Mark Thomson

Wondrous Flitting

Absurdist parable that doesn’t quite work

8 Aug 2011

Inspired by Edinburgh College of Art teacher Ed Hollis’ book The Secret Lives of Buildings, Lyceum artistic director Mark Thomson’s first play for the Fringe since his much lauded Moving Objects is an absurdist-realist parable that doesn’t quite work.

The theatre shows to look out for at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011

Dance Marathon, Ten Plagues and Tuesdays at Tescos among highlights

9 Jun 2011

As ever the theatre programme of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe is overflowing with keen ideas, exciting stories and risk-taking. The Traverse Theatre maintains its position as the beating heart of the Fringe, with Dominic Hill’s final programme…

Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland announce 2011 shortlist

Kate Dickie, David Birrell and David Greig feature on CATS 2011 shortlist

12 May 2011

Following an all-day meeting at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, the CATS judges have revealed the hotly-anticipated shortlist for the ten categories of Scotland's leading theatre awards for 2010-11. A highlight of the Scottish theatre…

The Importance of Being Earnest

Mark Thomson’s Lyceum production utilises recent Romeo & Juliet cast and includes ‘lost’ fourth act

3 Nov 2010

Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy is one of those rep theatre staples that is almost guaranteed to bring in a sympathetic audience. The play is so familiar, in both its premise and as a vehicle for its creator’s witticisms, that you can almost hear…

New Lyceum production of The Importance of Being Earnest

Production follows on from Romeo and Juliet

27 Oct 2010

The Importance of Being Earnest arrives hot on the heels of the Lyceum’s recent production of Romeo and Juliet, and is employing virtually the same cast and the same set. Director Mark Thomson is excited at the prospect of getting his teeth into Wilde’s…

Confessions of a Justified Sinner

The ecclesiastical thriller is more resonant today than ever before

1 Oct 2009

‘If I kill people, if I kill children, if I blow up civilians, if I am in the service of God in my actions then I’m a martyr and I’m justified.’ Mark Thomson, artistic director of the Lyceum, is talking about the main character in his new adaptation of…

The Curse of the Starving Class

2 Apr 2009

AMERICAN DRAMA In Sam Shepard’s still-relevant 1978 black comedy we meet an alcoholic father (Christopher Fairbank) whose violence towards the structure of his own dirt-poor rural house looks like threatening put-upon wife (Carla Mendonca). Her…

Six Characters in Search of an Author - interview with cast and crew

14 Feb 2008

Trying to get to the nub of Luigi Pirandello’s 1921 absurdist classic Six Characters In Search of An Author is an infuriating, intellectually taxing, challenging and rewarding process. Essentially, six characters – fictional characters, but somehow…

The Winter's Tale - interview

20 Sep 2007

Ever dealt with the green-eyed monster? If not, you’re lucky, but most likely you have. Mark Thomson, never one to shirk the “difficult” plays of Shakespeare’s oeuvre, has chosen to begin the Lyceum’s autumn season with The Winter’s Tale. Aside from…

Monks

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 7 Apr

27 Mar 2007

NEW WRITING Faith is a commodity in short supply in our society. But this doesn’t stop people from seeking it wherever they can. With the decline of religion, love has become the form of metaphysical belief of choice for many. And it’s love…

Monks

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 16 Mar-Sat 7

13 Mar 2007

NEW WORK I expect at times we all wonder what life is all about. Beyond all the ceaseless trudging on and on, the struggle with mortgages, the hassles at work, the stress of supermarket queues and so on, there’s surely some greater purpose. Whether…

Merchant of Venice, The

The Merchant of Venice

2 Oct 2006

CLASSIC It’s easy enough to see, in Britain’s current climate of religious intolerance, why Mark Thomson should wish to open the Lyceum’s new season with Shakespeare’s tale of money and racism. It is one of Shakespeare’s trickiest pieces. Our 21st…