PrintMAYFESTO - GLOBAL ISSUES, PERSONAL RESPONSES, ASTONISHING THEATRE
Victorian Bar, Tron Theatre
63 Trongate
Glasgow G1 5HB
0141 552 3748
Just a day after this year’s General Election, the Tron Theatre will present a timely season of new work that focuses on some of the issues that affect the world today. Mayfesto is a season of theatre, performance and original writing for Glasgow that tells stories of people caught up in global events or who are touched by current social issues. The season features work and performances by David Greig, Cora Bissett, James Macpherson and the Tron Theatre Company.
With a nod to a bygone Glasgow theatre festival with a similar name, artistic director Andy Arnold said:
‘We present plays at the Tron just about every week of the year but in May we are making it even more special and focusing on drama born out of events. Mayfesto will herald a short but intensive celebration of new plays and unseen other works which focus on human stories – stories which, more often than not, have resulted from conflict or political upheaval.’
Over a fortnight from Friday 7 May, the Tron Theatre will stage and welcome a range of theatrical work which touches on global issues with daring, humour and insight. These issues include the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, civil partnerships, single mothers, the torture of terror detainees and Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Tron Theatre Company opens the season with the UK Premiere of US Journalist George Packer’s play Betrayed. Based on interviews conducted by Packer for his article which ran in the New Yorker in 2007, this is a story of three young Iraqis who worked as translators for the US government but found themselves eventually abandoned by the Americans. This is a gripping tale which provides a fascinating glimpse into the risks these young people took help stabilize their newly occupied country. Directed by Leann O’Kasi (Topdog, Underdog) and featuring a brilliant young cast, this is a moving and fascinating insight into a meeting of cultures and the risks Iraqis were willing to take for their country.
David Greig, one of Scotland’s most acclaimed playwrights, has contributed two un-staged plays as part of From The West Bank (9.15pm, Fri 7 – Sat 22 May). Ramallah and An Imagined Sarha will be performed along with An Arab Woman Speaks, a monologue told to the great Italian actress and writer, Franca Rame. These three short plays provide a spectrum of voices about the ongoing conflict and disputes between Israelis and Palestinians. While Rame’s female freedom fighter tells of her struggle for emancipation, An Imagined Sarha, adapted by Greig from the book Palestinian Walks by Raja Shehadeh, begins in heated debate as a Palestinian and an Israeli argue over disputed land only to find unexpected companionship in Nature…and an illegal puff. The three plays will be performed and directed by Cora Bissett, Ewan Donald and Benny Young.
The final Tron Company production is Address Unknown (Sat 15 – Sat 22 May, 7.30pm). Performed by James Macpherson and Benny Young this is based upon a short story first published in the 1930s and banned by the Nazis. It tells of the correspondence between two art-dealer friends on either side of the Atlantic, one a Jew in the USA, the other in thrall to the rise of National Socialism in Germany. This is a gripping tale of friendship, tragedy, betrayal and revenge and captures the voices and the personal struggles of those caught up in the rise of fascism. The production will be directed by the Tron’s Artistic Director, Andy Arnold.
Mayfesto also features a strong presence from visiting companies. Alison Peebles will direct Anne Lacey in A Most Civil Arrangement (Fri 7 – Sat 15 May, 7.45). This monologue is narrated by a mother whose world is suddenly turned upside down by her daughter’s announcement that she is engaged – to another woman. This is a darkly funny and sardonic piece from Glaswegian writer Colin Hough. Hough has written extensively for the radio including Wonderful Someone, Three Minute Warning, Amy’s Spaghetti and Bad Dad. He wrote the screenplays for the Tartan Short, Tangerine, also directed by Alison Peebles.
Rhymes with Purple productions will present Drumhead, (Tue 11 – Sun 16 May, 8pm) an off-site performance taking place at a secret location. This is a hard-hitting, interactive piece of theatre based on real case studies of the treatment given to suspected terrorists and during criminal interrogations. Part of the proceeds from this production will be donated to Amnesty International.
The Polish/Scottish theatre company Gappad will present a new version of Jordan, (Tue 11 – Sat 15 May, 9pm) based on true events about a single mother pushed to the limits with Magdalena Kaleta in the lead role. The production will be directed by Robert Przekwas and follows Gappad’s previous successes at the Tron with Hear Me and As You Always Do.
Mayfesto also features a new play from Abigail Docherty, Room (Tue 18 – Sat 22 May, 7.45). Docherty is one of the shortlisted finalists in the Tron’s Open.Stage playwriting competition and this piece focuses on a broken-hearted woman who refuses to leave her house as global events are streamed to her television. Finally, Ink will also present The Other Side of Conflict (Tue 18 – Sat 22 May, 8.45pm), where eight Scottish based playwrights will respond to the burning political issues of the day by writing unique ten minute plays which will performed over the five nights. There will also be a rehearsed reading of a new play Flying/Falling by Stef Smith on 15 May.
Ticket prices are reduced for the season with several performances in one day and multi-buy deals available for bookers. A season pass is also available for £50 / £35 concession.
Arriving just after the UK population goes to the polls, Mayfesto could not be more timely or more welcome. This is a season aimed at the heart and the head and a major event in Glasgow’s cultural calendar.
More information can be found on the Tron’s website at www.tron.co.uk/mayfesto
For further information, to request images and interviews, or for any other press enquiries please contact:
Douglas Martin
Press and Marketing Manager
0141 559 5314
douglas.martin@tron.co.uk
Roseanne Sturgeon
Press and Marketing Officer
0141 559 5307
roseanne.sturgeon@tron.co.uk
ENDS
MAYFESTO TICKET DEAL:
Buy for 2 shows and get 20% off.
Buy for 3 shows and get 30% off
SEASON PASS: £50 / £35
LISTINGS
Friday 7th – Friday 14th May
Tron Theatre Company presents
Betrayed
7.30pm
£10.50 (£6.50)
Main Auditorium
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
UK Premiere of George Packer’s tense play about three young Iraqis who worked for and were then abandoned by the US Government. Based on real events.
Friday 7th – Saturday 22 May
Tron Theatre Company presents
FROM THE WEST BANK: 3 Short Plays
Ramallah
An Imagined Sarha
An Arab Woman Speaks
9.15pm
Tickets: £10.50 (£6.50)
Main Auditorium
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
Three short plays giving voice to some of those who have witnessed the personal and political struggles of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Friday 7th – Saturday 15th May
V.amp productions and Tron Theatre present
A Most Civil Arrangement
By Colin Hough
7.45pm
Tickets: £6.50
Changing House
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
A dark, sardonic monologue about love, life and same-sex marriage by Colin Hough.
Tue 11th – Sun 16 May
Rhymes with Purple presents
Drumhead
8.00pm
Tickets: £10.50 (£6.50)
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
A hard-hitting, site specific piece of interactive theatre about interrogation and human rights
Tue 11 – Sat 15 May
Gappad presents
Jordan
9pm
Tickets: £10.50 (£6.50)
Main Auditorium
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
Based on a true story, this is a shocking confession of one woman forced to her limits.
Saturday 15th – Saturday 22nd May
Tron Theatre Company presents
Address Unknown
7.30pm
Tickets: £10.50 (£6.50)
Main Auditorium
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
A gripping tale of those caught up in the rise of Fascist Germany.
Tuesday 18th –Saturday 22nd May
Room
7.45pm
Tickets: £6.50
Changing House
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
A timely and devastating play about Iraq and one woman’s broken heart.
Tuesday 18th –Saturday 22nd May
Ink presents
The Other Side of Conflict
8.45pm
Tickets: £4
Changing House
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
Freshly written, topical plays that reflect recent events. It’s a new play every day!
Sat 15 May
Falling/ Flying
1.00pm
£2
Victorian Bar
Tron Theatre
0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
A rehearsed reading of a new play by Stef Smith about the life and death of Angie Xtravaganza.