Royal Lyceum Theatre Archives - North West End UK

17Jan

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Jekyll and Hyde – Royal Lyceum Theatre

This adaptation by Gary McNair of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, is keen to point to its source's Edinburgh roots, though mostly through the programme and the lead (and only) actor's Scottish accent. Unlike some recent productions of Great Expectations or Dracula however, it stops short of relocating the story to Scotland. But even the medium of a play represents a coming home of sorts: this story began with the true tale of furniture-maker and lock-breaker Deacon Brodie, about whom Louis Stevenson first co-wrote a play entitled Deacon Brodie, or The Double Life, though it was his later retooling of the idea of duality into the novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde which would find lasting success. The story is well-known (spoilers) for its crucial dual role, which lead a...

Group Portrait In A Summer Landscape – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

6Oct

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

Group Portrait In A Summer Landscape – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

It is a brave playwright who describes his play as “Scottish Chekhov”, but Peter Arnott’s magnificent new play does not disappoint. It’s an exhilarating tour-de-force which deals with huge issues while zooming in on the complex human relationships of a group of privileged and talented people. It’s hugely entertaining, thought-provoking, and witty, but not always an easy watch. The first night audience was often shrieking with laughter, but sometimes stunned into shocked silence. It’s set in the summer of 2014 in the heady days leading up to the Scottish Independence Referendum. But although that’s discussed, it’s not a play about Independence. Nor is it about the climate emergency, although that issue features, too. And it’s not really about God though the Deity is important to some...

Kidnapped – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

13Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Kidnapped – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, National Theatre of Scotland’s retelling of this boy’s own adventure novel is a fine evening’s entertainment. Branded on the fliers as a ‘swashbuckling rom-com adventure’, it does do some serious veering around from pantomime to poetic to abstract post modern, to sassy jazz cabaret with a splash of bromance. As Kim Ismay proclaims following her rousing ‘I’ve been everywhere (man)’ opening musical number, ‘this book is different’. Kidnapped follows the adventures of youth Davie Balfour, who, following the death of his father leaves the safe dullness of his Borders town to travel to Edinburgh in search of his rich uncle. We are at this point introduced to ‘the boulder’, a cleverly conceived hollowed out stage device which also houses a ...

2Apr

By Ella CatherallNo Comments

Scotland

Castle Lennox – Royal Lyceum Theatre

‘Castle Lennox’, presented by the Royal Lyceum Theatre of Edinburgh and Lung Ha Theatre Company, tells the story of Annis, a young Autistic woman who is sent to the titular Castle Lennox, a mental institution, and her interactions with both staff and fellow patients. Where this show shines is in its representation of disabled people. The show features a majority disabled cast, and all disabled characters in the show are played by disabled actors. That this show is able to provide opportunities for disabled creatives is admirable and something I hope to see more of – I’ll definitely be a closer follower of the work of the Lung Ha Theatre Company from now on. Arguably more notable is that the disabled characters in this show are well-developed, full people that exist as more than inspira...

10Mar

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

You Bury Me – Edinburgh Royal Lyceum

‘‘to’-bor-ni’, states author Ahlam’s notes, ‘a saying in Levantine Arabic used to express affection and love. ‘May you bury me’ is a declaration that one does not want to live without a loved one (or loved thing).’ As do the characters in this story, be it each other or the city of Cairo. It’s set in 2015 as the optimism generated by the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011 (naively reported by many major news agencies worldwide) finally evaporated, authoritarian rule reasserting itself, extinguishing the joy of a younger generation believing they might finally have the freedom to express themselves as themselves… rather than as a product of their family, religion or politics. The action hurtled along pell mell, representing the vibrancy and volatility of Cairo but an occasional drop in tempo mig...

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

20Oct

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

Witty, cleaver and true to its original material, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is one not to be missed. A cast of 5 brilliant actresses Tori Burgess, Christina Gordon, Leah Jamieson, Hannah Jarret-Scott and Isobel McArthur (today nominated by the Evening Standard Awards in the Emerging Talent category) take on the classic tale of Pride and Prejudice warts and all. The play is taken from the point of view of the staff within the novel, those forgotten by the reader and sometimes the writer, the ones deprived of a story of their own but who play a major part in bringing the story together and making things happen. Each actress takes on many a role within the play, dressing in a white chemise and adding character pieces on top to distinguish each character, no major wig changes, no ext...

Seven Against Edinburgh – Royal Lyceum Theatre

21Apr

By Melissa JonesNo Comments

Scotland

Seven Against Edinburgh – Royal Lyceum Theatre

Seven Against Edinburgh takes us on a journey of sisterhood. Jo’s got undisguised endometriosis, Sasha has lost her mother, Nell is trying to take her rock band to the next level, Isla is fighting for more recognition for women in STEM and Gabby’s trying to get her feminist society off the ground. On the same streets in the 19th century, the Edinburgh Seven, were fighting for their right to study and graduate in medicine. Led by Sophia Jex Blake, the seven were the first matriculated university students in the UK, and their fight to study was supported amongst the greats, including Charles Darwin. Seven Against Edinburgh runs in two timelines. As the seven school friends uncover their stories of their heroes, their own friendships feel the pressure. This is an incredibly talented young...

Scottish legend John Byrne is back with new radio play Tennis Elbow

26Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Scottish legend John Byrne is back with new radio play Tennis Elbow

In 1977 the hottest ticket at the Edinburgh Festival was comedy drama Writer’s Cramp by new Scottish writer John Byrne and the three-hander went on to be a hit in London. It was the riotous tale of Frances Seneca McDade, who is being remembered by the Nitshill Writing Circle, and they seem oblivious that despite his public school swagger their mentor ended up being an utter mediocrity in all his many artistic endeavours. Now Bryne has returned to Paisley for a new radio play, Tennis Elbow, as the writing group gather once again to remember the life of McDade’s estranged wife Pamela played by Kirsty Stuart. “Tennis Elbow is the life story of a writer and artist as she makes her way through life and all of the characters that she meets on the way, the struggles that she has,” says ...

Angela – Royal Lyceum Theatre/Pitlochry Festival Theatre online

28Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Scotland

Angela – Royal Lyceum Theatre/Pitlochry Festival Theatre online

Mark Ravenhill has taken us to some dark places over the years but none more so than with this unflinching account of his beloved mother Angela’s final dementia journey. But this debut audio collaboration between the Royal Lyceum Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre is as much about class, thwarted ambition and shared memories as it is about a condition that affects nearly a million people across the UK. From the moment the young Angela – subtly played by Matti Houghton – changes her name from the too ‘common’ Rita to Angela you sense this is an intelligent working class woman with artistic ambitions. Her short am dram career is cut short by marriage to engineer Ted, and any ambition to take it further disappears. A pertinent point when the acting profession is increasingly posh a...

Mark Ravenhill’s new play is the highlight of Sound Stage

14Jan

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Mark Ravenhill’s new play is the highlight of Sound Stage

Pitlochry Festival Theatre, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in collaboration with Naked Productions have created Sound Stage featuring a new play by Mark Ravenhill. This new immersive audio digital theatre experience has hit the jackpot with the world premiere of Ravenhill’s, Angela, as he offers his first autobiographical play exploring the way culture high and low impacted his mother’s life and that of his family. The season kicking off on 26th March will premiere eight new co-productions from Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh written by Roy Williams, Timberlake Wertenbaker, and Tutti Frutti writer John Byrne. “The original idea came from my experience last year making the audio premiere of Adventures with the Painted People with David, Polly, and...