Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre are kicking off the new year in style with a packed announcement of new shows that will be gracing their stage this year. These new productions join the exciting range of shows already on sale including Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre productions such as Smile, Old Boy, Thin H/as H/air & The Flock, as well as other shows including National Theatre of Scotland’s productions of Dracula and Dear Billy, and the 70th anniversary touring production of The Mousetrap.
This year’s spring season brings a slate of boundary pushing and thought-provoking new work to Dundee. Pain and I, a new audio experience available from 04 – 19 March, is a bold exploration into chronic pain experience by Sarah Hopfinger which unashamedly celebrates the rich complexities of living with pain. Running from 21 March – 25 March is When Darkness Falls, a brand-new spine-chilling ghost story from the minds of James Milton and Paul Morrissey, that delivers a truly twisted and thrilling tale inspired by true events. Audiences can also look forward to a free performance of The Third Sister, a creepy, mysterious and funny new tale that is sure to delight fans of Inside No. 9.
Fresh from the stage of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, hit-show Moorcroft heads to Dundee Rep Theatre on 27 – 28 October, a show with true friendship and the tenacity of working class people at its heart that tackles toxic masculinity and asks, “what is a real man?”. Following the runaway success of their last production, Dundee Youth Music Theatre returns to the Rep with their take on the Rodgers and Hammerstein Classic, Oklahoma.
This year’s Spring season also has something for everyone in the family to enjoy, with Fireman Sam and his gang returning to Dundee Rep on 06 April in Fireman Sam: Sam Saves The Circus, an all-singing, all-dancing, action-packed ride where anyone can become a fire cadet.
Beyond the borders of theatre, this season also promises treats for fans of live comedy and music. Scottish Musical national treasure, Dougie Mclean will be bringing his inimitable folk stylings to Dundee Rep on 15 April with a new show that is sure to include a rousing rendition of his iconic song, Caledonia. Stalwart of the Scottish comedy circuit, Craig Hill returns to Dundee Rep with his new show, I Always Knew I Had it In Me!.
After receiving plaudits from the likes of Frank Skinner, Ane City comes to Dundee Rep on Thursday 13 April as part of ‘Dundee Week’. A coming-of-age, one-woman, comedy that blends spoken word, stand-up comedy and live music to create a contemporary story about a young, working-class woman searching for her place in life. Also forming part of that week’s celebrations is Icebreaker Comedy, Dundee’s premier comedy institution dedicated to highlighting new comedic talent, which takes over the Rep stage on Friday 14 April.
Tickets for all of these shows went on public sale from 11am on Tuesday 24 January.
Executive Director & Joint-Chief Executive Liam Sinclair said: “We are hugely excited for audiences to experience the amazing range of shows coming to Dundee Rep over the next few months. From live comedy to groundbreaking audio theatre, as well as the latest offerings from National Theatre of Scotland alongside recent productions from Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. It’s only the tip of the iceberg though, and we can’t wait to reveal what else audiences can look forward to in the near future.”
/ENDS
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Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre 2023 Spring Season Listings
Pain and I, 15 March
Created and performed by Sarah Hopfinger
Original music by Alicia Jane Turner
What does it mean to care for our bodies, ourselves and each other in times of personal and collective pain?
Pain and I is a bold exploration into chronic pain experience by Sarah Hopfinger which unashamedly celebrates the rich complexities of living with pain. Featuring playful choreography, experimental dance, intimate autobiographical text and original classical music composition by Alicia Jane Turner, Hopfinger asks: ‘what can pain teach us?’ in this powerful, honest, and compelling work.
A diversely accessible body of work, Pain and I can be experienced as live dance performance, digital audio experience, and digital or published graphic score.
The audio version of Pain and I is a 30-minute headphone experience. It can be accessed in a venue or from wherever is most suited to an audience member – their home, in bed, on a walk, in a park. Particularly relevant to blind and partially sighted audiences. Written and performed by Sarah Hopfinger with sound composition by Alicia Jane-Turner, this audio work involves personal poetic text framed as a love letter to Hopfinger’s pain along with creative movement descriptions. Originally commissioned and presented at Take Me Somewhere for their 2021 festival and subsequently shown as part of Made In Scotland Showcase at Edinburgh Fringe and at The Roundhouse.
★ ★ ★ ★ The Guardian
“A poetic audio piece that reflects on the performer’s chronic pain not as enemy… but as an old friend.”
When Darkness Falls, 21 – 25 March
Age Recommendation: 15+
Paul Morrissey Ltd, Christopher Wheeler and Molly Morris in association with The BARD, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Glynis Henderson Productions present
When Darkness Falls
A ghost story by James Milton and Paul Morrissey
Some people believe in ghosts. Some don’t. Since their existence is not proved beyond all possible doubt, to many they remain folklore: the stuff of legend. Spooky Tales of beasts and spirits, spectres, and ghouls. But to many others, ghosts are quite real.
When Darkness Falls is a brand-new spine-chilling ghost story that delivers a twisted, terrifying, and thrilling tale that will “leave you cowering in your seat.” (The Guardian)
On a stormy night on the small island of Guernsey, a young paranormal expert joins a sceptical history teacher to record the first in a series of podcasts based on the island’s incredible folklore and paranormal history. As the expert regales his horrifying stories, the teacher learns that we all have our own truth. Our own story. Ghosts that haunt us. That bring the past, present, and future together in unexpected ways. Ways that could threaten to unsettle everything we think we know.
Inspired by true events, this powerful new production by James Milton and Paul Morrissey draws us into dark pasts, reveals disturbing truths and explores the power of stories. Perhaps most importantly, the ones we tell ourselves.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director Paul Morrissey
Lighting Designer Bethany Gupwell
Sound Designer: Daniel Higgott
Set Designer Justin Williams
Costume Designer Nicole Garbett
Magic Consultant John Bulleid
Casting Jim Arnold
The Third Sister, 24 March
Written by Xana Marwick
Directed by Jonathan Lloyd
FREE EVENT
Limited Capacity
Running Time: Approx 40mins performed in BSL and English
The Third Sister is a story of Eilidh, Rowan… and Jennifer. Teenage sisters and members of a touring family band The Fabulous Funstons in the early 1980s. Brought up, and trained for the stage, by their overprotective grandfather, the sisters secretly form their own punk band, Pink Mess. But tensions boil over and both bands are ended when Rowan tragically dies. Over 30 years later, the past comes back to haunt Eilidh. In the style of TV’s ‘Inside Number 9’, it’s a tale with a twist – creepy, mysterious and funny.
Performed in English and British Sign Language.
Fireman Sam, 6 April
Fireman Sam
Sam saves the Circus
Thursday 6 April, 12:00pm & 3:30pm
Running Time: Approx 60mins
Age Recommendation: 3+
When all of his friends go away, Norman Price decides to find adventure in Pontypandy and become the star of a visiting circus. But with a tiger on the loose and faulty lights, the adventure soon turns to danger. Can Fireman Sam come to the rescue and save the circus?
Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in an all singing, dancing, action-packed show. You can become a fire-fighter cadet and then watch the magic of the circus. So, come along to Pontypandy and watch the adventures unfold!
Ane City
Elfie Picket Theatre presents
ANE CITY
Thu 13 April, 7:30pm
Running Time: 60mins approx
Age Recommendation: 16+ (contains some strong language, scenes of a sexual nature and reference to drug taking)
Ane City is a coming-of-age, one-woman, comedy blending spoken word, stand up comedy and live music to create a contemporary story about a young, working-class woman searching for her place in life. Tay, a 20-something English Lit student returning home to Dundee after a few years of living in Glasgow. She wants nothing more than to reconnect with her pals and hit the town just like they used to. But standing in her way is her bratty wee sister, her clingy ex and the horny ghost of Rabbie Burns! Everything has changed… but has she? There’s mass gentrification in the ‘coolest place to live’, and her friends are all moving on.
The play explores womanhood, social-class and the barriers young women face. In 2020 Dundee was ranked the worst place in Scotland to grow up as a girl (the same year it was also named Scotland’s Coolest City). Dundee is a city wrapped in its industrial history, its social issues and its thriving arts scene. Like many post-industrial cities it has a complex identity, Tay is no exception to this, having a complex relationship with her hometown and with herself, she feels like an outsider no matter where she goes.
Tay unpacks her thoughts through fourth-wall breaking pieces of spoken word where she explores these issues inviting the audience into her world. She takes them on a journey through the city’s nightlife, meeting a collection of quirky and eccentric characters along the way.
Ane City was Elfie Picket Theatre’s unmissable debut show that first premiered as the ART Award Winner at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe receiving critical acclaim, BBC airtime and a shout out from Frank Skinner. Since then, Elfie Picket have brought theatre to communities across Scotland and most recently with their sell out community tour of Dolly Parton Saved my Life.
CAST
Tay Taylor Dyson
CREATIVES
Musician Calum Kelly
Playwright Taylor Dyson
Director Calum Kelly
★★★★★ “incredibly emotional and enjoyable”
One4Review
★★★★ “An absolute joy to behold”.
The Edit
“I know we operate on the superficial in our world but it’s actually quite raw moving stuff.”
Frank Skinner, Absolute Radio
Icebreaker Comedy
Icebreaker Comedy
Friday 14 April, 7:30pm
Age Recommendation: 15+
Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean
Saturday 15 April, 7:30pm
“Dougie MacLean is Scotland's pre-eminent singer-songwriter and a national musical treasure” (SingOut USA) who has developed a unique blend of lyrical, 'roots based' songwriting and instrumental composition. He has built an international reputation as songwriter, composer and extraordinary performer which has led to concerts and festivals all over the world including New York's Carnegie Hall, Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall and London’s Festival Theatre.
During the two years of the pandemic (and to this day) his weekly broadcasts from his Old Schoolhouse (renamed a Global Streaming Theatre) have reached over 4 million viewers in 65 different countries. He has had several gold discs for sales and is planning the release of a new album of his songs in the autumn to tie in with this concert.
MacLean’s songs have been covered by hosts of artists, including Paolo Nutini, NathanCarter, Amy MacDonald, Ronan Keating, Mary Black, Frankie Miller, Cara Dillon, Ward Thomas and Voces8. His song “Caledonia” has become one of Scotland's most popular contemporary songs and his music has been used in films (eg Last of the Mohicans, T2 Trainspotting), TV Drama (eg BBC's A Mug's Game) and he’s been the subject of three BBC TV music documentaries. Dougie has received numerous gold discs for album sales, two prestigious Tartan Clef Awards, a place in the Scottish Music Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and an OBE!
"...a Scottish phenomenon...with his exquisite guitar style, expressive voice and honest performance, his songs conjure up remarkably vivid imagery of our world"
(The Performing Songwriter, USA)
Oklahoma – DYMT
Dundee Youth Music Theatre presents
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
Oklahoma
Wednesday 3 May - Saturday 6 May, 7:30pm
Following the runaway success of “Kipps - The New Half A Sixpence Musical” in the summer of 2022, Dundee Youth Music Theatre returns to Dundee Rep Theatre with a barn storming new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic “Oklahoma!”
Handsome cowboy Curly McLain is head over spurs for farm owner Laurey Williams but lonely ranch-hand Jud Fry has his sinister sights set on her too.
Laurey’s not the only girl with cowboy problems, Ado Annie’s beau Will Parker is back from chasing steers in Kansas City, where he won the fifty dollars her father insists Will must have to marry her. But this irrepressible farm girl won’t be bought quite so easily. Luckily for this love-struck crew of spirited ranchers and bronco busters, wise Aunt Eller is riding ahead of the herd. Among the unforgettable songs are Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top and the show-stopper Oklahoma.
With its glorious score and spirit of exuberant optimism, “Oklahoma!” is the American musical by which all others are judged. Rodgers and Hammerstein broke new ground in perfectly integrating music and dance to tell a story whose darker undercurrents never overwhelm its rapturous vitality.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see one of the country’s leading youth musical theatre companies perform at Dundee Rep Theatre in this fresh, energetic and unique production.
Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Based on the play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs
Original Choreography by Agnes de Mille
This amateur production of OKLAHOMA! is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Craig Hill – I Always Knew I Had it In Me!
Friday 26 May, 7:30pm
Running Time: Approx 2 hours 10mins
Age Recommendation: 16+ (Contains adult themes and strong language)
Moorcroft
A Tron Theatre Production in association with National Theatre of Scotland
Moorcroft
Written and directed by Eilidh Loan
Friday 27 - Saturday 28 October
A team. A team of wit? A team of players. A bunch of mates coming the gither to huv a kick aboot. Wits new?
Garry’s turned 50 but doesn’t feel like celebrating. Exhausted from years spent wrapped in regret, he begins to relive ‘the glory days’, trying to understand his mistakes, answer questions and right some wrongs in a bid to make peace with his past and find renewed purpose.
Inspired by true stories, Moorcroft follows a group of young lads in search of an escape from working class life. But can playing football save them from the challenges they face and make them the men they want to be?
‘that rare synchronicity in theatre, when all talents involved align seamlessly to bring something truly great to the stage’ ***** The Skinny
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