Traverse Theatre Festival 2009 by Fiona Sturgeon Shea

Festival 09

www.traverse.co.uk 0131 228 1404 (no booking fee)

Contents Show Title A Life in 3 Acts Accidental Nostalgia Barflies Been So Long Dazzle The Doubtful Guest East 10th Street Encounters Experimentum Mundi Handprints If That’s All There Is The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church Internal The Last Witch Little Gem Midsummer Orphans Palace of The End The Red Room Stefan Golaszewski is a Widower Sea Wall The World is Too Much

Page No. P25 P22 P15 P16 P28 P23 P10 P27 P26 P28 P24 P14 P8 P7 P11 P4 P5 P9 P21 P12 P13 P6

Show Title Exhibitions at The Traverse Support the Traverse Festival 09 Diary Pull-out Traverse Bar Café Venues

Midsummer & Barflies supported by

Barman images. Front, above, p17 & p29: Euan Myles

Page No. P28 P30 – P31 P17 – P20 P29 Back page

SCOTLAND’S NEW WRITING THEATRE

Welcome to the Traverse Theatre Festival 2009 Photo credit: Alan McCredie

A variety of extraordinary personalities will take you on extraordinary journeys during this shining festival season at the Traverse.

Inspector Sands. And Hoipolloi, those incredible exponents of physical storytelling, bring the work of Edward Gorey vividly to life.

Cynthia Hopkins and her band transport us into the heart of America in a very personal quest in Accidental Nostalgia. Eccentric New York icon Edgar Oliver can hardly move from his apartment without his neighbours trying to kill him in East 10th Street. Two hit New York shows telling very different but equally bizarre tales of American life.

But storytelling can take us to darker places too. Orphans by Dennis Kelly depicts paranoia and isolation at the heart of modern society in the latest play by one of the country’s finest writers. Judith Thompson’s Palace of The End explores the events of the Iraq war in a devastating piece of theatre.

The same wild, gothic imagination can be seen in David Hughes’ re-imagining of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Red Room. The furious drink-sodden stories of Charles Bukowski are recreated by the wonderful Grid Iron in Barflies, told in the appropriate setting of The Barony Bar. Mark Ravenhill discourses with the inimitable Bette Bourne and Stefan Golaszewski imagines the future in a heartbreaking and hysterical tale of a lost love. In fact love – lost and found – runs through many of our shows. From the gorgeous Midsummer, David Greig and Gordon McIntyre’s beautiful Edinburgh-set love story to the wonderful soul musical Been So Long, and the salty and very funny Little Gem, telling the story of three generations of women in one Irish family. Sea Wall is another gem – a gripping and deeply moving story by Simon Stephens. Daniel Kitson will weave his own unique spell late nights in Traverse 2 where we also present one of the country’s hottest experimental companies

As well as The Barony Bar, you can find us elsewhere in the city too. The Last Witch is a spectacular new play by Rona Munro at the Royal Lyceum Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. We also play host to Italy’s Experimentum Mundi, also part of the International Festival. The company behind last year’s smash hit Once And For All We’re Going To Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up And Listen are back with a very different experience, Internal, at The Mercure Point Hotel. Your journey starts at breakfast-time – come and see a specially commissioned play by some of the UK’s finest writers – we’ve commissioned one for almost every day of the week – and we’ll throw in free tea/coffee and rolls. Then stay all day and into the early hours of the morning for musicals, drama, comedy, dance, talks, readings and more food and drink.

You’ll never leave! Dominic Hill Artistic Director

TRAVERSE TWO Scotland. 1hr 45mins Traverse Theatre Company IN ASSOCIATION WITH CORK MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL

Midsummer (a play with songs) by David Greig & Gordon McIntyre 7 – 30 Aug Preview 6 Aug

“Warm-hearted, beautifully-sculpted musical romantic comedy.” The Scotsman

Director David Greig Composer Gordon McIntyre Designer Georgia McGuinness Lighting Designer Claire Elliot It’s Midsummer’s weekend in Edinburgh. It’s raining. Two thirtysomethings are sitting in a New Town bar waiting for something to turn up. He’s a failing car salesman on the fringes of the city’s underworld and she’s a high powered divorce lawyer with a taste for other people’s husbands. She’s out of his league and he’s not her type at all. They absolutely should not sleep together. Ever Ever. Which is why they do. Midsummer (a play with songs) is the story of Bob and Helena and a great lost weekend of bridge burning, car chases, wedding bust-ups, bondage miscalculations, midnight trysts and horrible hungover self-loathing misery. Featuring Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon as the ill-advised love match, Midsummer is a quirky, charming love story by one of Scotland’s leading playwrights, David Greig and top Edinburgh singer/songwriter, Gordon McIntyre. We are delighted to be reviving this ‘seductive little two-hander’ (Daily Telegraph) after its sell-out run at the Traverse during autumn 2008 in Edinburgh and straight from a hit tour of Ireland, Scotland and Canada.

Photo credit: Euan Myles

PREVIEW: Thursday 6 August (3.45pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Friday 7 Aug (5.15pm), Saturday 8 August (7.30pm), Sunday 9 Aug (11.15am). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (1.30pm),

Wednesday 12 Aug (3.45pm), Thursday 13 Aug (5.15pm), Friday 14 Aug (7.30pm), Saturday 15 Aug (11.15am), Sunday 16 Aug (1.45pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug (3pm),

Wednesday 19 Aug (5.15pm), Thursday 20 Aug (7.30pm), Friday 21 Aug (10.15am), Saturday 22 Aug (1pm), Sunday 23 Aug (3pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (5.15pm), Wednesday 26 Aug (7.30pm), Thursday 27 Aug (10.30am), Friday 28 Aug (12.45pm), Saturday 29 Aug (3pm), Sunday 30 Aug (5.15pm). Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Friday 7 August if bought before Fri 24 July (subject to availability) Audio Described Performance: Thursday 20 Aug (7.30pm)

Sign Language Interpreted Performance: Thursday 20 Aug (7.30pm)

TRAVERSE ONE World Premiere. Scotland/England. 2hrs Traverse Theatre Company & Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company in association with Paines Plough

Orphans

by Dennis Kelly 9 – 30 Aug Previews 31 July, 1 Aug, 8 Aug

‘I hate violence. It makes me cry. Always has…’

“A fantastic piece of writing.”

The Metro on Taking Care of Baby

Director Roxana Silbert Designer Garance Marneur Lighting Designer Chahine Yavroyan Sound Designer Matt McKenzie Helen and Danny keep themselves to themselves. But the outside world comes crashing into their lives one day when Helen’s brother turns up. Covered in blood. Dennis Kelly’s new play is a thrilling contemporary suspense story which takes its audience on a chilling journey into a world just outside the front door. One of the UK’s most electrifying playwrights, Dennis Kelly has written an array of award-winning plays including After The End, Taking Care Of Baby, Osama The Hero, and Love And Money. This disturbing urban drama is a world premiere that reunites the team that brought After The End to the Traverse in 2005. “This year’s stand-out success.” The Daily Telegraph on After The End This play contains strong language.

PREVIEWs: Friday 31 July (7pm), Saturday 1 August (7pm), Saturday 8 August (2pm). Preview ticket price £11 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Sunday 9 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Sunday 9 Aug (8pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (10.15am), Wednesday 12 Aug (1.30pm), Thursday 13

Aug (4pm), Friday 14 Aug (7pm), Saturday 15 Aug (10.15am), Sunday 16 Aug (1.30pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug (4pm), Wednesday 19 August (7pm), Thursday

20 Aug (10am), Friday 21 Aug (1.15pm), Saturday 22 Aug (4pm), Sunday 23 Aug (7pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (10am), Wednesday 26 Aug (1.15pm), Thursday 27 Aug (4pm), Friday 28 Aug (7pm), Saturday 29 Aug (10am), Sunday 30 Aug (1.15pm).

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £18 (£12 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Sunday 9 August if bought before Sunday 26 July (subject to availability) Audio Described Performance: Wed 19 Aug (7pm)

Sign Language Interpreted Performance: Wednesday 19 Aug (7pm)

TRAVERSE TWO World Premiere. Scotland. 30 mins Traverse Theatre Company

The World is Too Much Theatre for Breakfast

11 – 30 Aug

The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given out heart away, a sordid boon! William Wordsworth

Wake up to a new play almost every day. Leading playwrights including – David Greig, Chris Hannan, Zinnie Harris, Rona Munro, Simon Stephens and Che Walker – respond to events that are happening right now. These new short plays will be presented in ‘scratch’* performances by professional actors, first thing in the morning. Free coffee, tea and breakfast rolls will be provided with your ticket.

*scratch: unfinished, unpolished.

Dates & Times: Tuesday 11 – Sunday 30 Aug

Simon Stephens Tuesday 11 August (9.30am), Sun 23 August (9am), Sat 29 August (9am)

Che Walker Wednesday 12 August (9.30am), Tuesday 18 August (9am), Sunday 30 August (9am)

Rona Munro Thursday 13 August (9.30am), Wednesday 19 August (9am), Tuesday 25 August (9am) David Greig Friday 14 August (9.30am), Thursday 20 August (9am), Wednesday 26 August (9am)

Chris Hannan: Saturday 15 August (9.30am), Friday 21 August (9am), Thursday 27 August (9am) Zinnie Harris Sunday 16 August (9.30am), Saturday 22 August (9am), Friday 28 August (9am) Tickets: £10 (includes coffee and a breakfast roll)

Edinburgh international festival @ Royal Lyceum Theatre World Premiere. Scotland A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN the Edinburgh International Festival AND THE Traverse Theatre Company

The Last Witch

“Rona Munro is perhaps one of the best-loved of all Scottish playwrights.” The Scotsman

by Rona Munro 23 – 29 Aug Director Dominic Hill Designer Naomi Wilkinson Lighting designer Chris Davey Composer John Harris Video Artist Andrzej Goulding Choreographer Kally Lloyd Jones

Dornoch, northern Scotland, 1727. In the claustrophobic heat of summer, a woman’s apparent ability to manipulate the power of land and sea stirs suspicion. Janet Horne can cure beasts, call the wind and charm fish out of the sea. Or can she? As her refusal to refute their claims of sorcery incenses the local community, her magnetic allure continues to captivate and destroy. The Last Witch is based on the historical account of Janet Horne, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in Scotland. She was sentenced to death by burning in her home town, accused by friends and neighbours who believed she had made a pact with the devil. Rona Munro is one of Scotland’s leading playwrights and The Last Witch has been specially commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival. Munro explores the psychological rifts that can divide close communities and drive families apart, and vividly illustrates the destructive potential of fear in a small village. Tickets only available from The Edinburgh International Festival online www.eif.co.uk or telephone 0131 473 2000. Dates & Times: Sunday 23 – Saturday 29 August.

Photo credit: Linda Plaisted

Sunday 23 Aug (7.30pm). Monday 24 Aug (7.30pm), Wednesday 26 to Saturday 29 Aug (7.30pm), Thursday 27 & Saturday 29 Aug (2.30pm) Tickets: £25, £21, £18, £15, £10

Supported by Edinburgh International Festival Science Consortium.

Mercure Point Hotel UK Premiere. Belgium. 25 mins Ontroerend Goed & Richard Jordan Productions Ltd

Internal

7 – 30 Aug Previews 5 & 6 Aug

“Ontroerend Goed again succeeds in exploring the limits of intimacy through a clever game of give and take.” De Morgen (Belgium)

“This Belgium-based theatrical powerhouse is exploring new and considerably inventive ways of engaging with audiences” the guardian

Dear spectator, We are five performers in search for a partner. We’d like to invite you to Internal, our individual playground, where you can get to know us in a cosy and spontaneous atmosphere. We guarantee you an intimate and highly personal treatment. Please, inform us in time if you are unable to control your feelings. We will provide an elegant and discrete solution. Yours sincerely, the actors Internal is Ontroerend Goed’s sequel to the multi-award winning Smile Off Your Face. Awards include a Scotsman Fringe First in 2007. The performance invites you to leave the beaten tracks of traditional theatre and surrender to an intimate, individual experience. Drinks are offered, mandolins are playing and eyes meet as the conversation deepens. The question is: can you build up a meaningful relationship with a stranger in 25 minutes? Equally challenging and treacherously profound, Internal explores the formats of speed-dating and group therapy in a clever game of give and take. Ontroerend Goed returns to the Traverse following their 2008 sell-out production Once And For All We’re Going To Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up And Listen which was the recipient of a Scotsman Fringe First, a Herald Angel and a Total Theatre Award.

Photo credit: Wim Vandewalle

PREVIEWs: Wednesday 5 August (7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm), Thursday 6 August (2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm), Friday 7 August (2pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Friday 7 Aug (2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm), Saturday 8

– Sunday 9 Aug (2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 – Sunday 16 Aug (2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 Aug (2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 – Sunday 30 Aug (2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Fri 7 August if bought before Friday 24 July (subject to availability

TRAVERSE ONE Scottish Premiere. England. 1hr, 45 mins

Royal Exchange theatre, Manchester

Palace of the End

by Judith Thompson 9 – 30 Aug

*****“Thompson’s triptych combines the most penetrating images of the Iraq war… close to perfection.”

Previews 5 & 8 Aug

The Guardian

Director Greg Hersov Designer Miriam Nabarro Lighting Richard Owen Sound Claire Windsor Cast Kellie Bright, Robert Demeger & Eve Polycarpou A female American soldier facing a court-martial for torture and prisoner abuse, a British former UN Weapons Inspector exposed as a source for a BBC journalist, and an Iraqi woman pursued by Saddam Hussein’s secret police, each wrestle with the truth in Judith Thompson’s urgent, hard-hitting and devastating new play. Canadian Judith Thompson has a long association with the Traverse. A version of the first of these three monologues, presented as My Pyramids, premiered there in 2005. The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, brings you the finished play, which first played in their Studio space in February 2009 to great critical acclaim. **** The Times **** The Independent

Photo credit: Jonathan Keenan

PREVIEWs: Wednesday 5 August (7pm), Saturday 8 August (5.45pm). Preview ticket price £11 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Sunday 9 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Sunday 9 Aug (1.15pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (1.45pm), Wednesday 12 Aug (5pm), Thursday 13 Aug (7.30pm), Friday 14 Aug (10.15pm), Saturday 15 Aug (1.45pm), Sunday 16 Aug (5pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug (7.30pm), Wednesday 19 Aug (10am), Thursday

20 Aug (1.30pm), Friday 21 Aug (4.45pm), Saturday 22 Aug (7.30pm), Sunday 23 Aug (10am). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (1.30pm), Wednesday 26 Aug (4.45pm), Thursday 27 Aug (7.30pm), Friday 28 Aug (10am), Saturday 29 Aug (1.30pm), Sunday 30 Aug (4.45pm)

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £18 (£12 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Sunday 9 August if bought before Sunday 26 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE two UK Premiere. USA. 1 hr Brian Barnhart, Axis Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Ltd in association with David Elliott

East 10th Street: Self Portrait With

Empty House Written and Performed by Edgar Oliver 7 – 16 Aug Preview 6 Aug Director Randall Sharp Lighting Designer David Zeffren Sound Designer Steve Fontaine As I was walking in front of an old, decayed townhouse, I happened to look up just in time to see a gnarled hand reach through the Venetian blinds and tape this beat-up old paper bag to the inside of the parlor floor window. On the paper bag was scrawled in pencil, in this kind of horror handwriting – Room For Rent. So I ran up the front steps, and I rang the doorbell. The room was very small. But it had a big, beautiful window looking out onto the trees of Tenth Street. Direct from its sell-out Off-Broadway season, legendary New York theater-icon Edgar Oliver weaves a fantastical and hilarious voyage through the dark and strange rooms of his East Village tenement building; in-habited by a dwarf cabalist, possible Nazi, the landlord’s former wet nurse. And wherein lie the secrets of his family and the unbelievable odyssey that brought him there. “It’s hard to imagine anyone like him, with a similar set of stories… a living work of theatre.” New York Times “Nowhere do the lines between legend and history, living and haunting, so noticeably blur… a bewitching presence.” Back Stage “An outlandish cast, worthy of Dostoyevsky… creepy and droll beyond words… a pitch-perfect delivery… profoundly affecting. New York Press

Photo credit: Alice O’Malley

PREVIEW: Thursday 6 August (11.15am). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 16 August. Week 0. Friday 7 Aug (12.45pm), Saturday 8 Aug (3.00pm), Sunday 9 August (5.45pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (8.15pm), Wednesday 12 Aug (11.15am), Thursday 13 Aug (12.30pm), Friday 14 Aug (3.00pm), Saturday 15 Aug (5.45pm), Sunday 16 Aug (8.15pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Friday 7 August if bought before Friday 24 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE TWO Scottish Premiere. Ireland. 1 hr, 30 mins

Gúna Nua Theatre & Civic Theatre

Little Gem

by Elaine Murphy 7 – 30 Aug Preview 6 Aug

“An impressive debut, quite wonderfully acted by a perfectly-cast trio.” SUNDAY Independent

Director Paul Meade Designer Alice Butler Lighting Mark Galione Sound Designer Carl Kennedy Cast Sarah Greene, Hilda Fay & Anita Reeves Three generations of women. One extraordinary year. Sex, birth, death, dildos and salsa classes. A year of courage, comedy and romance in the award-winning hit of the 2008 Dublin Fringe Festival. Amber has fierce bad indigestion and the Sambucas aren’t getting rid of it. Lorraine attacks a customer at work and her boss wants her to see a psychiatrist. Kay’s got an itch that Gem can’t scratch (but maybe Kermit can). Paul is just using Amber until he can get to Australia. The Hairy man fancies Lorraine but fails to rise to the occasion. And Gem doesn’t like the neighbours coming in to ‘mind’ him. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, Little Gem makes his presence felt and… well… life is never the same again. Winner: BBC/Stewart Parker Award, Fishamble Best New Play Award, Dublin Fringe Best Actress Award. Nominated: two Irish Times Theatre Awards. “Hilarious… all three actors are superb.” Sunday Times

Photo credit: Peter Houlihan

PREVIEW: Thursday 6 August (1.15pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Friday 7 Aug (2.45pm), Saturday 8 Aug (5.00pm), Sunday 9 Aug (7.45pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (11.00am),

Wednesday 12 Aug (1.15pm), Thursday 13 Aug (2.45pm), Friday 14 Aug (5.00pm), Saturday 15 Aug (7.45pm), Sunday 16 Aug (11.15am). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug (12.30pm),

Wednesday 19 Aug (2.45pm), Thursday 20 Aug (5.00pm), Friday 21 Aug (7.30pm), Saturday 22 Aug (10.30am), Sunday 23 Aug (12.30pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (2.45pm), Wednesday 26 Aug (5.00pm), Thursday 27 Aug (7.45pm), Friday 28 Aug (10.15am), Saturday 29 Aug (12.30pm), Sunday 30 Aug (2.45pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Friday 7 August if bought before Friday 24 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE TWO World Premiere. England. 1 hr Richard Jordan Productions Ltd in association with CKP and United Agents

Stefan Golaszewski Is A Widower 7 – 30 Aug Preview 6 Aug

***** “A beautifully modulated performance... by turns frantic and tranquil... one of the most assured and exciting Edinburgh debuts of 2008.” THE LIST on Stefan Golaszewski speaks

about a girl he once loved

Written & performed by Stefan Golaszewski Director & Designer Phillip Breen In 2054, Stefan Golaszewski’s wife died. Now, in 2056, he performs a one-man play dedicated to her memory. Crushed, alone and 76 years old, he revisits their life together, from the moment they met to the moment she died, and the love still decomposing in his heart. Writer and performer Stefan Golaszewski was the recipient of the 2008 Fringe First Award and nominated as Best Actor in the Stage Newspaper Acting Awards for the critically acclaimed Stefan Golaszewski Speaks About A Girl He Once Loved. His first play, it enjoyed a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and an Off-Broadway season. It is now in development with the UK Film Council. As a part of comedy troupe Cowards, he has had a series on BBC4 and two on Radio 4. For Stefan Golaszewski Speaks About a Girl He Once Loved: **** “A captivating performer… the wealth of detail that Golaszewski has put into this show makes it all the more universal.” The Scotsman **** “He describes feelings, images and epiphanies precisely as they have struck us all at one time or another.” Financial Times

Photo credit: Lissa Wallington

PREVIEW: Thursday 6 August (6.30pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Friday 7 Aug (8.00pm), Saturday 8 Aug (11.15am), Sunday 9 Aug (2.00pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (4.30pm), Wednesday 12 Aug (6.30pm), Thursday 13 Aug (8.00pm), Friday 14 Aug (11.15am), Saturday 15 Aug (2.00pm), Sunday 16 Aug (4.30pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug (5.45pm),

Wednesday 19 Aug (8.00pm), Thursday 20 Aug (10.30am), Friday 21 Aug (1.00pm), Saturday 22 Aug (3.45pm), Sunday 23 Aug (5.45pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (8.00pm), Wednesday 26 Aug (10.30am), Thursday 27 Aug (1.15pm), Friday 28 Aug (3.30pm), Saturday 29 Aug (5.45pm), Sunday 30 Aug (8.00pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Friday 7 August if bought before Friday 24 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE TWO Scottish Premiere. England. 30 mins Bush Theatre

Sea Wall

by Simon Stephens 7 – 16 Aug Preview 6 Aug

‘If this can happen anything can happen.’

“Gripping...Andrew Scott is extraordinary.” THE GUARDIAN

Director George Perrin Lighting Designer Natasha Chivers Cast Andrew Scott Things for Alex are good. He loves his wife, his daughter, his city, his job. But sometimes the force of life can crash against you. Sometimes everything you thought you could always depend on can be taken away. Sea Wall is a story about family, fear and the things that can’t be undone. It is award-winning playwright Simon Stephens’ new play. His previous plays include Pornography (Traverse Theatre, 2008), Port (Pearson Award for Best Play), Christmas, On the Shore of the Wide World (Olivier Award for Best New Play), Motortown, and Harper Regan. Olivier Award Winner Andrew Scott’s recent theatre credits include Roaring Trade at the Soho Theatre and The Vertical Hour on Broadway. “A spine tingling performance from Andrew Scott.” The Guardian

Design: aka

PREVIEW: Thursday 6 August (8.45pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concessions)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 16 August, Week 0. Friday 7 Aug (11.15am), Saturday 8 Aug (9.45am), Saturday 8 Aug (9.45am & 1.30pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11

Aug (6.45pm), Wednesday 12 Aug (8.45pm), Thursday 13 Aug (11.00am), Friday 14 Aug (1.30pm), Saturday 15 Aug (4.15pm), Sunday 16 Aug (6.45pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £10 (£5 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £11 (£7 concessions)

TRAVERSE TWO World Premiere. England. 1 hr, 30 mins Daniel Kitson

The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church by Daniel Kitson 7 – 30 Aug Preview 6 Aug Gregory had fifty seven letters to write. He’d never written that many letters, not in one go. In fact, he’d never written a single letter and it was taking significantly longer than he’d anticipated. He’d started, full of optimism, curiously enough, at 9am and now here he was 8 hours later half way through letter twenty four. He glanced at his watch and then at the noose hanging over his head. Gregory sighed. Had he known how long suicide letters take, he thought, he wouldn’t have cancelled the milk for the morning. A story about a death postponed by life. **** “Kitson has matured into a writer of superb dramatic monologues about the state of our nation and our hearts in the early 21st century; and a quite brilliant and commanding performer of them, too.” The Scotsman “A gorgeously written and consummately performed piece of storytelling… Kitson captivates…his sentences sing.” Scotland on Sunday on 66a Church Road

PREVIEW: Thursday 6 August (10.15pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Friday 7 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Friday 7 Aug - Sunday 9 Aug (10.15pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug - Sunday 16 Aug (10.15pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug - Sunday 23 August (10.15pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug - Friday 28 Aug (10.15pm), Sunday 30 Aug (10.15pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Friday 7 August if bought before Friday 24 July (subject to availability)

THE BARONY BAR World Premiere. Scotland. 1 hr, 15 mins Grid Iron

Barflies

‘I pour my liver into my fuckin’ work. Liquefy it and pour it in. Jam it down into the blender. You wanna see my liver? ’

Adapted from stories by Charles Bukowski 8 – 31 Aug Preview 7 Aug Adapted and directed by Ben Harrison Music David Paul Jones Designer Becky Minto Lighting Design Paul Claydon Cast Keith Fleming, Gail Watson & David Paul Jones Some people never get crazy. What truly awful lives they must lead. Bukowski Multi award-winning Grid Iron invite you to their local, The Barony Bar, to delve deeply into the alcoholic world of Bukowski’s alter ego Henry Chinaski. A search for meaning and pleasure in the arms and in the bodies of a series of women drives Henry to confront the darkest corners of himself and to challenge the whole ethic of the working life. Maybe more humanity, more analysis of the human psyche could be found from the edge of a barstool than from the most wideranging travels or the deepest research in a library. Barflies looks at the profound liberation of alcohol, its opening up of corners of sexuality and mental activity, as well as its more undesirable effects. Without alcohol, no great art. Without alcohol, no great life? “(Grid Iron) one of the best exponents of the site-specific genre in the world.” The Scotsman Enjoy Grid Iron responsibly.

Photo credit: Douglas Jones

PREVIEW: Friday 7 August (3pm). Preview Ticket Price £11 (£5 concessions)

Dates & Times: Saturday 8 – Monday 31 August. Week 0. Saturday 8 Aug - Sunday 9 Aug (3pm). Week 1. Monday 10 Aug - Thursday 13 Aug (3pm), Sunday

16 Aug (3pm). Week 2. Monday 17 Aug - Thursday 20 Aug (3pm), Sunday 23 Aug (3pm). Week 3. Monday 24 Aug (12pm, 3pm), Tuesday 25 Aug (12pm, 3pm), Wednesday 26 Aug - Thursday 27 Aug (3pm), Sunday 30 Aug (3pm). Week 4. Monday 31 Aug (3pm) Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Saturday 8 August if bought before Saturday 25 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE ONE Scottish Premiere. England. 2 hRS English Touring Theatre (ETT) & the Young Vic

Been So Long

“Che Walker’s snapshot of inner-city life fizzes with life and has a heart so big and soppy you want to hug it” the guardian on frontline

Book & lyrics Che Walker Music & lyrics Arthur Darvill 9 – 30 Aug Preview 7 & 8 Aug Writer & Director Che Walker Music Arthur Darvill Designer Dick Bird Sound Paul Arditti Lighting Jon Clark Choreographer Bonnie Oddie Romance, revenge and rare groove rock in this neon-soaked new musical comedy. Yvonne and Simone are cruising for action. Raymond stole Gil’s girl and now Gil wants to slice him up. Barney just wants a quiet life. When all five collide, in a seedy London bar, desires ignite in a guttural blast of cusses, laughs and unexpected romance. Love looks set to finally conquer the two people who swore they could live without it. But how will they know it’s for real…? A stellar cast and live band include the singing sensation, Omar. Smarten yourself up, brush yourself down and experience the soul/funk powerhouse of Been So Long. ETT tours vital and vivid productions of new and classic plays. Recent hits include Entertaining Mr Sloane with Imelda Staunton and Mat Horne in London’s West End, and Where There’s A Will directed by Peter Hall on tour. London’s Young Vic stages the widest variety of plays, bringing the world’s greatest theatre people alongside adventurers of the younger generation. This play contains strong sexual language.

Photo credit: Amy Ashton

PREVIEWs: Friday 7 August (7pm), Saturday 8 August (10.30am). Preview ticket price £11 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Sunday 9 – Sunday 30 August. Week 0. Sunday 9 August (4.30pm). Week 1. Tuesday 11 August (7.15pm), Wednesday 12 August (10.15am), Thursday 13 August (12.45pm), Friday 14 August (3.45pm), Saturday 15 August (7.15pm), Sunday 16 August (10.15am). Week 2. Tuesday 18 August (12.45pm), Wednesday 19 August (3.45pm), Thursday 20 August (7.15pm), Friday 21 August (10.00am), Saturday 22 August (12.45pm), Sunday 23 August (3.45pm). Week 3.

Tuesday 25 August (7.15pm), Wednesday 26 August (10.00am), Thursday 27 August (12.45pm), Friday 28 August (3.45pm), Saturday 29 August (7.15pm), Sunday 30 August (10.00am)

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £18 (£12 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Sunday 9 August if bought before Sunday 26 July (subject to availability)

All play and no work

Festival 09 Diary

www.traverse.co.uk 0131 228 1404 (no booking fee)

TRAVERSE BAR CAFĂ&#x2030;

TUES 4TH

TRAVERSE 1

TRAVERSE 2

MERCURE POINT HOTEL

THE BARONY BAR

TRAVERSE 1

TRAVERSE 2

Barflies (3pm)

Encounters (2pm)

MON 10TH

MERCURE POINT HOTEL

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then half hourly till 9.30pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

Barflies (3pm)

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Sea Wall (8.45pm)

E10th Street (8.15pm)

Internal (2pm then half

Stefan Golaszewski (6.30pm)

E10th Street (11.15am)

Little Gem (11am)

Sea Wall (6.45pm)

The World is...(9.30am)

Midsummer (3.45pm)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Cynthia Hopkins (P) (10.30pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (4.30pm)

Red Room (8pm)

Been So Long (7.15pm)

Little Gem (1.15pm)

Palace of the End (5pm)

Red Room (4.45pm)

Midsummer (1.30pm)

Orphans (1.30pm)

Palace of the End (1.45pm)

WED 12TH

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (8pm)

Midsummer (5.15pm)

Little Gem (2.45pm)

E10th Street (12.30pm)

Sea Wall (11am)

The World is...(9.30am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Palace of the End (7.30pm)

Orphans (4pm)

Been So Long (12.45pm)

Red Room (10.15am)

THURS 13TH

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Midsummer (7.30pm)

Little Gem (5pm)

E10th Street (3pm)

Sea Wall (1.30pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (11.15am)

The World is... (9.30am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Orphans (7pm)

Been So Long (3.45pm)

Red Room (1.15pm)

Palace of the End (10.15am)

FRI 14TH

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Little Gem (7.45pm)

E10th Street (5.45pm)

Sea Wall (4.15pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (2pm)

Midsummer (11.15am)

The World is...(9.30am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Been So Long (7.15pm)

Red Room (4.45pm)

Palace of the End (1.45pm)

Orphans (10.15am)

SAT 15TH

Barflies (3pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Barflies (P) (3pm)

Internal (2pm then half

Internal (2pm (P) then half

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm) Internal (P) (2pm then half

Midsummer (7.30pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (8pm)

Sea Wall (P) (8.45pm)

Little Gem (5pm)

E10th Street (3pm)

Little Gem (2.45pm)

Midsummer (P) (3.45pm) Stefan Golaszewski (P) (6.30pm) Midsummer (5.15pm)

Sea Wall (1.30pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (11.15am)

E10th Street (12.45pm)

Little Gem (P) (1.15pm)

Sea Wall (9.45am)

half hour till 9.30pm)

Been So Long (10.15am)

Barflies (3pm)

Been So Long (4.30pm)

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

E10th Street (8.15pm)

Sea Wall (6.45pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (4.30pm)

Midsummer (1.45pm)

Little Gem (11.15am)

The World is...(9.30am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Red Room (8pm)

Palace of the End (5pm)

Orphans (1.30pm)

Been So Long (10.15am)

SUN 16TH

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Little Gem (7.45pm)

E10th Street (5.45pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (2pm)

Midsummer (11.15am)

Orphans (8pm)

Palace of the End (1.15pm)

Palace of the End (P) (5.45pm) Red Room (P) (9pm)

Red Room (10.30am)

(P) PREVIEW

Orphans (P) (2pm)

SUN 9TH

Orphans (P) (7pm)

SAT 1 AUG

Been So Long (P) (10.30am)

SAT 8TH

Sea Wall (11.15am)

Been So Long (P) (7pm)

FRI 7TH

Orphans (P) (7pm)

FRI 31 JULY

E10th Street (P) (11.15am)

THURS 6TH

Vladimir Mctavish (9.30pm)

Elaine M & Niall B (8.30pm)

THUR 30 JULY

Internal (P) (7pm then every

Palace of the End (P) (7pm)

WED 5TH

Orphans (10.15am)

TUES 11TH

WEEK 1 Monday 10 to Sunday 16 Aug

MON 3RD

WEEK 0 Monday 2 to Sunday 9 Aug

Jo Jo Sutherland (9.30pm)

Gary Little (8.30pm)

Wild Colonial Boys (8.30pm)

The Silence of the Trams

(8.30pm)

WED 29 JULY

TUE 28 JULY

MON 27 JULY TRAVERSE 1

THE BARONY BAR

TRAVERSE 1

TRAVERSE 2

MERCURE POINT HOTEL

THE BARONY BAR

TRAVERSE 1

TRAVERSE 2

MERCURE POINT HOTEL

THE BARONY BAR

If That’s All (10.30am) A Life in 3 Acts (12.45pm) Little Gem (2.45pm) Midsummer (5.15pm) Stefan Golaszewski (8pm) Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (P) (10.30am)

Little Gem (12.30pm)

Midsummer (3pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (5.45pm)

If That’s All There Is (P) (8pm)

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Barflies (3pm)

Doubtful Guest (7.45pm) Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm) The World is Too Much (9am) Stefan Golaszewski (10.30am) If That’s All (12.45pm) A Life in 3 Acts (3pm) Little Gem (5pm) Midsummer (7.30pm) Interminable Suicide (10.15pm) Internal (2pm then half hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then half hourly till 9.30pm)

Doubtful Guest (4.30pm)

Been So Long (7.15pm)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

The World is Too Much (9am)

If That’s All (10.30am)

A Life in 3 Acts (12.45pm)

Little Gem (2.45pm)

Midsummer (5.15pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (8pm)

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Internal (2pm then half

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

half hourly till 9.30pm)

THE BARONY BAR

Bar Flies (3pm)

MON 31ST

TUES 1ST

WEEK 4 Monday 31 Aug to Sunday 6 Sept

Barflies (12pm & 3pm)

Palace of the End (4.45pm)

Palace of the End (1.30pm)

Encounter (2.30pm)

Barflies (12pm & 3pm)

Orphans (1.15pm)

Orphans (10am)

Write to Play...(10.30am)

TRAVERSE 1

Experimentum Mundi (8pm)

WED 2ND

Barflies (3pm)

Been So Long (10am)

TUES 25TH

MON 24TH

WED 26TH

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

The World is Too Much (9am)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Orphans (7pm) (AD) (SLI)

Palace of the End (7.30pm)

Internal (2pm then half

Been So Long (3.45pm)

Orphans (4pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Doubtful Guest (1pm)

Been So Long (12.45pm)

Internal (2pm then half

Palace of the End (10am)

WED 19TH

Doubtful Guest (P) (10am)

TUES 18TH

WEEK 3 Monday 24 to Sunday 30 Aug

Barflies (3pm)

MON 17TH

WEEK 2 Monday 17 to Sunday 23 Aug

TRAVERSE 1

Experimentum Mundi (8pm)

THURS 3RD

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Little Gem (7.45pm)

A Life in 3 Acts 5.45pm

If That’s All (3.30pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (1.15pm)

Midsummer (10.30am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Palace of the End (7.30pm)

Orphans (4pm)

Been So Long (12.45pm)

Doubtful Guest (10am)

THURS 27TH

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Midsummer (7.30pm) (AD) (SLI)

Little Gem (5pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (3pm)

If That’s All (12.45pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (10.30am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Been So Long (7.15pm)

Doubtful Guest (4.30pm)

Palace of the End (1.30pm)

Orphans (10am)

THURS 20TH

TRAVERSE 1

Experimentum Mundi (8pm)

FRI 4TH

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (8pm)

If That’s All 5.45pm

Stefan Golaszewski (3.30pm)

Midsummer (12.45pm)

Little Gem (10.15am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Orphans (7pm)

Been So Long (3.45pm)

Doubtful Guest (1pm)

Palace of the End (10am)

FRI 28TH

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Little Gem (7.30pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (5.30pm)

If That’s All (3.15pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (1pm)

Midsummer (10.15am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Doubtful Guest (7.45pm)

Palace of the End (4.45pm)

Orphans (1.15pm)

Been So Long (10am)

FRI 21ST

TRAVERSE 1

Experimentum Mundi (8pm)

SAT 5TH

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Lucky Dip! (10.15pm)

If That’s All (8pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (5.45pm)

Midsummer (3pm)

Little Gem (12.30pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (10.30am)

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

If That’s All (8pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (5.45pm)

Midsummer (3pm)

Little Gem (12.30pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (10.30am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Orphans (7pm)

Been So Long (3.45pm)

Doubtful Guest (1pm)

Palace of the End (10am)

SUN 23RD

SUN 6TH

Barflies (3pm)

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (8pm)

Midsummer (5.15pm)

Little Gem (2.45pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (12.45pm)

If That’s All (10.30am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Doubtful Guest (7.45pm)

Palace of the End (4.45pm)

Orphans (1.15pm)

Been So Long (10am)

SUN 30TH

(SLI) SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETED

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Been So Long (7.15pm)

Doubtful Guest (4.30pm)

Palace of the End (1.30pm)

Orphans (10am)

SAT 29TH

(AD) AUDIO DESCRIBED

half hourly till 9.30pm)

hourly till 4.30pm; 7pm then

Internal (2pm then half

Interminable Suicide (10.15pm)

A Life in 3 Acts (8.15pm)

If That’s All (6pm)

Stefan Golaszewski (3.45pm)

Midsummer (1pm)

Little Gem (10.30am)

The World is Too Much (9am)

Cynthia Hopkins (10.30pm)

Palace of the End (7.30pm)

Orphans (4pm)

Been So Long (12.45pm)

Doubtful Guest (10am)

SAT 22ND

TRAVERSE THEATRE FESTIVAL 2009 The Traverse Theatre Festival 2009 takes place in Fringe venues 15 (Traverse Theatre), 109 (Mercure Point Hotel) and 311 (Barony Bar) The Last Witch is part of the Edinburgh International Festival and takes place a the Royal Lyceum Theatre.

TRAVERSE FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE OPENING TIMES Monday 27 - Thursday 30 July 10am-6pm Friday 31 July - Saturday 1 August 10am-8pm Sunday 2 August Closed Monday 3 August 10am - 6pm Tuesday 4 - Wednesday 5 August 10am - 8pm Thursday 6 - Friday 7 August 10am - 10.30pm Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 August 9am - 10.30pm Monday 10 August 10am - 6pm Tuesday 11 - Sunday 16 August 9am - 10.30pm Monday 17 August 10am-6pm Tuesday 18 - Sunday 23 August 8.30am - 10.30pm Monday 24 August 10am - 6pm Tuesday 25 - Sunday 31 August 8.30am - 10.30pm Monday 1 - Tuesday 2 September 10am - 6pm Wednesday 3 - Saturday 5 September 8pm

HOW TO BOOK

ONLINE: www.traverse.co.uk TELEPHONE: 0131 228 1404 FACE TO FACE: Traverse Box Office, Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2ED PAYMENT: We accept cash, cheques, Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Delta, Solo and Visa Electron cards. WAYS TO SAVE: Group Bookings – one free ticket for every 10 tickets purchased for the same performance, regardless of concession (ie the 11th ticket is free). EARLY BIRD TICKET OFFERS: tickets are available on selected performances and are subject to availability (see individual show pages for full information). Concessions are available for students, under 18s, over 60s, members of entertainment unions, StagePass and Young Scot card holders. The Registered Unemployed concession is available for anyone in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Disability Living Allowance. Remember to bring proof of your concession status when you pick up your tickets.

RESERVATIONS: Unpaid reservations can be held for five days or until 1 hour prior to performance (which ever is the shorter period). LATECOMERS: Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your journey to the Traverse as latecomers will not be admitted. SOLD OUT PERFORMANCES: For performances that sell out in advance, a waiting list will be started one hour prior to the start time. This service is only available to personal callers at the Traverse and limited to two tickets per person. ACCESS AT THE TRAVERSE: Level access, automatic doors at Cambridge Street entrance, lift with Braille signage and audible announcer, adapted toilets at ground and Traverse Bar Café levels, wheelchair spaces, assistance dogs welcome, infra red (headsets available from the Box Office) and induction loop systems. To book a wheelchair space or for any further access queries/requirements contact: Martin Duffield, Box Office Manager on 0131 228 1404 or email boxoffice@traverse.co.uk. Artlink offers an escort service to help people with disability to enjoy the arts - contact them directly at www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk/0131 229 3555.

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES: Orphans Wednesday 19 Aug (7pm) Midsummer (a play with songs) Thursday 20 Aug (7.30pm)

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES: Orphans Wednesday 19 Aug (7pm) Midsummer (a play with songs) Thursday 20 Aug (7.30pm)

Copies of this brochure are available in Braille, large print and audio formats from the Traverse Box Office. Please contact us if you would like to join our mailing list to receive any of these formats in the future.

TRAVERSE ONE World Premiere. Scotland. 55 mins David Hughes Dance PRODUCTIONS

The Red Room 9 – 16 Aug Preview 8 Aug

“Fast-moving, dramatic, performed with demonic energy and sly polish - this is a triumph for all concerned.” The Herald

“A national treasure… how differently he performs from any other male of his generation.” The Guardian on David Hughes

“One of Scotland’s most respected physical theatre exponents.” The Scotsman on Al Seed

Director Al Seed Choreographer David Hughes Lighting Designer Alberto Santos Bellido Sound Designer Guy Veale Costume Designer Eve Lambert Pestilence, decadence, grotesquery. David Hughes and Al Seed reunite to present a radically reworked version of their contemporary and visually shocking interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale The Masque of the Red Death. Barricaded in his opulent abbey-mansion a prince entertains a party of revellers whilst the world outside teeters on the brink of apocalypse. Weaving a multitude of dance traditions with extreme physical theatre this collaboration is a true horror show for the stage. David Hughes is one of the UK’s most acclaimed dancers, having worked with DV8 Physical Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Company, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Siobhan Davies Dance Company. Al Seed is Artistic Director of the ‘Conflux’ project, Creative Associate of The Arches and was the winner of a Fringe First 2004 for Raw Beef, and a Herald Angel 2008 for The Fooligan. Contains scenes of mild sex and violence. David Hughes Dance is supported by the Scottish Arts Council & the Traverse Theatre

Photo credit: Guy Veale

PREVIEW: Saturday 8 August (9.00pm). Preview ticket price £11 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Sunday 9 – Sunday 16 August. Week 0. Sunday 9 Aug (10.30am). Week 1. Tuesday 11 Aug (4.45pm), Wednesday 12 Aug (8.00pm), Thursday 13 Aug (10.15am), Friday 14 Aug (1.15pm), Saturday 15 Aug (4.45pm), Sunday 16 Aug (8.00pm)

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £18 (£12 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Sunday 9 August if bought before Sunday 26 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE ONE UK Premiere. USA. 1 hr 30 mins

Accidental Nostalgia Cynthia Hopkins 12 – 30 Aug Preview 11 Aug

“Hopkins’ ethereal, demanding, exuberant rock, well, rocks. Backed by her genre-spanning, elastic band Gloria Deluxe, Hopkins pulls off the impossible: She makes postmodernism danceable once again.”

An Operetta about the Pros and Cons of Amnesia

Time Out New York

With Jim Findlay, Jeff Sugg & D.J.Mendel Directed by D.J. Mendel Featuring Gloria Deluxe “This perverse delight of incongruities will haunt the audience long after the lights have faded to black.” Village Voice Cynthia Hopkins - writer, composer, singer, and performer - takes us on a serpentine and transcendent journey in her Bessie Awardwinning autobiographical performance. Her philosophical musings on the potential for self-transformation are interwoven with artfully wrought alt-country songs, and she belts out the tunes like a young Patsy Cline, backed by her band Gloria Deluxe. Also lending a hand are Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg – key figures in New York’s experimental theater community – who move seamlessly between singing, dancing, and the live manipulation of their signature immersive, handcrafted videoscapes. This is one investigation of amnesia you won’t forget. This production is made possible through the support of the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation as well as donations from individuals such as Kate Engelbrecht, Anatoly Lezhen and Jed Walentas. Produced in association with Double M Arts and Events, LLC.

Photo credit: Paula Court

PREVIEW: Tuesday 11 August (10.30pm). Preview ticket price £11 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Wednesday 12 – Sunday 30 August. Week 1. Wednesday 12 Aug - Sunday 16 Aug (10.30pm). Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug - Sunday 23 Aug (10.30pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug - Sunday 30 Aug (10.30pm)

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £18 (£12 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Wednesday 12 August if bought before Wednesday 29 July (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE ONE Scottish Premiere. England. 1 hr 30 mins

“The wonderful Hoipolloi is our leading purveyor of theatrical whimsy… enormous fun.”

Hoipolloi and the Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with English Touring Theatre

The Doubtful Guest

THE GUARDIAN

inspired by the book by Edward Gorey written by Shôn Dale-Jones

19 – 30 Aug Preview 18 Aug

Director Shôn Dale-Jones Designer Stefanie Müller Composer Alexander Rudd Lighting Designer Peter Harrison Cast Cassie Friend, Ben Frimston, Stefanie Müller, Andrew Pembrooke & Trond-Erik Vassdal When a curious creature scuttles into the Bishop family’s house, they have no idea how to get rid of it. Eating plates, trapping them in their drawing room for weeks and throwing their favourite possessions into a pond, it holds them prisoner in their own home. Vividly theatrical and uniquely fantastical, this creepily comic tale of mischief and disruption will delight children and adults alike. For fifteen years, Hoipolloi have been probing the darkest, funniest corners of their gloriously surreal imagination. Now the awardwinning Edinburgh Fringe favourites return with an invitation to the deliciously dark world of cult author and illustrator Edward Gorey. Fusing the spectral sounds of a haunting original score with unforgettably energetic performances, this is a show to make you laugh, shudder and lock your door extra tight on a wild, wintry night! Produced by arrangement with The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust. Supported by Escalator East to Edinburgh. Originally produced in association with Watford Palace Theatre.

Production photography by Geraint Lewis

PREVIEW: Tuesday 18 August (10.00am). Preview ticket price £11 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Wednesday 19 – Sunday 30 August. Week 2. Wednesday 19 Aug (1.00pm), Thursday 20 Aug (4.30pm), Friday 21 Aug (7.45pm), Saturday 22 Aug (10.00am), Sunday 23 Aug (1.00pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (4.30pm), Wednesday 26 Aug (7.45pm), Thursday 27 Aug (10.00am), Friday 28 Aug (1.00pm), Saturday 29 Aug (4.30pm), Sunday 30 Aug (7.45pm)

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £16 (£11 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £18 (£12 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £12 (£8 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Wednesday 19 August if bought before Wednesday 5 August (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE TWO World Premiere. England. 1 hr 15 mins

**** “A rib and mind-tickling delight.”

Inspector Sands

If That’s All There Is 19 – 30 Aug

The TIMES on Hysteria

**** “Beautifully observed… I laughed until I cried.” The GUARDIAN on Hysteria

***** “The perils, complexities and absurdities of modern life faultlessly performed and painfully real. Hilarious.”

Preview 18 Aug

The Metro on Hysteria

Director Inspector Sands in association with John Nicholson Designer Naomi Dawson Lighting Designer Ben Pacey Sound Designer Carolyn Downing Dramaturg Lu Kemp Cast Lucinka Eisler, Giulia Innocenti & Ben Lewis A mini-epic of yearning, envy, disappointment and psychobabble, starring a couple teetering on the brink of marriage, a moody teenager and therapist vigilante. As the wedding looms and the summer threatens to overheat, all four become embroiled in an everyday thriller in search of an explosive climax. Will it be a masked gunman on the rampage? A shocking knife-crime? Or a heat wave to end them all? Inspired by Peggy Lee’s hit song Is That All There Is? this latest show from the team behind the multi-award winning Hysteria takes a funny and unflinching look at our obsession with finding fulfilmant. For anyone who’s ever longed to stand on a windswept plain howling for lost love. Commissioned by the Lyric Hammersmith, co-developed with South Street Reading and the Nightingale Theatre Brighton. Photo credit: Joseph Alford and Elena Pena, design by Paddy Molloy.

PREVIEW: Tuesday 18 August (8.00pm). Preview ticket price £10 (£5 concession)

Dates & Times: Wednesday 19 – Sunday 30 August. Week 2. Wednesday 19 Aug (10.30am), Thursday 20 Aug (12.45pm), Friday 21 Aug (3.15pm), Saturday 22 Aug (6.00pm), Sunday 23 Aug (8.00pm). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (10.30am), Wednesday 26 Aug (12.45pm), Thursday 27 Aug (3.30pm), Friday 28 Aug (5.45pm), Saturday 29 Aug (8.00pm), Sunday 30 Aug (10.30am)

Tickets: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed), Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions)

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Wednesday 19 August if bought before Wednesday 5 August (subject to availability)

TRAVERSE TWO WORLD PREMIERE. England. 1 hr

LONDON ARTISTS PROJECTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH KONINKLIJKE SCHOUWBURG/HET PARADIJS, THE HAGUE (NL)

A Life in Three Acts

Bette Bourne & Mark Ravenhill 18 – 30 Aug

“Bourne is superb, funny, touching, even profound.” THE Times

With honesty, humour and occasional anger, performer Bette Bourne tells the playwright Mark Ravenhill about his life. The story moves from a post-war childhood, to the Gay Liberation Front, life in a drag commune and on to the creation of the ground-breaking Bloolips company and beyond. The piece, in three parts, marks a different series of events in Bette’s life to reveal a portrait of an amazing individual and celebration of the momentous struggles and achievements of gay liberation. Each part can be enjoyed as self-contained stories or seen together for a fuller picture. The performance is a reading of edited transcripts of a series of long, private conversations, a recreation on stage of two friends reminiscing about one of their lives. ‘Bette’ and ‘Mark’ will be played by the real individuals. But at some performances guest artists will recreate the original conversations, finding their own path through the extraordinary life of Bette Bourne. “Mark Ravenhill has more to say, and says it more refreshingly and wittily, than any other playwright of his generation.” Time Out “Bette Bourne is one of the most compelling figures I have ever seen on a stage.” Financial Times

Photo credit: David Gwinnutt

Dates & Times: Tuesday 18 – Sunday 30 August. Week 2. Tuesday 18 Aug (10.30am), Wednesday 19 Aug (12.45pm), Thursday 20 Aug (3.00pm), Friday 21 Aug (5.30pm), Saturday 22 Aug (8.15pm), Sunday 23 Aug (10.30am). Week 3. Tuesday 25 Aug (12.45pm), Wednesday 26 Aug (3.00pm), Thursday 27 Aug (5.45pm), Friday 28 Aug (8.00pm), Saturday 29 Aug (10.30am), Sunday 30 Aug (12.45pm)

Act 1: Tuesday 18 August (10.30am), Friday 21 August (5.30pm), Tuesday 25 August (12.45pm), Friday 28 August (8pm)

Act 2: Wednesday 19 August (12.45pm), Saturday 22 August (8.15pm), Wednesday 26 August (3pm), Saturday 29 August (10.30pm) Act 3: Thursday 20 August (3.00pm), Sunday 23 August (10.30am), Thursday 27 August (5.45pm), Sunday 30 August (12.45pm) TICKETS: Sunday – Thursday £14 (£10 concessions/£5 unemployed). Friday – Saturday £16 (£11 concessions).

Early Bird Ticket Offer: £11 (£7 concessions/£5 unemployed) on Tuesday 18 August if bought before Tuesday 4 August (subject to availability).

See all three acts for £39 and save up to £9. Valid on full price tickets only. Subject to availability. Tickets must be purchased at the same time.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL @ TRAVERSE ONE Scottish Premiere. Italy. 1 hour approx

Experimentum Mundi 2 – 5 Sept

Director Giorgio Battistelli Percussion Nicola Raffone Members of the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union Four voices, percussion, narrator and artisans. Composer Giorgio Battistelli takes sixteen artisans dressed in overalls and aprons and sets them to work in the Traverse Theatre producing a compelling and evocative symphony from your wildest imagination. Demolishing the barriers between life and art, everyday tools become musical instruments and the workmen transform into musicians in this fantastical and memorable performance piece. Standing to one side, an actor reads extracts of Enlightenment writers describing in turn the tools and the work being done on stage. Sparks fly, eggs crack and hammers pound in this unforgettable blend of human creativity and basic hard work. Sharing the Festival: Experimentum Mundi is also performed at The Space, Dundee on Tuesday 8 September at 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Tickets are available from both the Traverse online www.traverse.co.uk or telephone 0131 228 1404 and The Edinburgh International Festival online www.eif.co.uk or telephone 0131 473 2000.

Dates & Times: Wednesday 2 – Saturday 5 Sept (8.00pm) Tickets: £17

Traverse Theatre Company

Festival Encounters 2009 Encounter one – Traverse two

Playwrights’ Encounter Mon 10 Aug, 2pm – 4pm

A panel of leading writers – David Greig (Midsummer), Dennis Kelly (Orphans), Daniel Kitson (The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church), Simon Stephens (Sea Wall) & Che Walker (Been So Long) – come together in conversation with key arts journalist Joyce McMillan, of The Scotsman, to talk about their work and inspirations. All of these speakers have new plays at the Traverse during this year’s Festival. Tickets £6 (£4 concessions)

in the same boat – Traverse one

Write to Play, Rona Munro Mon 24 Aug, 10.30am – 12pm Award-winning playwright Rona Munro, in conversation with Traverse Artistic Director Dominic Hill about her life, career and work. Hear a reading from her new and unseen play; and join us in discussion with Rona about her themes, styles and methods of writing. Write to Play focuses on one prolific playwright bi-monthly, changing venues each time and striving to give audiences the opportunity to engage with playwrights. Tickets £6 (£4 concessions)

Encounter TWO – Traverse ONE

David Greig: The Speculator Mon 24 Aug, 2.30pm – 5pm Leading actors perform a timely 10th anniversary play-reading of David Greig’s The Speculator, first produced by the Traverse Theare Company and the Edinburgh international Festival in August 1999. Europe is in chaos. In bustling 1720s’ Paris, a diverse cast of characters explore love, chance and financial collapse on a grand scale. These include the playwright Marivaux, the infamous Scots financier John Law and the 16 year-old Lord Islay (eventual founder of the Royal Bank of Scotland).

Pearson Playwright at the Traverse, 2009 – 10

The Traverse Theatre is delighted to welcome gifted new voice Sam Holcroft as our Pearson Playwright in residence for 2009/10. We first worked with Sam as part of our Traverse Young Writers’ Group. She received her first professional play commission from the Traverse, and then went on to be our nominated writer for the Royal Court/ BBC’s The Fifty. Last autumn her play Cockroach was co-produced with the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) as part of the Traverse/ NTS Debuts season. Sam is currently under commission to the Traverse and the Gate Theatre, and is also undertaking research for a project with Paines Plough.

Tickets £6 (£4 concessions)

Photo: Sam Holcroft by Angela Catlin for Pearson Playwright at the Traverse

Traverse BOX OFFICE LEVEL / Traverse BAR CAFé

Exhibitions at the Traverse

DAZZLE FRI 7 – MON 31 AUG, 10.00am – 12pm

HANDPRINTS: PAUL RODGER SUN 12 JUL – SAT 12 SEPT

It’s Dazzle time again at the Traverse. Forty seven contemporary Screenprints, handrolled prints and spray-painted stencil images jewellery designers show over 2,000 pieces. It continues to be the most popular exhibition of its type in Scotland. With the added Handprints is local Edinburgh artist Paul Rodger’s first exhibition bonus that everything is for sale. at the Traverse Theatre. Dazzle jewellery has been seen in movies such as Shakespeare in Paul takes his inspiration from a range of influences including pop Love and previous buyers include Susan Sarandon, JK Rowling, culture, outer-space images, 60’s magazines, old textile designs, Tim Robbins and Dame Judi Dench. commercial art and whatever takes his fancy. You will soon be able to buy online and also find out more about the jewellers by visiting www.dazzle-exhibitions.co.uk Telephone 0131 200 4858 during the exhibition and 07774 261682 at other times.

Jewellery by Grace Girvan, Orkney

Handprints Paul Rodger

What’ll it be?

Festival 09 Festival Opening Times 1 to 30 August Very early till very late Food served till late

Stand @ Traverse Bar Café

Festival Comedy Previews in July Catch a selection of acts from The Stand, Edinburgh’s premier comedy venue, before their Festival runs. £5 on the door

The Silence of the Trams Monday 27 July 8.30pm Wild Colonial Boys Tuesday 28 July 8.30pm Gary Little: He Was Only Jail Gay Wednesday 29 July 8.30pm Jojo Sutherland Stands Up For Herself Wednesday 29 July 9.30pm Elaine Malcolmson & Niall Browne: All kinds of everything Thursday 30 July 8.30pm Vladimir Mctavish: The Top Fifty Greatest Scots Of All Time Ever Part Two Thursday 30 July 9.30pm

Traverse Theatre Company

Support the Traverse Theatre! There are so many benefits to supporting the Traverse, as an individual or as an organisation. You could: • Reap financial rewards by exposure to thousands of potential new customers • Enhance your reputation by aligning yourself with “Edinburgh’s trendiest Theatre” (Edinburgh Evening News). • Help the community by supporting the Traverse’s work with young people. • Incentivise your staff by offering them trips to the theatre, educational talks, or parties in the Traverse Bar Café. • Commemorate a loved one. • Leave your own lasting legacy

Fiona Sturgeon Shea Head of Communications Photo credit: Euan Myles

As a Registered Charity, the Traverse is always in need of additional funds to support all of its work. This includes: • • • •

Seasons like this packed Traverse Festival 2009 Individual plays and productions Our work developing new plays, new playwrights and in supporting established writers to take risks Our celebrated education programme that reaches people of all ages throughout Scotland

To find out more about supporting the Traverse, including corporate sponsorship, becoming a Devotee, buying a brick or dedicating a seat, please contact Fiona Sturgeon Shea, Head of Communications, on 0131 228 3223 or email fiona.sturgeonshea@traverse.co.uk

Registered in Scotland SC 076037 Registered charity No. SC 002368. VAT Registration No. 356 0682 47. Registered Office: Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

Traverse Theatre Company

Support the Traverse Theatre! You could join our current supporters: Corporate sponsors

Trusts and Foundations The Atlantic Philanthropies The Barcapel Foundation The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust The Binks Trust The Craignish Trust The Cross Trust The Cruden Foundation Ronald Duncan Literary Foundation The Imlay Foundation The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland The Peggy Ramsay Foundation Sky Youth Action Fund Tay Charitable Trust The Thistle Trust The John Thaw Foundation The James Thom Howat Charitable Trust The Weatherall Foundation For their continued generous support of Traverse Theatre Company productions, we would like to thank Camerabase, Habitat and Marks and Spencer, Princes Street. INDIVIDUALS Traverse Devotees: Joan Aitken, Stewart Binnie, Katie Bradford, Adrienne Sinclair Chalmers, Adam Fowler, Joscelyn Fox, Anne Gallacher, John Knight OBE, Iain Millar, Gillian Moulton, Helen Pitkethly, Michael Ridings, Bridget Stevens, Walton & Parkinson. Thank you to everyone who has made donations through purchasing bricks or making seat dedications.

Design: www.weared8.com

Traverse Theatre Festival 2009 Royal Lyceum Theatre Grindlay St Edinburgh, EH3 9AX

TICKETS

The Last Witch tickets only available from The Edinburgh International Festival online www.eif.co.uk or telephone 0131 473 2000.

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Traverse @ The Barony Bar (Venue 311) 81-85 Broughton St Edinburgh, EH1 3RJ

All other Traverse Festival tickets, including Experimentum Mundi at The Edinburgh International Festival available online www.traverse.co.uk or telephone 0131 228 1404 (no booking fee).

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Edinburgh International Festival and takes place at the:

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THE BARONY BAR

Traverse @ Mercure Point Hotel (Venue 109) 34 Bread Street Edinburgh, EH3 9AF

NB. The Last Witch is part of the

Traverse Theatre (Venue 15) 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

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Royal Lyceum Theatre