Traverse Theatre announces full Spring 2022 season

Traverse Theatre welcomes artists and audiences back to a full Spring Season of performances.

Article Source: Traverse Theatre
Last Updated: 25 January 2022 12:37

• A Play, A Pie and A Pint returns to Traverse 2 with seven new shows

• Programme features Scottish Premieres including Drag Me to Love by Cameron Sharp, Mugabe, My Dad & Me by Tonderai Munyevu, and Human Nurture by Ryan Calais Cameron

• We welcome audience hits including Our Carnal Hearts by Rachel Mars, The Gardener by Ed Robson and The Metamorphosis adapted by Matthew Lenton

• Digital presentations include Scottish Dance Theatre show The Life and Times, and a range of First Stages Festival events

• Hannah Lavery appointed as Peggy Ramsay Foundation/Film 4 Awards Scheme Playwright

• £1 tickets available for all shows for those under 25 and in receipt of low income government benefits

• Breakthrough Writers: In Residence remains open for submissions

Whilst the Traverse has not paused its programming since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 – instead producing and presenting over 150 digital shows and original pieces of content, and 24 socially distanced in-person productions both in our venue and off-site in August and December – we are thrilled to now be able to present a full in-person series of performances over Spring 2022. Featuring the long-awaited and triumphant return of postponed productions, beloved audience favourites and brand new pieces, we today announce what audiences can anticipate and enjoy during February, March and early April.

And with plenty more to come, we’re just getting started!

TRAVERSE THEATRE COMPANY

Our new creative engagement opportunities continue to unfurl over Spring, with Breakthrough Writers: In Residence open for submissions of anonymised, full-length scripts until Mon 14 Mar, and more details will come soon on our new Creating Space Writers’ Group. We will also shortly be announcing full details of our hybrid First Stages Festival 2022, including a range of digital workshops, Q&As, discussions and in-person readings, happening throughout February and March.

We’re delighted that writer, poet and performer Hannah Lavery (The Drift, Eavesdropping), has been appointed as Peggy Ramsay Foundation/Film 4 Awards Scheme Playwright, in partnership with the Traverse Theatre. Hannah will receive a bursary to embark upon a one-year attachment with the Traverse, creating a new full-length play for future production, connecting with a variety of dynamic theatremakers and deepening her experience of a working theatre as it emerges from the pandemic.

We welcome the ever-popular A Play, A Pie and A Pint based at Òran Mór, presented in association with the Traverse Theatre, back to Traverse 2. The extended 7-week run of shows will include Oscar by Brian James O’Sullivan, (2 – 5 Mar); Ten Things to Do Before You Die by Dani Heron (8 – 12 Mar); I'm dissolving my love in a bath of acid by DC Jackson (15 – 19 Mar); Milkshake by Rob Drummond (22 – 26 Mar) [also produced in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts]; Man’s Best Friend by Douglas Maxwell (29 Mar – 2 Apr); Daniel Getting Married by JD Stewart (5 – 9 Apr); My Doric Diary by AyeTunes! (12 – 16 Apr) [also produced in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts]. As ever, the ticket price includes a pie and a drink, as well as fresh new drama.

PARTNER COMPANY PRODUCTIONS

February

We begin the season online, with Scottish Dance Theatre’s The Life and Times (11 – 12 Feb) offering the chance to dive into a cinematic and surreal dance journey from the comfort of your home, and experience dance as you never have before. Conceived by Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Joan Clevillé and streamed live in a single continuous shot, The Life and Times is a visual meditation on our relationship with time, set to a sumptuous soundtrack of Baroque music.

They are followed by in-person performances of the fabulous Drag Me to Love (17 – 18 Feb) by Cameron Sharp, an autobiographical, three person show combining drag performance with theatrical storytelling to build the world of Bonnie and The Bonnettes. Set against a backdrop of pop anthems and glitter, we follow Cameron as he throws himself into a pair of 6-inch stilettos – meeting new people and making both friends and foes. But not everything is as it seems and, piece by piece, the glamorous world of drag fades away.
Next up is Crisis: A Rallying Cry (19 – 20 Feb), from Crisis: A Rallying Cry in association with Kick the Door, an ensemble-devised, new theatre piece created by 10 emerging young artists exploring the personal, political, and scientific resonance of mental health within our society.

March

March opens with Acrylic’s tender The Gardener by Ed Robson (1 – 2 Mar), a previous hit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Following Frank, who has started his own gardening group at his new retirement home, The Gardener is an intimate portrait of all the minor triumphs and major tribulations of amateur gardening and of a life-time spent in love, performed in an intimate setting to a limited audience.

Human Nurture (17-19 Mar) by Ryan Calais Cameron, produced by Theatre Centre and Sheffield Theatres, has been created for audiences aged 14+. Roger and Harryʼs bond is so strong they could be brothers. They share the same food, music, computer games and even dreams, everything other than their race. Roger is black, and Harry is white... but what does that matter, right? When Roger is rehomed, Harry is left behind in the care system, and these “brothers” grow up in opposite ends of Britainʼs social spectrum. Nothingʼs off-limits in this noisy and colourful show, from innocent primary school humiliations to race, privilege, allyship and male vulnerability.

English Touring Theatre, Brixton House and York Theatre Royal, in association with Alison Holder bring the acclaimed Mugabe, My Dad & Me (23 – 26 Mar) by Tonderai Munyevu to Traverse 1. Interspersing storytelling, live music from a Gwenyambira (a female mbira player) and some of Mugabe’s most unapologetic speeches, this high-voltage one-man show is a blistering exploration of familial love, identity and what it means to return ‘home’.
We also see the beginning of A Play, A Pie and A Pint’s takeover of Traverse 2 with their season of new bite-sized dramas:

Oscar by Brian James O’Sullivan (1 – 5 Mar)
Ten Things to Do Before You Die by Dani Heron (8 – 12 Mar)
I'm dissolving my love in a bath of acid by DC Jackson (15 – 19 Mar)
Milkshake by Rob Drummond (22 – 26 Mar)
Man’s Best Friend by Douglas Maxwell (29 Mar – 2 Apr)

Look out for news coming soon on in-person performances of scripts from 2021’s Class Act participants and first look readings of brand new plays by 2022’s First Stages Writers also happening in March.

April

Established and run by playwrights, Amy Hawes, Jennifer Adam and Mhairi Quinn, Tandem Writing Collective (2 Apr) kicks off the month, featuring tasters of topical new scripts by the three writers, performed script in hand by the best local actors.

Rachel Mars continues our energetic April with her Total Theatre Award-winning show, Our Carnal Hearts (7 – 9 Apr), performed in the round in Traverse 1. With a raucous chorus of original music, Our Carnal Hearts is a gleeful, thrilling and murky celebration of envy, competitive spirits and all the times we f*ck each other over.

Sylvia Dow brings her piece Blinded by the Light (8 Apr) for a one-off reading, in Traverse 2. It features two parallel and intersecting stories. One, set in 1982, based on a real incident in Bo’ness, West Lothian, when twelve miners had a sit-in 2000 feet under the River Forth protesting against the mine closure, and the other set 200 years in the future, in the same mine, where the descendants of survivors of extreme climate change have been living their lives.

After a two year wait, with their original Traverse performances disrupted by the beginning of the Covid pandemic, we could not be happier to finally welcome Franz Kafka’s influential, tragicomic novella The Metamorphosis (13 – 16 Apr), brought to life in an international co-production between Vanishing Point, Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione and Tron Theatre. Adapted and directed by Matthew Lenton, it’s the story of an ordinary man who wakes up to find he has been transformed into a giant insect.

For one night only, the boundary-pushing Two Destination Language bring us Fault Lines (19 Apr) – a fashion show on the fracture between feminism and fabric. A catwalk which takes you from Haute Couture to bargain bin, from big beats to near silence, Fault Lines sees five women come together in a celebration of difference and invites you to curate your own journey through a runway show of people like you and people you’ll never know, with a soundtrack you’ve selected.

And in Traverse 2 the Spring season of A Play, A Pie and A Pint concludes with Daniel Getting Married by JD Stewart (5 – 9 Apr) and My Doric Diary by AyeTunes! (12 – 16 Apr).

DIGITAL

Confirmed online presentations this season include The Life and Times from Scottish Dance Theatre (11 – 12 Feb), with more to be announced, including the digital delivery of many First Stages Festival events for anyone around the world to attend, with full information on these coming soon.

COVID SAFETY

The Traverse will continue to observe Covid-19 safety protocols in line with Scottish Government Guidance. Both Traverse 1 and Traverse 2 (with the exception of A Play, A Pie and A Pint performances) will return to general admission seating, with capacity capped to allow space between groups. Productions in the A Play, A Pie and A Pint series will remain with allocated seating, with a one-seat space between groups. Face masks must be worn whilst in the Traverse building, including during performances, unless medically exempt, and hand sanitisation with be required upon entry into the venue.

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Edinburgh News

A Big Map for the Big Yin! Interactive map launched to celebrate Billy Connolly

National 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.

Cast announced for Scottish tour of Hen Night Horror

Touring Scotland from June, the cast is announced for Hen Night Horror, an original musical comedy that promises to put the willies right up ye!

The Best Home Bar competition from Aldi Scotland returns for 2024

Aldi Scotland's popular 'Best Home Bar' competition has returned for another year, with a year's supply of beer up for grabs!

Fingal sails to top of world best luxury hotels list

Edinburgh’s Fingal has sailed to the top of the world’s best hotels list in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards 2024.

UNIQLO will officially open the doors to its Princes Street store tomorrow

Edinburgh – Global apparel retailer UNIQLO, will welcome its first Scottish customers through the doors of its Edinburgh store on Thursday, 25th April.

CHICAGO Announced for the Edinburgh Playhouse

David 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.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns for a delicious double helping

Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns to the town this weekend for a two-day feastival with plenty for everyone to sample and enjoy.

Racegoers go corgi crazy at Musselburgh Racecourse

A NEW four-legged champion has been crowned for the Corgi Derby at The Sky Bet Sunday Series Raceday, Musselburgh Racecourse.

Nationwide campaign encourages adults in Scotland to take the plunge

With 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.

Gilded Balloon and Edinburgh Street Food announce new, dog friendly comedy night

Edinburgh’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.

The one that started it all: Edinburgh Science Festival announces its new Director

Edinburgh Science Festival drew its 35th anniversary edition to a close last weekend and now announces its new Director, Hassun El-Zafar, and dates for the 2025 Festival.

Pomegranates Festival kicks off next week

There’s just one week to go before the Pomegranates Festival of International Traditional Dance (25-30 April) kicks off at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and various venues across Edinburgh.

Top tips for visiting the Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

Now in its 30th year, the show is the go-to exhibition for any self-builders or renovators looking for practical tips, expert advice, or the chance to view 1000s of products.

Edinburgh Seafood Festival returns to St James Quarter

The popular Edinburgh Seafood Festival returns to St James Quarter, with even more opportunities to get a taste of the finest Scottish fare!

Cineword celebrates Danny Boyle

Cineworld Edinburgh celebrates the acclaimed British director Danny Boyle from May 7th to May 28th with a limited time big screen re-release of four of his classic titles at only £5 per ticket!

Johnnie Walker Princes Street Introduces Sunrise Yoga Experience

Johnnie Walker Princes Street is inviting guests to find their flow and embark on a journey of tranquility and connectivity with its latest offering, Sunrise Yoga on 3rd May!

Red Carnation Unveils 100 Princes Street, a historically rich new hotel in Edinburgh

Red Carnation Hotels, the family-owned hotel collection, proudly announces the opening of its latest masterpiece and first property in Scotland, 100 Princes Street.

Edinburgh Zoo named best zoo in Scotland

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo has been named the best zoo to visit in Scotland by TripAdvisor, the world’s biggest travel guidance platform.

Ambassador Theatre Group becomes ATG Entertainment

Ambassador Theatre Group (“ATG”), a leading live entertainment organisation, and owner of the Edinburgh Playhouse, today announced that it is rebranding as ATG Entertainment.

New Finds at Culloden Battlefield shed more light on intensity of battle

Latest investigations by National Trust for Scotland archaeologists at Culloden Battlefield have recovered a wide range of artefacts.

First Look and opening date confirmed for The Spanish Butcher in Edinburgh

RUSK & RUSK, the independent Scottish restaurant group, today shares first look impressions of The Spanish Butcher, Edinburgh, and confirms it will officially open on Friday 10th May.

New Edinburgh Dog Friendly Brunch Spot Opens Today

Sip & Bark is opening its doors today on Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, with a delicious brunch offering, a selection of cocktails and fine wines, plus it’s dog friendly!

Port Edgar Open Weekend is back with a splash as it celebrates 10th Anniversary

The annual Open Weekend returns to Port Edgar, the largest watersports and activity centre in Scotland, for a special 10th-anniversary event on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May!

Kinky Boots struts into Edinburgh

Broadway and West End phenomenon Kinky Boots The Musical, is strutting into Edinburgh in a brand-new production starring Strictly's Johannes Radebe and rising star Dan Partridge!

Laser Station Teams Up with Cash For Kids for Fundraising Event

Laser Station will be hosting an exciting fundraising event from April 22nd to April 28th, aimed at raising funds to support Cash For Kids initiatives.

Lloyds Early Careers event coming to Edinburgh

Lloyds Banking Group is hosting a free event on Saturday 13th April in Edinburgh for young people wanting to explore the wide range of careers options available in the banking industry.

Owen Thompson MP visits Newtongrange inspiring community garden to mark Community Garden Week

Volunteers at the Newtongrange Community Garden were delighted to welcome a special visitor on Tuesday 2nd April - Owen Thompson MP.

Scottish Game Fair returns for its 35th year

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair (SGF) is back for 2024, celebrating its 35-year anniversary at Scone Palace.

New UNIQLO store to open on Princes Street on 25th April 2024

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO will open its doors to Edinburgh’s highly anticipated store on 25 April 2024, with the arrival marks the regeneration of the shopping scene in Scotland’s capital.

Dobbies Garden Centres unveils Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience

Dobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is inviting plant enthusiasts and foodies alike to a brand new Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience at its stores nationwide.

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall

Traverse Theatre announces full Spring 2022 season

Traverse Theatre welcomes artists and audiences back to a full Spring Season of performances.

Sponsored Links

Latest Edinburgh News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings