NEW MUSICAL FEATURING SONGS BY RICKY ROSS ANNOUNCED AS PART OF CITIZENS THEATRE AUTUMN 2015 SEASON

Tuesday 16 June 2015
For immediate release.

The Citizens Theatre today announces its complete Autumn 2015 season, including The Choir, written by Paul Higgins and featuring brand new songs by Deacon Blue singer and songwriter Ricky Ross and a trio of new productions in the theatre’s Circle Studio celebrating the experimental influence of the historic Close Theatre Club. Tickets for all productions presented at the Citizens Theatre from August 2015 – January 2016 are available from today.

The Citizens Theatre’s full Autumn 2015 season is on sale now and includes:

•        a new adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s Lanark, written by David Greig and directed by Graham Eatough which will also be presented at the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival;
•        a new musical co-production with Ambassador Theatre Group, The Choir written by Paul Higgins and Ricky Ross and directed byDominic Hill;
•        Debbie Hannan, Matthew Lenton and Gareth Nicholls, three of the brightest voices in Scottish Theatre, directing work by Howard Barker, Słavomir Mrożek and Sam Holcroft in the Citizens’ Circle Studio as part of the Close Theatre Anniversary Season;
•        Citizens Theatre’s darkly mischievous festive show, Rapunzel, directed by Lu Kemp and brought to life by the design team behind the theatre’s 5-star Christmas 2014 show ‘A Christmas Carol’.

This autumn, the Citizens Theatre also welcomes back the award-winning theatrical spectacle Dragon by Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin Childrens’ Arts Theatre, first performed on the Citizens stage in 2013. Citizens Theatre’s Deaf Theatre Club partnersSolar Bear are showcased with two days of performance, discussion and workshops celebrating the deaf arts. Citizens Theatre Learning take Scarfed for Life by Martin Travers, a funny but hard-hitting play tackling sectarianism directed by Associate Director (Citizens Learning) Guy Hollands to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with dates at Beacon Arts Centre and Òran Mór.

2015 marks 70 years of the Citizens Theatre in its Gorbals home Lanark and The Choir join productions presented earlier this year of TheSlab Boys, Fever Dream: Southside and Southside Stories in showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Glasgow and the wider west coast of Scotland. The Close Theatre Anniversary Season joins the recent new production of Into That Darkness in celebrating the impact the Citizens Theatre and the associated Close Theatre have had on Glasgow’s theatrical life, and on theatre history beyond the city.

To book tickets for all the Citizens’ Autumn 2015 productions, and to find out more about the range of concessions on offer, visit citz.co.uk or call the Box Office on 0141 429 0022.


LANARK (14 – 17 August and 3 – 19 September)
A major new theatrical adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s most famous work. Combining science-fiction, realism, fantasy and playful storytelling, Lanark blends the realist tale of Duncan Thaw, a student of Glasgow School of Art in the 1950s, with a surreal dystopian dream-like story of Lanark and the mythical city of Unthank. Lanark continues a collaboration between writer David Greig and director Graham Eatough which began with experimental theatre company Suspect Culture.  The cast includes Sandy Grierson as Lanark. A Citizens Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival co-production in association with Graham Eatough and Sorcha Dallas.

PROGRESSION 2015 (24 & 25 September)
Solar Bear take over the Citizens Theatre for two days of workshops, discussion and performance that celebrate theatre and performance that is accessible to deaf and hearing participants and audiences. Talks and workshops will be led by representatives from Graeae Theatre Company and The Deaf and Hearing Ensemble, composer Dr. Oliver Searle and actress Caroline Parker MBE.

ANO Nedoslov Double Bill 24 September
Russian theatre company Nedoslov for deaf and hard of hearing actors presents two works. No Rights to Have An Angel explores what it means to be an artist while Makar Chudra is an interpretation of a short story by Maxim Gorky, a giant of Russian literature, based on a Russian folk legend of a tragic love affair and peasant life.

Wonderland Tyst Teater 25 September
Sweden’s Tyst Teater specialise in theatre using Swedish sign language and will appear at the Citizens to present a devised piece of theatre inspired by Alice in Wonderland and created during Progression 2015 workshops.

ANO Nedoslov double bill and Wonderland Tyst Teater are both suitable for deaf and hearing audiences.

DRAGON (1 – 10 October)
Premiered at the Citizens in 2013, Dragon, a co-production between Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin Children’s Art Theatre, has since won awards and critical acclaim for its extraordinary visual story, told without words, featuring puppetry, illusion and an original, rich orchestral score. Written by Oliver Emanuel drawing from his own personal experiences, Dragon tells the story of a young boy’s grief over the loss of his mother and can be enjoyed by adults, teenagers and children. The staging and design is influenced by the history and culture of Eastern dragons and is created by director and designer Jamie Harrison, co-artistic director of Vox Motus and Puppet and Illusion Designer for the highly successful West End production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

THE CHOIR (24 October – 14 November)
The Choir is a funny, gritty but ultimately heart-warming musical play set in Wishaw about a group of strangers who come together, not always willingly, to sing in a community choir. Directed by Citizens Theatre Artistic Director Dominic Hill, The Choir is written by Paul Higgins, best known for his TV roles in ‘Utopia’ and ‘The Thick Of It’, and features original songs written by Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross.  The Choir is the first production to emerge from a partnership between the Citizens Theatre and Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) which has been established to create brand new musical theatre using the talent of local writers and composers.

CLOSE THEATRE ANNIVERSARY SEASON (30 October – 7 November)
In 1965 the Close Theatre Club was established as a private members’ club attached to the Citizens Theatre. It enjoyed the freedom to present plays which would otherwise have been censored from a public stage.  The controversial, radical and risqué programming in the Close laid the foundations for the productions in the 1970s – 90s that made the Citizens famous across the world and still influences programming at the Citizens Theatre today.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its establishment, The Close Theatre Anniversary Season celebrates the club’s formative influence on the Citizens Theatre and its role in Glasgow’s theatre history with a programme of visceral, experimental and challenging work, rarely seen on the Scottish stage and inspired by the spirit and ethos of the original Close Theatre.

Lot and His God by Howard Barker (3 – 10 October)
Barker’s unconventional and challenging work is relatively unknown in his native Britain. A devoted following in continental Europe see his plays regularly performed and this production offers a unique opportunity to see his work performed on a Scottish stage. Lot and His God is a subversive re-telling of the ancient Old Testament tale of Lot and his wife and the fall of the city of Sodom. Directed by Debbie Hannan,who directed Dostoevsky’s ‘Notes From The Underground’ at the Citizens in 2013, and assisted Dominic Hill on ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and Stewart Laing on ‘The Maids’. 

Słavomir Mrożek double bill – Striptease & Out At Sea (17 – 24 October)
Striptease and Out At Sea is a double bill of surrealist drama by Sławomir Mrożek, a master of the Theatre of the Absurd school of European drama in the 1950s which cloaked criticism and scorn of politics and social order in offbeat surrealism. In Striptease, two men are periodically instructed to remove and article of clothing by a menacing, disembodied being, while in Out At Sea, three men try to apply logic to decide which become dinner for the others. Presented in association with Citizens Theatre Cultural Tenants Vanishing Point, with Vanishing Point founder and Artistic Director Matthew Lenton directing.

Vanya by Sam Holcroft (31 October – 7 November)
Fresh from his five-star production of ‘Into That Darkness’, Citizens Theatre Main Stage Director in Residence Gareth Nicholls directs Sam Holcroft’s Vanya. Having debuted at Traverse Theatre under Citizens Theatre Artistic Director Dominic Hill’s leadership, Holcroft is now Writer-In-Residence at National Theatre and recently received the prestigious Windham Campbell prize of $150,000 in recognition of her emerging talent as a playwright. Vanya is Holcroft’s response to Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, condensing the work to feature four characters and distilling its essence to create a thrilling and evocative new text.

RAPUNZEL (28 November – 3 January)
The Citizens Theatre is inviting audiences looking for something a bit different this Christmas to let their hair down at Rapunzel, the funny, foolish, madcap festive show with a darkly mischievous side suitable for the whole family aged 6 and over.

Lu Kemp (‘The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish’, the National Theatre of Scotland) directs Annie Siddons’ take on the classic tale of knowing when to let go, and the challenges that come with finding your independence.  Designer Rachael Canning and Lighting DesignerLizzie Powell , the design team behind the Citizens’ 5-star 2014 Christmas show ‘A Christmas Carol’, return to the Citizens Theatre to create the blooming garden surrounding Rapunzel’s tower. Michael John McCarthy (‘Into That Darkness’, ‘Sports Day’, ‘Fever Dream: Southside’) will create original music and songs to be performed by the cast live on stage.

On tour:

SCARFED FOR LIFE (14 – 22 August)
Citizens Learning take Scarfed For Life, a modern Scottish parable set against the backdrop of the first Celtic and Rangers clash of the season tours to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Scarfed For Life was first created in 2011 when the Citizens Theatre worked with over 80 young people from four Glasgow schools to find out what sectarianism and prejudice means to young Glaswegians and their peers. The play appears at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the Just Festival, a multi-national, multi-belief festival focused on creating conversation and cultural exchange, and plays dates at Òran Mór, Glasgow and Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock . Scarfed For Life is written by Citizens Learning Producer Martin Travers, and directed by Associate Director (Citizens Learning) Guy Hollands.

For more information, interviews and images, or to request tickets, please contact Claire Lowney, Marketing Officer .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 0141 418 6232.


LISTINGS

Citizens Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival
in association with Graham Eatough and Sorcha Dallas present
LANARK
A Life in Three Acts
Adapted from the novel by Alasdair Gray
Written by David Greig
Directed by Graham Eatough
Designed by Laura Hopkins
Lighting design by Nigel Edwards
Composer Nick Powell
Video Artist Simon Wainwright

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

Previews: Fri 14, Sat 15, Mon 17 August 7pm
Matinees: Sat 5, Wed 9, Sat 19 Sep 1pm
Audio Described performance: Wed 16 Sep 7pm
BSL interpreted performance: Fri 18 Sep 7pm
Captioned performance: Sat 19 Sep 1pm
Tickets: 50p - £20.50
Previews £8.50 │Tuesdays £12.50

Edinburgh International Festival, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
22 – 31 August 2015, 7pm (except Wed 26 & Mon 31 Aug)
Preview: Sat 22 Aug 7pm
Matinees: Tue 25 Aug, Thu 27 Aug, Sat 29 Aug, Mon 31 Aug 1pm

Tickets: £15 - £32 (concessions available).
The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE
0131 473 2000
eif.co.uk

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Citizens Theatre presents
SCARFED FOR LIFE
Written by Martin Travers
Directed by Guy Hollands

Just Festival at Central Hall (venue no. 295a)
2 West Tollcross, EH3 9BP

14 – 22 August 2pm
Running Time 1hr

Tickets £12.50/£9
The Fringe Box Office - 180 High Street, EH1 1QS
0131 226 0000
edfringe.com
 
Òran Mór
Top of Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8QX

20 August 7.30pm

Tickets £13.50
0141 357 6200
oran-mor.co.uk

Beacon Arts Centre
Custom House Quay, Greenock, PA15 1HJ

21 August 7.30pm

Tickets £10/£8
01475 723 723
beaconartscentre.co.uk
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Solar Bear presents
PROGRESSION 2015
International celebration of deaf arts

Dates: 24 – 25 September

WORKSHOPS
24 Sep, 10am – 5pm
Featuring sessions led by Gerry Ramage, ANO Nedoslov, Jeanny Sealy and Jennifer Bates.

25 Sep, 10am – 5pm
Featuring sessions led by Caroline Parker, Oliver Searle and Jenny Sealey.

Tickets: All workshops are free, but places are limited. To book to attend Progression workshops, please register at solarbear.org.uk

PRODUCTIONS

ANO NEDOSLOV DOUBLE BILL
24 Sep 7.30pm

TYST TEATER
Friday 25 Sep 7pm

Tickets: £10 each or £8 each if bought together
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A Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin Children’s Arts Theatre co-production
DRAGON
Written by Oliver Emanuel
Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds
Design by Jamie Harrison
Puppets Design by Guy Bishop and Jamie Harrison
Music by Tim Phillips
Sound Design by Mark Melville
Lighting Design by Simon Wilkinson

Main Theatre
Dates: 1- 10 Oct (no performances Sundays or Mondays)

Matinees: Sat 3, Sat 10 Oct 2pm, Wed 7 Oct 1.30pm
Relaxed performance:  Sat 3 Oct 2pm
Tickets: £12.50-£20.50 (standard concessions)
£8.50 for all tickets to relaxed performance on Sat 3 October 2pm

________________________________________

Citizens Theatre and Ambassador Theatre Group present
THE CHOIR
Book & lyrics by Paul Higgins
Music & lyrics by Ricky Ross
Directed by Dominic Hill

Main Theatre
Dates: 24 Oct – 14 Nov, 7.30pm (no performances Sunday or Mondays)

Previews: 24, 27 & 28 Oct 7.30pm
Matinees: 4, 7, 14 Nov 2.30pm & Wed 11 Nov 1.45pm
Post show talk: 3 Nov
Lunch Event: Sat 14 Nov 12pm
British Sign Language performance: Fri 13 Nov 7.30pm
Captioned performance: Sat 14 Nov 2.30pm
Tickets: 50p - £20.50
Previews £8.50 | Tuesdays £12.50

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Citizens Theatre presents
RAPUNZEL
By Annie Siddons
Directed by Lu Kemp
Designed by Rachael Canning
Lighting Design by Lizzie Powell
Composer Michael John McCarthy

Main Theatre
Dates: Saturday 28 November 2015 – Sunday 3 January 2016 (full performance diary available at citz.co.uk)

Preview: Saturday 28 Nov, 7pm
BSL interpreted performance: Fri 11 Dec, 7pm
Audio Described performance: Sat 12 Dec, 2pm
Captioned performance: Sat 19 Dec, 2pm

Tickets: Adult £14 - £20 Child £8 - £12 (concessions available)
Preview:  Adult £10.50 | Child £6.50
Family discounts (for families of 3,4 and 5) £33 - £71

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Citizens Theatre presents
THE CLOSE THEATRE ANNIVERSARY SEASON

LOT AND HIS GOD
BY Howard Barker
Directed by Debbie Hannan
DATES: 6 – 10 Oct 7.30pm
Preview: 3 Oct 7.30pm
Matinee: 10 Oct 2.30pm

STRIPTEASE & OUT AT SEA
By Sławomir Mrożek
Directed by Matthew Lenton
DATES: 20 – 24 Oct 7.30pm
Preview: 17 Oct 7.30pm
Matinee: 24 Oct 2.30pm

VANYA
By Sam Holcroft
Directed by Gareth Nicholls
DATES: 3 – 7 Nov 7.30pm
Preview: 31 Oct 7.30pm
Matinee: 7 Nov 2.30pm

TICKETS: £14 full price / £13 matinees
£9 previews / concessions
Book all three productions and receive £3 off each full price ticket - £33 for entire season.

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