The Month in Scottish Theatre: April 2018

If you thought March was busy, then April will take your breath away. Here’s a quick guide to just some of the shows on offer this month, featuring the ‘F’ word

Preview by Amy Taylor | 03 Apr 2018

Did somebody say Festival? No, not the one that we love and fear, but the end of March and the start of April marks the beginning of the 2018 Edinburgh International Science Festival in Edinburgh. Now in its 30th year, the festival’s theatre programme always contains some wonderfully wacky, and sometimes very poignant shows for all ages. Some highlights include Mamoru Iriguchi’s Eaten at Summerhall on 5 April, a new show about a very hungry lion exploring food, eating, and uh, being eaten alive. Elsewhere in Summerhall, Valentina’s Galaxy is an intergalactic space adventure for young children and their parents from 4-8 April, while Me and My Bee buzzes into the Royal Botanic Gardens from 8-11 April and teaches kids and adults of all ages about saving the world and, also, the bees.

Over at the Traverse the month begins with two familiar faces performing two shows that you might have missed at last year’s Fringe. Gary McNair’s Locker Room Talk returns from 4-7 April, and explores the way that men talk about women in front of other men. Shon Dale-Jones (formerly known as the man who was Hugh Hughes) resurrects his popular show The Duke (3-5 Apr), which explores kindness and priorities and has so far raised £46,000 for Save the Children’s Emergency Fund.  

Additionally, you can catch even more McNair at the Traverse’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint season, which begins on 3 April, with MacNair’s production of McGonagall’s Chronicles.

Later in the month, the long-awaited Traverse production of Frances Poet’s Gut opens on 20 April. This thriller explores who we can trust with our children, and even if we should trust anyone at all.

Next door, The Royal Lyceum’s latest production, Creditors, opens on 27 April. Adapted from the play by August Strindberg, this new version by David Greig explores a love triangle that follows a man, his wife and a mysterious new friend. Edward Franklin, Stewart McQuarrie and Adura Onashile star.

Moving over to Glasgow, the Citz’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night opens on 13 April. This co-production with HOME Manchester, directed by Dominic Hill, is a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize-winning great American drama that follows four members of the same family over a devastating 24 hours as resentments, secrets and failings of each person are brought forth for all to see. Starring Bob Costigan.

Company of Wolves’ new piece, Unbecoming opens at Platform on 28 April and is set to tour various venues across Scotland until June. Part theatre, part show, part gig, this one person show by Anna Porubcansky explores the duality of femininity – love and rage, and identity after becoming a mother.

Staying in Glasgow, The Occasion Theatre’s new production, The Monster and Mary Shelley opens at the Tron on 20 April before heading off on a Scottish tour. Written by Stewart Ennis and directed by Peter Clerke, this new piece explores the life of Mary Shelley using music, sound and a darkly comic script.

Up in Dundee, the ensemble at Dundee Rep present their latest production, a revival of Stephen Greenhorn’s Passing Places on 17 April. Set in 90s Motherwell, this so-called ‘road movie for the stage’ follows two young men as they set off on a road trip to Thurso in a rundown Lada and a ‘borrowed’ surfboard. The show tours to The Citizens Theatre in May.

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