11 21 21 or at http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk

29-30 March at 7:45pm
Cumbernauld Theatre, Cumbernauld
Tickets: 01236 732 887 or at http://www.cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk

5-6 April at 8:00pm
Swallow Theatre, near Whithorn
Tickets: 01988 850368 or email mail@swallowtheatre.com

11 April at 8:00pm
Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline
Tickets: 01383 602 302 or at http://www.onfife.com

12 April at 8:00pm
Burgh Halls, Linlithgow
Tickets: 01506 282 720 or in person at the box office

As well as a private performance at The Scottish Parliament in April, we’ll also be touring theatres in Italy in June. I’ll include the Switzerland and Italy dates once they’re confirmed.

If you haven’t already, I hope you can catch “Passing Through“. It’s a terrific show!

Cinderella – NLP Theatre

This Christmas I will be providing the voice of the Narrator for NLP Theatre’s production of “Cinderella“.

Laugh out loud fun for the whole family, join Cinderella, Buttons, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother as they try to outsmart the Ugly Sisters.

Will true love be sealed with a kiss before the clock strikes midnight? Can Prince Charming find the beautiful owner of the glass slipper? OH YES HE WILL! Accept your royal invitation to the greatest pantomime of them all.

“Cinderella” will be at The Regal Theatre in Bathgate 1st-9th December and at Howden Park Centre in Livingston 11th-24th December.

You can find out more at www.nlptheatre.co.uk

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Guid Scratch

I’m doing Guid Scratch with Firefly Arts again this year.

Guid Scratch is an evening of cutting edge drama and live music.

The event (now in it’s third year) has been created and run by West Lothian based writer, Ellie Stewart, actor Philip Kingscott and the dynamic local youth theatre, Firefly Arts. It is a platform for new writing, acting and directing in West Lothian. The evening consists of short plays performed by professional actors alongside members of the youth theatre. It also includes live music by a local singer/songwriter.

Guid Scratch is in the Firefly Studio (Space 1) in Howden Park Centre, Livingston on Saturday 10th November at 7:00pm.
Tickets can be purchased in advance and are £6 (£4 concessions)
They are available from Firefly Youth Theatre:
0844 774 4496
admin@firefly-arts.co.uk

It should be a great evening. Look forward to seeing you there!