Al Seed

Last Orders

Contemporary retelling of cannibal tale fails to set the blood pumping

18 Aug 2011

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

10 Aug 2011

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

15 Jun 2011

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

27 May 2011

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

23 Jul 2010

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

30 Jun 2010

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

3 Aug 2009

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

13 Jul 2009

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

Behaviour

2 Apr 2009

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…

Telling stories while we can at The Edinburgh Book Festival

Alan Bissett's festival blog

26 Aug 2008

Today's theme is stories! The ones we tell about ourselves, our past, our bodies. What prompted this was The Fooligan at the Pleasance, a one-man show from the Arches' artist in residence, Al Seed. Al waddles onto the stage, an obese, grotesque medieval…

The Fooligan

Tall tales by candlelight

7 Aug 2008

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

3 Jul 2008

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

5 Jun 2008

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…