Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre announce a thrilling spring 2022 season
From football to Kafka, from nuclear science to climate crisis – the spring 2022 season of Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre live and digital shows offer a unique reflection on modern society.
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Scottish Dance Theatre: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram #SDTSpring22
Tickets available to book now at https://dundeerep.co.uk/whats-on
As we enter a new year which looks to offer similar challenges for the arts industry as the one before, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre are proud to continue to invest in high-quality, inspiring dance, theatre, music and comedy production for the people of Dundee and beyond.
Following a testing 2021 which saw Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre successfully launch their digital platform, REP STUDIOS, allowing thousands of people around the world to enjoy work produced in the heart of Tayside, and present such inspiring work as John McCann’s Wings Around Dundee, Amethyst and SINDER, both companies are thrilled to reveal 10 new productions which form their spring 2022 season and confirm that a brand new musical version of Cinderella by Lynda Radley and Michael John McCarthy will be their 2022 festive offering, following 2021’s A Christmas Carol which was met with a great reception from live and digital audiences as well as critics.
Dundee Rep’s Artistic Director Andrew Panton directs the Scottish Premiere of The Children by Lucy Kirkwood, a gripping story of two retired nuclear scientists in an isolated cottage by the sea as the world around them crumbles. This brilliant play took London and New York by storm in 2017 and was hailed as one of the top 3 in The Guardian’s recent Best Theatre shows of the 21st Century. Following the success of Smile, Sally Reid returns to the Rep to direct the world premiere of The Bookies by Michael Burnett and Joseph McCann, a black comedy thriller set in a rundown Edinburgh betting shop.
After wowing audiences in 10 countries, Scottish Dance Theatre brings the magic of The Life and Times back to REP STUDIOS as a hybrid performance presented simultaneously to audiences in the theatre and at home. Conceived by Artistic Director Joan Clevillé the show is a surreal dance journey set to a sumptuous Baroque soundtrack. The company is also delighted to announce a brand new commission with internationally acclaimed choreographer Meytal Blanaru. Ray explores the themes of connection and emergence.
Marking a big milestone for the company directed by Associate Directors (Engage) Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore, Dundee Rep Young Company presents its new devised work and its first major production: the world premiere of Optimism, a show about being young and having hope for the future against all odds – climate change, Brexit, financial crisis… The Young Company shares their ending to this story.
Alongside work produced by Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre’s ensembles, the spring season also features a range of exciting new productions made in Scotland. Following a critically acclaimed Edinburgh Festival Fringe run in 2017, The Gardener, part-theatrical conversation, part-personal memoir, returns to offer an intimate portrait of all the minor triumphs and major tribulations of amateur gardening, and of a life-time spent in love…
Created by Vanishing Point in 2020 to rave reviews, Matthew Lenton offers his take on Kafka’s The Metamorphosis while National Theatre of Scotland and Capital Theatres co-produce the return to the James Playes with James IV – Queen of the Night by Rona Munro. PAST-inuous from Farah Saleh and collaborators offers a reflection on the ongoing Palestinian refugee crisis through a live interactive dance performance with an international in-person and digital cast.
Madness’ frontman Suggs visits Dundee to share stories from his almost half a century long music career while Horse McDonald celebrates the 30th anniversary of her ground-breaking album, The same sky. And in comedy, the unmissable Jack Docherty and Craig Hill are back in town to put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Continuing Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre’s committment to offering high-quality cultural experiences, our Engage programme presents a range of classes for participants of all ages across theatre and dance.
This year also sees Scottish Dance Theatre strengthen its international reputation, through two digital residencies focused on emerging female voices in India, and a series of online creative dance workshops for children in collaboration with Shanghai International Dance Center, led by Glasgow-based dance artist Aya Kobayashi.
Artistic Director (Dundee Rep) & Joint-Chief Executive Andrew Panton and Executive Director & Joint-Chief Executive Liam Sinclair said: “The challenges we have faced over these last 22 months have inspired us to find new ways to invest in, create and share high-quality work with our communities. We are determined to weather the pandemic storm; continuing to adapt and deliver inspiring, impactful, and innovative work for our audiences, both in-person here in Dundee and digitally throughout the world on REP STUDIOS. Together with our audience’s support, we are excited to begin 2022 with a new and exciting season of work. We look forward to welcoming you back to Dundee Rep Theatre this season.”
Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Joan Clevillé said: “I am proud of how the company has not only adapted to the challenging circumstances but seized this moment as an opportunity to create new ways of experiencing dance. From the magic of The Life and Times to the intimacy of Ray and the urgency of Farah Saleh’s PAST-inuous, this season at Dundee Rep is full of wonderful opportunities to re-discover dance with fresh eyes.”
Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore, Associate Directors (Engage) said: ”We are delighted to finally be making a live work on the Dundee Rep stage. Collaborating with young people to create performance has always been a huge part of our practice and it’s brilliant to be working with the Rep Young Company on Optimism. Considering the future and what it means to be hopeful feels like such a relevant theme just now and it’s been a rich and meaningful creative experience for all of us to think about this together. We are looking forward to sharing this brand-new work with audiences.”
2022 SPRING SEASON (in chronological order)
WEEKLY CLASSES AND GROUPS
W/C 17 JANUARY – WC 21 MARCH 2022
This dynamic participation programme has something for everyone. From Little Creatives; a multi-art form class for 0-2’s and their carers bringing together a mixture of storytelling, music and movement supporting development and connection; to dance and theatre pathways in Early Years (for 3-4 year olds), Primary groups (5-7), Juniors 1 (8-10) and Juniors 2 (11-13) and Young Companies (14-18). We also have lots of creative opportunities for adults including Feel Good Fridays focusing on health well- being, Beautiful People for over 55’s, Do your Thing a dance group for non-disabled and disabled people and two Community Companies each specialising in dance and theatre (for 18 years old and over), among many others.
Phil & Nigel McIntyre present
SUGGS: WHAT A KING CNUT
SUNDAY 30 JANUARY
Due to huge popular demand, after his first tour-de-force, smash hit, sell out tour with My Life Story, Suggs is treading the boards again. If the first show was about how on Earth he got there, Suggs: What a King Cnut is about the surprises that awaited him when he did. Vertigo on the roof of Buckingham Palace, nearly blowing the closing ceremony of the Olympics, the embarrassing stuff that happened at Glastonbury. Things have gone a smidge surreal since the Madness frontman was a twelve year old in shorts on the tough streets of North London. Fame is a tightrope and Suggs has fallen off many times. With help from Deano his trusty pianist, Suggs tells his story in words and music with the help of some Madness classics and a couple more what he wrote all on himself.
Scottish Dance Theatre presents
THE LIFE AND TIMES
FRIDAY 11 – SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Scottish Dance Theatre’s acclaimed production The Life and Times returns to REP STUDIOS this Winter, after reaching audiences in 10 different countries around the world during its digital premiere in 2021.
This time, the work will be a hybrid performance presented simultaneously to audiences in the theatre and at home, taking everyone on a cinematic and surreal dance journey set to a sumptuous soundtrack of Baroque music. Conceived by Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Joan Clevillé, this original and imaginative production will be available to book as an in-person experience at Dundee Rep or as a live streamed performance on REP STUDIOS and other digital platforms”
Dundee Rep Ensemble presents
THE CHILDREN
By Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by Andrew Panton
TUESDAY 1 – SATURDAY 19 MARCH
“Retired people are like nuclear power stations. We like to live by the sea.”
Two retired nuclear scientists in an isolated cottage by the sea as the world around them crumbles. Together they are going to live forever on yogurt and yoga, until an old friend arrives with a frightening request.
Hailed as one of the top 3 in The Guardian’s recent “Best Theatre shows of the 21st Century” The Children premiered at London’s Royal Court Theatre in 2016 then transferred to Broadway where it was nominated for Best Play at both the Tony Awards and the Outer Critics Circle and now receives its Scottish Premiere here at Dundee Rep. Lucy Kirkwood’s previous plays also include Chimerica (winner of the Olivier Award for Best Play, the Evening Standard Award, the Critics’ Circle Best New Play Award).
THE GARDENER
FRIDAY 4 MARCH
Meet Frank – he’s just started The Amateur Gardeners Appreciation Society and you’re cordially invited to its first meeting…
Frank’s always been a keen gardener but lately he hasn’t been getting out quite as much as he’d like, especially not since his wife passed away. After much deliberation he decided it’s time to sell up. So he’s moved into Pine Grove Villas – a local retirement home. It’s a very nice place, with very nice people, but there’s still that one thing that Frank really misses…
So he’s started his very own gardening group to share some hints and tips from a life-time spent in the garden. And perhaps telling one or two more personal tales along the way… This unique show is an intimate portrait of all the minor triumphs and major tribulations of amateur gardening, and of a life-time spent in love. Part-theatrical conversation, part-personal memoir it was one of the hit shows the Edinburgh Fringe raking in a whole pile of 4 and 5 star reviews as well as a coveted Herald Angel award.
JACK DOCHERTY
SUNDAY 27 MARCH
Following rave reviews and a sell-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021, Jack Docherty, the BAFTA award-winning star of Scot Squad and Absolutely, and one of Scotland’s favourite comic performers, is taking his critically-acclaimed play Nothing But on tour for the first time.
A love letter to Edinburgh, the Fringe and summer rain, Nothing But is a tender, playful, darkly comic tale, where Jack grapples with lost youth, infatuation, fatherhood, sex, secrets and truth.
THE METAMORPHOSIS
Created by Vanishing Point
After the story by Franz Kafka
Adapted & Directed by Matthew Lenton
MONDAY 28 – THURSDAY 31 MARCH
The Metamorphosis is the story of an ordinary man who wakes up one morning to find he has been transformed into a giant insect. Soon he begins to realise he’s got bigger problems than being late for work. His family, shocked by his bizarre condition, barricade him into his room, unwilling to accept that somewhere inside this behemoth of a bug is their son.
Franz Kafka’s hugely influential, tragicomic novella is brought vividly to life in this international co-production, which premiered in March 2020 to five-star reviews, only to be closed again for lockdown.
MZA & CHiLL Productions present
SATURDAY 9 APRIL
CRAIG HILL – PUMPED!
Get pumped and get partying again as we are delighted to welcome Scotland’s favourite kilty treasure and his hilariously high-octane performances back to Dundee Rep Theatre
Craig is renowned world-wide for his cheeky, irreverent and uproarious live comedy and his tours are firmly established as one of the best nights out around. His razor-sharp wit and unsurpassed audience rapport have seen him perform all over Europe, Australia (including the Sydney Opera House) across the UK and to every corner north of the border and even to New York’s off-Broadway. Join Craig in a night of brilliant, pure and unadulterated comedy – Book early!
Scottish Dance Theatre presents
RAY
By Meytal Blanaru
THURSDAY 14 – SATURDAY 16 APRIL
“Out of a deep sense of togetherness or belonging that so many of us miss nowadays, I find myself drawn to explore the meaning of a collective that meets beyond our socially constructed common grounds. What can connect us that lies beyond words, definitions, ideas and concepts? How can a live performance serve as a means to web people together – spectators and performers alike? Ray will explore the phenomena of Emergence, as it ventures on a quest for a deep, collective, shared physical experience, one that tries to bridge between bodies and sweep people far beyond the intellect’s words, ideas and constructions, into a space where people can potentially meet, in a different way”. Choreographer Meytal Blanaru on Ray.
Dundee Rep Ensemble presents
THE BOOKIES
By Michael Burnett & Joseph McCann
Directed by Sally Reid
TUESDAY 3 – SATURDAY 21 MAY
Michelle, Pat, John (staff) and Harry (punter) spend their days in a rundown Edinburgh Bookies. One day things take an unexpected turn and Pat wonders if it’s odds-on he’ll lose his job. Bad things happen to bad people they say; and as the tensions rise and accusations fly, the mystery deepens. Meanwhile gambling addict Harry is convinced there is a ghost in the machine. Dark forces are at work here but will the truth finally be revealed?
The world premiere of this black comedy will have you in stitches wondering who will win and who will lose. It’s a riveting new thriller where our four untrustworthy heroes are brought vividly to life by the acclaimed Dundee Rep Ensemble. Everyone keeps their cards close to their chest but things are not quite as they seem here in the Bookies so get ready for a night of secrets, lies and big surprises; in the end, it’s all or nothing.
Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre present
OPTIMISM
A brand-new show created by Dundee Rep Young Company
FRIDAY 25th MARCH – SATURDAY 26th MARCH
People tell us the future looks bleak. Climate change. Brexit. Health Crisis. Financial Crisis. Instability. Insecurity. Fear. But what happens if we haven’t even gotten started yet? What if we have a whole load of ideas of our own? If we want a different ending to this story?
This is a show about being young and having hope.
HORSE
WEDNESDAY 25 MAY
30th anniversary UK Tour
A glorious celebration of the 30 year anniversary of the classic album ‘The same sky’. In March 1989, the first single, “You could be forgiven”, was released and it was so different from anything else at the time – thrilling first plays on Radio 1 – the track absolutely setting the bar – an incredibly unique Scottish voice and brilliant band. The first major UK tour followed and in 1990, tours across Europe, including opening for artists such as Tina Turner and BB King.
Raw Material and Capital Theatres present James IV – Queen of the Fight in association with National Theatre of Scotland
JAMES IV – QUEEN OF THE FIGHT
Autumn 2022
“You’re a wonder. You’re a window into a wide world.”
Scotland, 1504, seen fresh through the eyes of new arrivals Ellen and Anne, two Moorish women who were expected to take their place at a royal court… but not this one. Both women now have to fight to find and keep a place in the dazzling, dangerous world of the Scottish Court of James IV. It’s a world where war is never far away, words of love and promises of peace are not what they seem and where poets might turn out to be more dangerous than any assassin.
Employing the same wit and theatricality of the first three James Plays (James I, II and III) acclaimed playwright Rona Munro takes you back to a thrilling and uncharted period of Scottish history in this brand new production. Join us on the journey.