2,000th 50p ticket on sale Sat 8 August

30 July 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


On Saturday 8 August, the Citizens Theatre will release 100 tickets for Lanark - A Life in Three Acts, an epic new stage adaptation of the novel by Alasdair Gray.  At the sale, the 2000th 50p ticket will be sold since the scheme was re-instated in 2012. 

One of the hottest tickets of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival, Glasgow audiences have the chance to see the landmark adaptation of Gray’s famous novel at the Citizens Theatre for only 50p. 100 tickets across 10 performances of the play will go on sale at 10am on Saturday 8 August, and the only way to secure a 50p ticket is in person at the theatre on the morning of the sale.

The 50p ticket initiative was launched by Citizens Theatre Artistic Director Dominic Hill during his first season at the theatre in Spring 2012. The 50p sales have since become a permanent feature, with bargain hunters joining the queue outside the theatre on selected Saturday mornings come rain or shine to secure their tickets and ensure that every 50p sale is a sell out. Following the 50p ticket sale for Lanark, 2,000 people will have enjoyed world-class theatre productions for a rock bottom price. 

Alasdair Gray’s Lanark is a cult classic of 20th century literature. Part fantastical journey through a mythical city, and part semi-autobiography of a Glasgow School of Art student in the 1950s, the novel probes the politics, philosophy and art of modern-day Scotland. Writer David Greig has adapted the work for the stage to be directed by Graham Eatough. Sandy Grierson plays Lanark, having played the role in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation by Robert Brooks. Grierson last appeared on the Citizens’ stage in The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler by Vanishing Point and National Theatre of Scotland. Lanark is a co-production between Edinburgh International Festival and the Citizens Theatre.

Those unable to attend the 50p ticket sale for Lanark can book their tickets by calling the Citizens Theatre Box Office on 0141 429 0022 or visiting the Citizens Theatre’s website citz.co.uk.The production will receive its world premiere at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh on Sunday 23 August at 6pm as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Lanark is supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.
For more information, interviews and images, or to request tickets, please contact
Claire Lowney, Marketing & Communications Officer
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 0141 418 6232
Production and rehearsal images are available to download from the Citizens Theatre Flickr feed flickr.com/citizenstheatre

NOTES TO EDITORS
Background to 50p tickets
The Citizens Theatre has a longstanding reputation for presenting world-class performances of classic texts at its Gorbals home at a fair price. The Citizens Theatre directorship of Giles Havergal, Phillip Prowse and Robert David McDonald were renowned in the 70s and 80s for their entrepreneurialism. However, their innovations and risk-taking not only include the famous choice of programme but in a whole series of experimentation including pricing and marketing. In the early 70s the theatre operated a tiered pricing structure, with tickets ranging from 40p to £1.10, but in 1976 a new 50p ticket price for all seats was introduced (25p for students and a free preview on the Thursday before the Friday opening). To put 50p in context, in 1976 the average weekly wage for a man was £70 and £45.30 for a woman. A loaf of bread was 19.2p and a pint of beer 32p. 50p tickets were re-instated in February 2012, with 100 tickets offered at 50p for Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. Since then, 2,000 tickets for Citizens Theatre production have been sold for 50p.
As well as its 50p ticket initiative, the Citizens offers a wide range of affordable tickets. All tickets for performances on Tuesdays are priced at £12.50 and preview performances at £8.50. Local Gorbals residents can also enjoy performances at the Citz for only £2, with a range of other concessions available for registered unemployed, young people, senior citizens and groups. 

LISTINGS
Citizens Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival present
LANARK
A Life in Three Acts
Adapted from the novel by Alasdair Gray
Written by David Greig
Directed by Graham Eatough
Design by Laura Hopkins
Lighting design by Nigel Edwards
Composer Nick Powell
Video Artist Simon Wainwright
Cast: Andy Clark, George Drennan, Sandy Grierson, Jessica Hardwick, Paul Thomas Hickey, Louise Ludgate, Helen Mackay and Gerry Mulgrew. Camrie Palmer and Ewan Somers

Running Time: 3hrs 40mins (approx).
Edinburgh International Festival
22 –31 August (except Wednesday 26 August)
Venue: Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX
Preview: Saturday 22 August 7pm
Opening Performance: Sunday 23 August 6pm (please note all other evening performances at 7pm).
Matinees: Tuesday 25, Thursday 27, Saturday 29, Monday 31 August 1pm.

Accessible performances:
BSL interpreted performance: Friday 28 August 7pm
Audio Described performance: Saturday 29 August 12.45pm
Touch Tour: Saturday 29 August 11.45pm
Captioned performance: Saturday 29 August 1pm
Tickets: £15 - £32 (concessions available).

Booking:
The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE
0131 473 2000/ eif.co.uk
Running Time: 3hrs 40mins (approx).

Citizens Theatre
14 – 17 August 2015, 7pm (except Sunday 16 August)
3 – 19 September (no performances Sundays and Mondays)

Venue: 119 Gorbals St, Glasgow G5 9DS
Previews: Friday 14, Saturday 15, Monday 17 August 7pm
Matinees: Saturday 5, Wednesday 9, Saturday 19 September 1pm
Accessible performances:
Audio Described performance: Wednesday 16 Sep 7pm
BSL interpreted performance: Friday 18 Sep 7pm
Captioned performance: Saturday 19 Sep 1pm
Tickets: 50p - £20.50
Previews £8.50 │Tuesdays £12.50
50p Tickets | 10 tickets, 10 performances on sale at 10am Saturday 8 August
NB – 50p Tickets must be bought in person at the theatre, cash only.

Booking
Citizens Theatre Box Office, 119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow, G5 9DS
Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm
0141 429 0022
citz.co.uk
(£2 transaction fee applied to online sales. No charges for sales made in person or by telephone)

Return to Press