Citizens Theatre Launches Spring 2010 Season

The Citizens Theatre is proud to announce its Spring Season.  The Citizens Company will present three productions alongside a main stage community theatre show by the Community Company and a co-production with the RSAMD.  TAG will also tour a new show for 3-5 year olds to nurseries across Scotland.

Backbeat – the world premiere of a new stage version of one of the UK’s best-loved cult British films.  Directed by Iain Softley (original director of the 1994 film).

My Name Is Rachel Corrie – a powerful, award-winning play about a young American protestor whose life was tragically ended in Palestine. Directed by Ros Philips.

Three Sisters – Guy Hollands directs final year RSAMD students in Chekhov’s epic family saga, marking a new industry partnership between the Citizens Theatre and the RSAMD.  Involving over 40 students, the collaboration aims to develop a unique model of performance training which will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s creative and technical production skills-base.

One Million Tiny Plays About Britain – world premiere of a play about British contemporary life overheard in ordinary conversations, taken from the popular column in the Guardian newspaper written by Craig Taylor.  Adapted and Directed by Ros Philips.

The Grapes of Wrath – our third main stage Community Company production in 4 years with a cast of over 30 in a timely production of Steinbeck’s epic American novel. Directed by Neil Packham & Elly Goodman.

Meep & Moop – TAG’s new show for 3-5 year olds that will tour nurseries in Scotland.
With live music by Clare McGarry and Greig Sinclair.

Frost & Fire – a new night of acoustic music from established and up-and-coming artists including Alasdair Roberts, Jenny Reeve, Keith John Adams and Cath and Phil Tyler.

The Citizens is also delighted to welcome the Glasgow International Comedy Festival for a week of headline acts including Stewart Lee, Chris Addison, Jenny Eclair and Shappi Khorsandi; a double bill of two one-act plays by Scottish writer Alan Bissett, The Ching Room & The Moira Monologues, first presented as part of Oran Mor’s ‘A Play, A Pie & A Pint’ series; a Citizens debut for Dialogue Productions with a trilogy of Neil LaBute plays, The Furies, Land of the Dead and Helter Skelter; Mike Maran’s A Funny Valentine telling the story of the great trumpet player Chet Baker; Northern Broadsides with a new version of the classic Greek myth, Medea; Wee Stories with their Easter family show Treasure Island; Unpacked’s children’s hit from the Edinburgh Festival Jumping Mouse; Theatre Alibi with their take on Graham Greene’s espionage thriller, Ministry of Fear; Shared Experience with their version of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie; a one man show from one of Scotland’s great storytellers Des Dillon,  NLP Theatre Company who return with The Blue Hen featuring Charlie Lawson; and two major hits at this year’s Edinburgh Festival from Theatre Tours International, Morecambe, a moving portrait of Britain’s best-loved comic that commemorates the 25th anniversary of his untimely final curtain and Fringe First winner The Event, a clever deconstruction of live theatre written and directed by John Clancy.

The Citizens also continues to present its wide-ranging programme of weekly drama classes for children and adults along with an Easter and Summer Academy during the school holidays, skills training courses for businesses and a remarkable selection of pioneering creative learning projects in the communities and education sectors of Scotland. This spring, that work includes working with Greenock and Barlinnie prisoners as part of the Inspiring Change project.  Bringing together 7 arts organisations and led by Motherwell College, the project will take music, drama and the visual arts into Scottish prisons.  Its academic evaluation, (the first of its kind in Scotland), will extend knowledge on how experience of the arts can contribute to a reduction of re-offending.

Citizens Company & Karl Sydow
BACKBEAT

By Iain Softley with Stephen Jeffreys
Main Theatre
9 February – Sat 6 March
The world premiere of a new stage version of the 1994 film Backbeat.  A poignant and moving story about the fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe (the band’s original bassist), during the famous summer when The Beatles made their name in the city of Hamburg.  Stuart is forced to choose between his deep loyalty for John Lennon, a future with the greatest rock band in history or pursuing a life as an artist with the woman of his dreams, Astrid Kirchherr.

Citizens Company
MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE

Taken from the writings of Rachel Corrie
Edited by Alan Rickman & Katharine Viner
Stalls Studio
Tue 2 – Sat 20 March
A one-woman play composed from the journals, emails and letters of 23 year old American, Rachel Corrie who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in the Gaza Strip as she tried to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes.  Rachel’s writings were edited by British actor Alan Rickman and Guardian Editor Katharine Viner.  It premiered at the Royal Court in 2005 and has since garnered awards at every turn.  This production will be directed by Trainee Director Ros Philips and Rachel will be played by Actor Intern Mairi Phillips.

Citizens Theatre and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
THREE SISTERS

By Anton Chekhov
Main Theatre
Tue 30 March – Sat 3 April
Final year students from the RSAMD bring energy and vitality to this new interpretation of one of Chekhov’s masterpieces.  One year after the death of their father, three sisters living in a small provincial town dream of escaping to Moscow to find a life worthy of their intellect and station.  In a new and ambitious long-term collaboration to provide vocational education and training, 42 final year students from the RSAMD will collaborate with professional designers, directors, actors, stage managers and technicians at the Citizens Theatre to create this production, directed by Guy Hollands.  The collaboration aims to develop a unique model of performance training which will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s creative and technical production skills-base. In tandem with this production, the RSAMD present Plasticine, Vassily Sigarev’s mesmerising odyssey into the lower depths of present-day Russia in the Circle Studio, Directed by Adrian Osmond.

Citizens Company
ONE MILLION TINY PLAYS ABOUT BRITAIN

By Craig Taylor
Adapted by Ros Philips
Circle Studio
Tue 18 May – Sat 5 June
Derived from the popular column in the Guardian newspaper, recently published as one book, these insightful and entertaining glimpses of modern life take us on a journey of overheard conversations across the length and breadth of Britain.  From the biggest cities to sprawling farmlands, these funny and at times heartbreaking snapshots of life in Britain are adapted by Ros Philips into a high octane theatrical montage.  These tiny plays in which every one of us could have a starring role are little windows into other people’s lives that reveal the triumphs, disasters, prejudices, horrors and joys of twenty-first-century life.

Citizens Community Company
THE GRAPES OF WRATH

By John Steinbeck
Main Theatre
Wed 19 – Sat 22 May
Performed by a cast of over 30 actors drawn from the Citizens Community Company, Citizens Young Co. and new actors from Turning Point Scotland, this is the Citizens third community theatre project on the main stage in 4 years.  John Steinbeck’s epic American novel about the Great Depression is given new life by this large ensemble, in a timely production about human resilience in the face of economic exploitation. Directed by Neil Packham & Elly Goodman.

ENDS

For further information, press ticket, interview and picture requests please contact:
Alison Martin, Marketing & Communications Manager
0141 418 6235 / alison@citz.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

Tickets on sale: Monday 30 November, 10am

Box Office: 0141 429 0022
Online booking: WWW.CITZ.CO.UK

LISTINGS INFORMATION (in chronological order)

Citizens Theatre & Karl Sydow
BACKBEAT
By Iain Softley with Stephen Jeffreys
Directed by Iain Softley
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 9 February – Sat 6 March, 7.30pm
Previews: Tue 9, Wed 10, Thu 11 February, 7.30pm
Matinees: all Saturdays, 2.30pm (except Sat 13 Feb)
Audio Described Performance: Thu 18 February, 7.30pm
Captioned Performance: Wed 24 February, 7.30pm
Signed Performance: Thu 25 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Previews: £4; Mondays: £7 any seat

Running To Paradise
THE CHING ROOM / THE MOIRA MONOLOGUES
By Alan Bisset
Directed by Cheryl Martin
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 9 – Sat 13 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays £7

Dialogue Productions in Association with Mercury Theatre Colchester, Yvonne Arnaud Guildford & The Bush Theatre.
THE FURIES / LAND OF THE DEAD/ HELTER SKELTER
By Neil Labute
Directed by Patricia Benecke
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 16 – Sat 20 February, 7.30pm
Post Show Discussion: Thu 18 February
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays: £7

XLC Theatre Company in Association with Langside College
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE
By Martin McDonagh
Directed by David Lee-Michael
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 23 – Sat 27 February, 7.30pm
Matinees: Sat 27 February, 2.30pm
Tickets: Tue – Thu & Matinees: all tickets £7
Fri – Sat: £10 full price, £7 all concessions

Citizens Company
MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE
Taken From The Writings Of Rachel Corrie
Edited By Alan Rickman And Katharine Viner
Directed by Ros Philips
Stalls Studio
Listings: Tue 2 – Sat 20 March, 7.30pm
Previews: Tue 2 & Wed 3 March, 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays £7; Previews: £4

Reid Kerr College HND Acting & Performance Students
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS GOT HER HEAD CHOPPED OFF
By Liz Lochhead
Directed by Morven Pringle
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 2 & Wed 3 March, 7.30pm
Matinee: Wed 3 March, 2.30pm
Tickets: £8 full price, £6 all concessions

Reid Kerr College HND Acting & Performance Students
SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Evelyn Wallace
Circle Studio
Listings: Fri 5 & Sat 6 March, 7.30pm
Matinee: Fri 5 March, 2.30pm
Tickets: £8 full price, £6 all concessions

Northern Broadsides
MEDEA
By Euripides
In A New Version By Tom Paulin
Directed by Barrie Rutter
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 9 – Sat 13 March
Post Show Discussion: Wed 10 March
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Tuesdays: £7 any seat

Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
MACBETH
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Stephen Cafferty
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 9 – Sat 13 March, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 13 March, 2.30pm
Tickets: £8 full price, £6 all concessions
Matinee: all tickets £6

Magner’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival
STEWART LEE
If You Prefer a Milder Comedian, Please Ask for One
Main Theatre
Listings: Mon 15 March, 8pm
Tickets: £15

Mike Maran
A FUNNY VALENTINE
The Story and Music of Chet Baker
By Mike Maran
Directed by Patrick Sandford
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 16 – Sat 20 March, 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays £7

Magner’s Glasgow International Comdey Festival
CHRIS ADDISON
Main Theatre
Listings: Wed 17 March, 8pm
Tickets: £15

Magner’s Glasgow International Comdey Festival
JENNY ECLAIR
Main Theatre
Listings: Thu 18 March, 8pm
Tickets: £15

Magner’s Glasgow International Comdey Festival
AN EVENING WITH SHAPPI KHORSANDI
Main Theatre
Listings: Fri 19 March, 8pm
Tickets: £15

Unpacked
JUMPING MOUSE
Main Theatre
Listings: Sat 20 March, 2pm
Tickets: All tickets £7
Family discount tickets available.
Recommended for 5+

Citizens Theatre and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
THREE SISTERS
By Anton Chekhov
Directed by Guy Hollands
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 30 March – Sat 3 April, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 full price, £7 all concessions
Tuesdays: £7 all tickets

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
PLASTICINE
By Vassily Sigarev
Translated by Sasha Dugdale
Directed by Adrian Osmond
Circle Studio
Listings: Wed 31 March – Sat 3 April, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 full price, £7 all concessions

Wee Stories in association with The Citizens Theatre
TREASURE ISLAND
By Robert Louis Stevenson
Re-told by Andy Cannon &Iain Johnston
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 13 – Sat 17 April
Preview: Tue 13, 2.30pm
Wed 14: 2.30pm & 7pm
Thu 15: 2.30pm
Fri 16: 7pm
Sat 17: 2.30pm & 7pm
Tickets: all tickets £7
Preview: all tickets £4
Family Discounts Available
Suitable for everyone 8+

Theatre Alibi with Exeter Northcott & Oxford Playhouse
MINISTRY OF FEAR
By Graham Greene
Directed by Nikki Sved
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 20 – Sat 24 April, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 24 April, 2.30pm
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Tuesdays: £7 any seat

Citizens Theatre
FROST & FIRE
A New Night Of Acoustic Music
Featuring:
24 April: Keith John Adams, Jenny Reeve, Alasdair Roberts
8 May: RM Hubbert, Issho Taiko Drummers, Nerea Bello & Lucy Duncombe, Cath & Phil Tyler
Circle Studio
Listings: Sat 24 April, 7.30pm & Sat 8 May, 9.30pm
Tickets: £10

A Salisbury Playhouse and Shared Experience Production
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Pollie Teale
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 27 April – Sat 1 May, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 1 May, 2.30pm
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Tuesdays: £7 any seat

Des Dillon
DES TELLS TALL TALES
By Des Dillon
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 27 April – Sat 1 May, 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays £7

Theatre Tours International & Absurdum International
THE EVENT
Written & Directed by John Clancy
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 4 – Sat 8 May, 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays £7

NLP Theatre Company
THE BLUE HEN
By Des Dillon
Directed by Stephen Cafferty
Main Theatre
Listings: Wed 5 – Sat 8 May, 7.30pm
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Recommended for 14+

Citizens Company
ONE MILLION TINY PLAYS ABOUT BRITAIN
By Craig Taylor
Directed by Ros Philips
Circle Studio
Listings: Tue 18 May – Sat 5 June, 7.45pm
Previews: Tue 18 and Wed 19 May, 7.45pm
Tickets: £12 standard (concessions available)
Tuesdays £7; Previews: £4

Citizens Community Company
GRAPES OF WRATH
By John Steinbeck
Directed by Neil Packham & Elly Goodman
Main Theatre
Listings: Wed 19 – Sat 22 May, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 22 May, 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 ful price (concessions available)

Theatre Tours International & Feather Productions
MORECAMBE
The Man What Brought Us Sunshine
By Tim Whitnall
Directed by Guy Masterson
Main Theatre
Listings: Tue 25 – Sat 29 May, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 29 May, 2.30pm
Tickets: £9.50-£17 (concessions available)
Tuesday: all tickets £7

Dance School of Scotland
Musical Theatre Course
OUR HOUSE
By Tim Firth
Music & Lyrics by Madness
Main Theatre
Listings: Wed 9 – Sat 12 June, 7.30pm
Matinee: Sat 12 June, 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 full price, £8 children & students.

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