Theatre, David Pollock

Old Vic production of Noises Off set for UK tour

The play within a play gets a scientific and funny makeover

‘It’s one of the purest farces ever written in the English language,’ is how director Lindsay Posner describes Michael Frayn’s 1982 comedy Noises Off: ‘I do see it as a truly great play.’ Posner’s new touring version of the play celebrates its thirtieth…

Theatre director Michael Emans set to revive Hector MacMillan's The Sash

The play, which was first staged at the Fringe 40 years ago, addresses the dangers of sectarianism

Forty years after it was first staged on the Edinburgh Fringe, Hector MacMillan’s homespun homily about the perils of sectarianism and its grip on the past and the future remains depressingly familiar to the landscape of Scottish society. Michael Emans…

New Rob Drummond play Quiz Show staged at Traverse Theatre

Ensemble work explores knowledge and truth

Rob Drummond thinks back to when he was a young boy, and he remembers his dad enjoying a steady diet of television quiz shows. They sucked him in too, and fed the inquisitive, exploring nature which would go on to mould his theatre craft. In a young but…

A Respectable Widow Takes to Vulgarity

Douglas Maxwell play charts middle class woman who discovers richness of swearing

'I started off with the idea of calling someone ‘a cunt’ but meaning it nicely,’ says Douglas Maxwell of his new play, ‘and then I thought of people who just don’t swear. Theatre’s a sweary industry, working in it we assume that everyone swears, but…

Interview: David Leddy on new show Long Live the Little Knife

Theatremaker on 2013 work taking in themes of authenticity, gender and free market economics

This month, Scots theatremaker David Leddy (Susurrus, Sub Rosa, Untitled Love Story) premieres his new workLong Live the Little Knife in Glasgow ahead of an Edinburgh Fringe run later this year. The List previewed the show – here’s the full transcript…

New David Leddy theatre piece Long Live the Little Knife

Playwright's raucous theatrical caper referencing forgery and castration

A few months ago I saw the writer Daniel Jackson in Euston Station,’ says David Leddy, ‘and we got the train back to Glasgow together. We were talking about our projects, and as I described all these avant garde things, Daniel sighed and said, ‘are you…

Cinderella

Karen Dunbar, Jenny Douglas, Kieran Brown and Des Clarke head up Glasgow's King’s Theatre panto

For all the conflicting needs of a commercial pantomime show – slapstick and continual visual flair for the kids; just enough of a sense of structure and bite for the adults with them; ropey jokes and song and dance routines (here, to pop hits like…

Hot 100 2012: 10-2

John Tiffany, Andy Murray and Luke Fowler among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Hot 100 2012: 19-11

David Greig, Karen Gillan and Chris Hoy among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Hot 100 2012: 29-20

Chvrches, Cora Bissett and Grant Morrison among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Hot 100 2012: 39-30

Konx-Om-Pax, Ingleby Gallery and NVA among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Hot 100 2012: 69-60

Rachel Sermanni, Limmy and Peter Capaldi among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Hot 100 2012: 79-70

Dominic Hill, Ewan Morrison and LuckyMe among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Glasgay! theatre round-up, including Harold and Maude, All That Promise and Dustin Lance Black's 8

Already recognised as a festival not afraid of dealing with issues of sexuality in a challenging and unconventional manner, this year’s Glasgay! comes with its own political backdrop – the ongoing debate between the Scottish government and the Catholic…

Solar Bear's Therapeutic Theatre strand presents Inside Outside In Our Stride

The production will take place as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival

Solar Bear theatre company’s Therapeutic Theatre strand was created five years ago for the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, and it’s now developed into a process of engagement for its participants which culminates in a show at the…

Arches LIVE 2012 presents programme of new and experimental work

Dance, live art and theatre events at Glasgow's Arches

When she speaks to The List in anticipation of this year’s Arches Live festival, artistic director Jackie Wylie is immersed in the Edinburgh Festival, at which her theatre is presenting a couple of productions. One that comes up in conversation is…

Theatre productions The Prize, Endure and Born to Run bring sport to the Fringe

Sport-themed shows at 2012 Edinburgh Fringe

Any Fringe show which takes a sporting theme in the same month as the Olympic Games arrive in London might be seen as belonging to the roster of gimmickry which inevitably assails Edinburgh in August. Yet speaking to the writers of three of the most…

Simon Stephens explores pains of adolescence in Fringe show Morning

2012 Edinburgh Fringe Show explores those on the cusp of their lives

‘I realised recently that I’ve written an unusual amount of characters who are 17,’ says playwright Simon Stephens, whose new play Morning follows his previous works Punk Rock, Sea Wall and Herons in visiting the lives of teenagers. ‘It’s an age where…

The Hot 100 2011: 100-50

The definitive list of Scottish creative talent

100: Gordon Ferris. Kilmarnock crime author makes good. The already packed Scottish crime writing field has finally found a bit of elbow room for another burgeoning talent. Joining the likes of Rankin, Brookmyre, McDermid and co is this Ayrshire-born…

Hot 100 2011 - No. 49 to 1

The definitive list of Scottish creative talent

The Hot 100 is the definitive list of Scottish creative talent. From fashion designers to performance artists, everyone who has made a sizeable splash in 2011 has a place in this countdown. It’s for people who’ve created a buzz, but it’s also about…

Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off

Lyceum and Dundee Rep co-production of Liz Lochhead's classic

For director Tony Cownie and the cast of the Lyceum and Dundee Rep Ensemble’s new co-production of Liz Lochhead’s 1987 Scots classic, the Edinburgh Festival is over. Already they’ve had Lochhead in to give advice on pronunciations and, in the middle of…

Chris Larner - An Instinct for Kindness

True-life assisted suicide tale at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011

Having earned her third major Fringe award for last year’s forensic, verbatim one-man show Lockerbie: Unfinished Business, director Hannah Eidinow moves one step closer to her subject matter here. With An Instinct For Kindness, solo performer Chris…

English-language version The Golden Dragon set for Edinburgh 2011

Rabble rouser that isn’t afraid to shake-up convention

‘It’s really sexy! It’s got naked women and lots of blood!’ Director Ramin Gray has his tongue planted firmly in his cheek as he attempts to sell his English-language version of celebrated contemporary German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig’s The…

Liz Lochead translation Educating Agnes explores universal themes

Scotland's Makar translates Moliere's The School for Wives into Scots

Following on from the success of Tartuffe in 1985 and Miseryguts (nee The Misanthrope) in 2002, Scotland’s new makar Liz Lochhead will return once more here to translating the work of the 17th century French satirist Moliere into Scots, with the…

Six Black Candles revives adaptation of Des Dillon novel

Revenge story from writer of Singin’ I’m No’ a Billy, He’s a Tim

'I see myself as the Bruce Springsteen of Scottish writers,’ says Des Dillon with a smile. ‘I write about a certain class of people – white trash, basically – and I write about them in simple language, using hardly any words to create powerful images.