Article Source: Traverse Theatre
Last Updated: 26 May 2017 14:54
PART OF MADE IN SCOTLAND SHOWCASE
Award-winning playwright Gary McNair returns to the Traverse Theatre after his sell-out hit A Gambler’s Guide to Dying, and pioneering verbatim work Locker Room Talk, with the World Premiere of Letters to Morrissey, presented by the Traverse Theatre Company in association with Tron Theatre, as part of Traverse Festival 2017. Reunited with director Gareth Nicholls (now Associate Director at the Traverse), McNair has written, and will perform in, this new one-man show.
Letters to Morrissey is the third in a trilogy of often darkly comic works drawing on the joys and struggles of growing up in working class Scotland, explored through letters written to renowned singer-songwriter Morrissey at the turn of the millennium by a conflicted teenager from the outskirts of Glasgow. It's a thoughtful play, riddled with secrets, considering our human desire to be understood, and about finding potentially false kinship in an icon you don’t actually know. Spanning a timeframe from the late ‘90s to now, our protagonist is prompted to confront embarrassing teenage memories, brutal truths, and those letters and ask, as Morrissey did: “… is evil just something you are. Or something you do?”.
Letters to Morrissey will mark McNair’s fourth festival run at the Traverse, following A Gambler’s Guide to Dying (2015), Donald Robertson Is Not a Stand-Up Comedian (2014) – both directed by Nicholls – and Born To Run (2012), directed by McNair. A Gambler's Guide to Dying won McNair and Nicholls a Fringe First and a Holden Street Theatres’ award, enjoyed a subsequent world tour and stint at Adelaide Festival 2016, and has just completed a successful off-Broadway run in New York.
During Traverse Festival 2017, the Traverse will also present the World Premiere of Locker Room Talk, written by McNair, with a special two performance event on Monday 21 August.
Letters to Morrissey is presented as part of the Made in Scotland showcase.
Gary McNair, Writer, says:
“I am delighted to be sharing Letters To Morrissey at the Traverse – it’s a piece that I’ve wanted to make for many years and I believe it opens up a new side of me I don’t often get to share, so I’m very excited to bring it into the world. The Traverse curate the most vital work from incredible artists from near and far and they attract a passionate, international audience to the space, so to be opening new work there, especially in August, is a great feeling. It’s a pleasure to work with Gareth again; we’ve been making work together since we left drama school over ten years ago, when he became my most trusted collaborator. It also means a great deal to be selected for the Made in Scotland showcase again. Being a part of it in 2015 gave me the opportunity to take my work across the world, to places I never could have otherwise. It's a fantastic programme and I'm proud to be included.”
Gareth Nicholls, Associate Director, Traverse Theatre says:
“Letters to Morrissey will be the third show Gary and myself have opened at the Traverse Festival and we feel very proud to be back again. The Traverse during the festival is a unique place with eclectic audiences, packed houses and artists from all over the world sharing their passions, fears and hopes. It’s an environment we adore and the perfect place for us to present this new show. Having worked together for years we hope this piece will build on our existing work, bringing together Gary’s unique blend of humour and heart, whilst pushing forward down some new artistic avenues. We’re very excited and looking forward to sharing the results.”
LISTINGS:
Traverse Theatre
3-27 August (not 7, 14, 21), various times
On sale Wednesday 7 June, 10am (0131 228 1404 / traverse.co.uk)
WRITER BIOGRAPHY, Gary McNair
Gary McNair is an award-winning writer and performer from Glasgow. His aim is to make work that entertains and challenges in equal measure
He trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he graduated with First Class-Honours in Contemporary Theatre Practice. Since then he has gone on to author plays which have toured internationally, been translated and performed across the world. He is currently an Associate Artist at the Traverse Theatre.
His most recent works include sold-out festival hits Donald Robertson Is Not a Stand-Up Comedian and A Gambler’s Guide to Dying, which received a Fringe First and a Holden Street Theatres’ award, was nominated for ‘Best New Play’ at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland and has just completed an off-Broadway run in New York.
DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY, Gareth Nicholls
Gareth is a Glasgow-based theatre director who aims to produce bold, challenging and uncompromising work with strong aesthetics and robust texts at their heart.
Most recently he held the post of Citizens Theatre’s Main Stage Director in Residence (2014-16), where his shows included Into That Darkness, Vanya, Blackbird and a sell-out production of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting – all of which went on to gain much critical acclaim, including four- and five-star reviews, plus CATS (Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland) nominations for Blackbird and Into That Darkness.
He has directed productions for a range of companies including National Theatre of Scotland, Traverse Theatre, Tron Theatre, The Arches, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Macrobert Arts Centre, HighTide Theatre and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He trained in Contemporary Theatre Practice at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and previously held the posts of National Theatre of Scotland Emerging Artist and Imaginate Artist in Residence.
He has won several awards including two Fringe First awards (Educating Ronnie and A Gambler’s Guide To Dying), a Scottish Arts Club award (Donald Robertson Is Not A Stand-Up Comedian) and The Arches’ Platform 18: New Directions award (2011).
Made in Scotland is a curated showcase of high quality performance from Scotland at the world’s biggest arts festival, made possible by support from the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. It is a partnership between the Festival Fringe Society, the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) Scottish Music Centre and Creative Scotland.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh has a bumper series of events planned for May, including an unmissable Summer Gin Garden, live music each Thursday and a new Peruvian menu for the Commons Club Chef's Table.
READ MOREBritain's biggest independent craft brewer, BrewDog is giving beer lovers a chance to 'Drink Beer, Win Cash' with the return of its Cash Cans scavenger hunt this Spring.
READ MOREWe're thrilled to announce that, for the third year running, TikTok will be the Official Virtual Stage of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
READ MOREEuropean Ryder Cup stars Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland are set to reunite at the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open.
READ MORESix Company announces additional investment in the Edinburgh hospitality industry with the opening of Six by Nico Edinburgh West End and Somewhere by Nico Edinburgh.
READ MOREUber releases Swiftie-inspired friendship bracelets, offering £20 credit ahead of the Era's Tour this June.
READ MOREFayre Play, the ultimate adult funfair games experience in Glasgow & Edinburgh, have announced an exclusive ticket giveaway for Taylor Swift's highly anticipated show at Murrayfield on June 8th!
READ MOREPURE Spa & Beauty is proud to announce its partnership with 02Worx by launching Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in 16 of its spa locations across the United Kingdom including three in Edinburgh.
READ MOREFor the first time, audiences will be treated to a dazzling dozen amazing pro dancers from BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, performing this spectacular show at Edinburgh Playhouse!
READ MOREScotland’s National Chef Gary Maclean is hosting an exclusive Oyster and Champagne Bar as part of the Edinburgh Seafood Festival on Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th at Bonnie & Wild.
READ MOREFleurs de Villes, the world-renowned floral show has announced it will return to Edinburgh next month with its major new exhibition; ARTISTE.
READ MOREA packed programme of music, film and storytelling kicks off Edinburgh Tradfest this weekend (3 May to 13 May).
READ MOREDementia specialist nursing charity, Dementia UK, is running its 14th annual 'Time for a Cuppa Fundraiser' to raise vital funds for the leading cause of death in the UK.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is inviting children aged four to 10 to a free workshop in May to learn more about trees and how to protect them.
READ MOREIt's just days until the opening of the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, which is back SEC, Glasgow on 11-12 May 2024.
READ MOREGlasgow to Loch Lomond was a sea of tartan today as the world's biggest ever Kiltwalk took place, with fundraising already exceeding £2.5m.
READ MORERUSK & RUSK, the independent Scottish restaurant group, today shares details of the menu set to ignite tastebuds for The Spanish Butcher which officially opens in Edinburgh on Friday 10th May.
READ MOREJohnnie Walker Princes Street, the award-winning global visitor experience in the heart of Edinburgh, has announced exciting opportunities for passionate individuals to join its renowned team.
READ MORETHREE captivating and inspiring stories of adventure, near-death experiences and endurance are set to thrill the crowds at Port Edgar Marina’s 10th anniversary Open Weekend on 4th and 5th May!
READ MOREA spectacular multimedia show celebrating Vincent van Gogh's life and stunning artworks is coming to Glasgow this summer!
READ MORENational Theatre of Scotland launches a new interactive map for Scotland to demonstrate its love for the Big Yin, inviting people to share their own Billy Connolly memories.
READ MORETouring Scotland from June, the cast is announced for Hen Night Horror, an original musical comedy that promises to put the willies right up ye!
READ MOREAldi Scotland's popular 'Best Home Bar' competition has returned for another year, with a year's supply of beer up for grabs!
READ MOREEdinburgh’s Fingal has sailed to the top of the world’s best hotels list in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards 2024.
READ MOREEdinburgh – Global apparel retailer UNIQLO, will welcome its first Scottish customers through the doors of its Edinburgh store on Thursday, 25th April.
READ MOREDavid Ian for Crossroads Live in association with Barry and Fran Weissler are delighted to announce further dates for the 2024/2025 UK and Ireland tour with dates at Edinburgh Playhouse in 2025.
READ MOREPaisley Food and Drink Festival returns to the town this weekend for a two-day feastival with plenty for everyone to sample and enjoy.
READ MOREA NEW four-legged champion has been crowned for the Corgi Derby at The Sky Bet Sunday Series Raceday, Musselburgh Racecourse.
READ MOREWith a staggering 14 million adults in the UK unable to swim, the team behind The Learn to Swim National Framework has launched a new campaign to encourage adults in Scotland to learn the life skill.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s top street food hang-out and leading comedy producers Gilded Balloon have today announced a brand new partnership, bringing the city’s funniest night out to Edinburgh Street Food.
READ MORE