Jesus,Queen of Heaven GLASGAY! @ TRON THEATRE 3-7 NOV ‘09
Written & Performed by Jo Clifford Directord......................Rachel Rayment Composer.....................Adam Clifford Design Consultant.......Sarah Paulley Costume Design..........Morna Baxter Set Design...................Lois Farningham Lighting Design...........George Tarbuck Stage Manager..............Natasha Dachs Producer.......................Elaine Reid Most of my life I have been trying to understand why people tend to be so hostile towards transsexual people like myself. Or why I was so hostile towards myself, for that matter. Why I was always so ashamed. Maybe it has something to do with religion, I thought once, and wrote and performed a play called GOD’S NEW FROCK here in the Changing House to explore how all this gets worked out in the Old Testament. So it seemed quite an obvious thing to explore the New Testament as well. My daughter once said to me: “Dad, when you go to your church what do you do about all the homophobic bits in the bible?” The answer is that as far as the Gospel goes, there aren’t any. I just wanted to point that out really. Among other things. And also to express my pride in who I am. SPECIAL THANKS TO: Teatro della Limonaia, Florence, for giving me the space to write an early draft of this play. To Glasgay! and GOMA for making it possible for us to mount this production. My daughters for being wonderful, as always. Rolando Toro Arañeda, whose book, BIODANZA, has been a huge inspiration. John Clifford; Dan Gorman and the Bowery; Rupert Record; The Metropolitan Community Church, Edinburgh; Eddy Hackett, Ian Cape, Manny Arciniega, Barnaby Archer, Jennifer Martin, Chris Austin, Hannah MelvilleSmith, Queen Margaret University, Tron Theatre Staff.
CLEVES will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 next January and her newest play EVERY ONE will premiere at the Royal Lyceum next March. Rachael Rayment – Director Originally from London, Rachael lived in Scotland for many years before moving to the USA in 2004 to study Dramaturgy at the American Repertory Theatre/ Moscow Art Theatre Institute at Harvard University. While in Scotland, she worked as a dramaturgical assistant for GridIron, Suspect Culture and The Real Mary King’s Close. She also performed in THE SAME OLD STORY by Franca Rame and Dario Fo at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2003. Rachael has worked as a dramaturg at the American Repertory Theatre on various shows, including ARABIAN NIGHT by Roland Schimmelpfennig, directed by Marcus Stern, THE KEENING by Humberto Dorado, directed by Nicolas Montero, ROMEO AND JULIET directed by Gadi Roll and as an assistant director in New York City at PS-122 and NY Theatre Workshop. Rachael directed Emily Conbere’s one woman play BROKEN DOG LEGS for the Underground Zero Festival in NYC, 2009. Adam Clifford – Composer Adam is currently Meaker Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Performance work includes the London Symphony and Scottish Chamber Orchestras, London Mozart Players, Excellent Device!, Sound and Music, Wigmore Hall and solo recitals across the country, in the Gulf States and at the Austrian Cultural Forum, London. He recently took part in NYOS Futures’ collaboration with the BBC SSO. Future engagements include Steve Reich’s Drumming with Colin Currie. He has won numerous awards as both a percussionist and composer and is particularly grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards.
Biographies Jo Clifford – Writer and Performer Jo Clifford is the author of about 75 performed scripts that have been staged all over the world. Latest plays include SPAM FRITTERS (BBC Radio Scotland) AN APPLE A DAY (Oran Mor and the Traverse) FAUST PARTS ONE AND TWO and ANNA KARENINA (both Royal Lyceum). Her LA PRINCESSE DE
Sarah Paulley – Design Consultant Sarah Paulley has worked as a set designer for 35 years and worked in Scotland for 20 years. Sarah is currently teaching set design at Queen Margaret University. Morna Baxter – Costume Designer Morna has had a varied and successful career in Theatre costume, including 5 seasons as Wardrobe Supervisor at the Traverse Theatre in the 1980’s, where she
first met and worked with Jo. Since 2003 she has been developing her own practice as an artist and art therapist, and also worked with Jo to create costumes for God’s New Frock in 2002. She is presently developing creative projects for 3 Community organisations in North Edinburgh. Lois Farningham – Set Designer Lois studied Architecture at University College London, and moved to Edinburgh two years ago to work for Gross.Max. Landscape Architects as a graphic designer and co-ordinator. Lois recently took part in the Theatre Design Summer School at the Arches, and as a result landed herself the role of set designer for THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS QUEEN OF HEAVEN. I look forward to the possibility of working with Derevo at the Arches in the coming weeks. Lois would like to thank Sarah Paulley for her support. George Tarbuck – Lighting Designer A multi award winning lighting designer, George has lit over two hundred shows worldwide from Australia to Orkney via Nairobi. Scottish work includes shows for Grid Iron, Boilerhouse, Benchtours, Prime Productions, Edinburgh International Festival, The Traverse Theatre, The Arches, Universal Arts, St Magnus Festival, Communicado, Theatre Workshop, Scottish National Theatre and many others. George is subject leader in lighting and sound at Queen Margaret University Edinburgh. He has also worked as a pyrotechnician, despatch rider and piano player with the punk band Crass. Natasha Dachs – Stage Manager Natasha recently graduated from QMU with a degree in Theatre Production. During her final year of study Natasha worked on Queen Margaret University’s production of WINTERS TALE and BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE. Her most recent work includes Scottish Youth Theatre’s production of HAMLET. Elaine Reid – Producer Elaine graduated from QMU in 2008, with a BA Hons in Performance Production and Management. While studying she worked as an administrator with The Gate Films and The Curve Foundation Dance Company. She also spent time working with the Brunton Theatre’s marketing department to begin to develop a student audience development programme.