Al Seed

Glasgow's Surge festival showcases street theatre and live arts scene

Work from companies including Conflux and Mischief La Bas

In 2010, Conflux, a new producer of street arts, physical theatre and circus, burst out of the Arches and onto the streets of Glasgow with the first ever Surge festival. A diverse array of performances, ranging from the mainstream to the decidedly…

Last Orders

Contemporary retelling of cannibal tale fails to set the blood pumping

There is no end to the unpleasant images that choreographer and director Al Seed presents us with in this fetishistic modern retelling of the legend of Sawney Bean. Those familiar with the story of Scotland’s real or fictitious 16th century cannibal…

Last Orders dance piece based on Sawney Bean

Al Seed Fringe piece on 16th century Scottish cannibal

Anthony Hopkins’ quivering lips, as he extols the fava beans, Chianti and human liver combo, is one of the most disturbing yet compelling images in Silence of the Lambs. For while serial killers might be scarily fascinating, they’re ten a penny compared…

Surge - Street Art/Circus Festival

The development of circus, physical theatre and street arts returns for a second year

If you were out and about in central Glasgow last July, chances are you saw something rather special. Run by Conflux, the organisation set up to develop physical theatre, street arts and circus in Scotland, the Surge Festival featured a colourful array…

Entre Nous

A showcase of physical theatre by Adam Smith College diploma graduates

Fife’s Adam Smith College has recently been criticised for the planned closure of its theatre arts courses but its Diploma in Physical Theatre, based in Glasgow, is in rude health as its graduation show Entre Nous will prove later this month. Now in its…

The Surge Grande Parade: Conflux Maximus

Something strange has been happening in Glasgow’s performance spaces recently, and it’s about to burst all over Buchanan Street. Conflux Maximus is a gigantic parade of performance art, and possibly some Roman-style decadence, to celebrate the launch of…

Surge physical theatre festival brings The Venus Labyrinth to Glasgow

If you spot something which defies description hovering around Glasgow city centre during the last weekend in July, chances are it’s Conflux at work. Set up in 2009 to support Scottish physical theatre, street arts and circus, Conflux is about to hold…

The Red Room

19th century decadence and decay

For years, the Traverse has been synonymous with ground-breaking, innovative theatre. And while it regularly shows dance throughout the year, when it comes to the Fringe, it’s drama all the way. Until now. When the David Hughes Dance Company delivers…

Best of the Rest

Highlights of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Among the very best acts appearing this year are Laura Solon, The Red Room, Múm, Party, The Event, Tap Kids and The Streets.

Behaviour

Theatre, it’s fair to say, suffers from an image problem. Despite being an utterly flexible and inventive art form, most people still associate ‘theatre’ with a red plush seat and the passive consumption of a story for two hours (perhaps pausing briefly…

The Fooligan

Tall tales by candlelight

Al Seed displays an enviable gift for storytelling alongside a physical prowess to rival Max Wall in this one-man show. A vibrant series of clowning tableaux breaks up this atmospheric tale within a tale, as Seed recounts the exploits of one of the…

Circus Summer School

The Arches’ long-running circus school rolls around again, headed up by the ever-excellent performer, artist and professional buffoon Al Seed (pictured). It’s a week-long intensive course open to anyone between 15 and 25, during which time you’ll train…

The Red Room

DANCE/PHYSICAL THEATRE Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 13 & Sat 14 Jun Listening to David Hughes and Al Seed talk is like dropping in on a mutual appreciation society. Taking a break from rehearsals at Edinburgh’s Dance Base, the two men talk…