Article Source: Barrowland Ballet
Last Updated: 27 April 2025 10:50
World premiere of new production Wee Man by Natasha Gilmore opens at Studio Theatre from 16 - 17 May, as Barrowland Ballet are named the first associate company of Edinburgh’s Capital Theatres.
Following sold out success, Chunky Jewellery by Natasha Gilmore, Jude Williams and Ben Duke of Lost Dog returns to Tramway on 29 July, following revival at Cumbernauld Theatre on 2 May.
Barrowland Ballet transfers both productions to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Chunky Jewellery opens from 1 - 24 August at Assembly Rooms Music Hall, as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase Wee Man opens from 5 - 17 August at Assembly @ Dance Base.
Scotland’s leading contemporary dance theatre company Barrowland Ballet take over Scotland this year as they present two productions across Spring and Summer, ahead of their Edinburgh Festival Fringe debuts this August.
New work: Wee Man explores the tension within the toxic rulebook of accepted male behaviours
Barrowland Ballet is excited to present the world premiere of new production Wee Man by award-winning choreographer Natasha Gilmore.
A highly physical and dynamic dance-theatre performance by a cast of men and male teenagers, Wee Man explores the shifting, and unshifting, rules of masculinity across the different generations.
Inspired by Gilmore’s experience of being a mother of teenage boys, it uses candid humour to examine the tension that exists within the toxic rulebook of accepted male behaviour, from the seemingly benign to the dangerous.
Examining both the tenderness and tension of masculinity and male relationships, Wee Man is performed by an intergenerational cast that includes Davey Anderson, Kemono L. Riot, Parsifal James Hurst, and Vince Virr. Each tour venue features a local community cast, bringing new voices and stories to every performance.
The production is scored with an evocative sound design by Luke Sutherland and poetic text developed with Kevin P. Gilday.
Barrowland Ballet have been named as the first associate company of Edinburgh’s Capital Theatres, and Wee Man will have its world premiere at Studio Theatre from Friday 16 - Saturday 17 May at 7pm.
It will tour to Lanterhouse Cumbernauld on Saturday 31 May at 7pm and Johnstone Town Hall on Friday 13 June at 7pm, before transferring to Assembly @ Dance Base as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Tuesday 5 - Sunday 17 August at 7pm.
Returning Favourite: Chunky Jewellery is a moving celebration of friendship within the chaos of life, grief and motherhood.
Following sold-out success during its world premiere in 2024, Barrowland Ballet’s heartfelt and hilarious Chunky Jewellery returns with performances across Cumbernauld and Glasgow, ahead of its transfer to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Co-created by Jude Williams, Natasha Gilmore, and Ben Duke (Lost Dog), this deeply personal yet universally resonant work transforms a year of extremes into a moving celebration of friendship.
Focusing on two friends, one year, two births, a death, 18 bursts of laughter, 34,000 tears (each) and one piece of chunky jewellery, it was a year to forget but instead Natasha and Jude decided to make it into a show.
Brutally honest and open-hearted, Chunky Jewellery is a comedy that bites. Combining dance, song and text, it offers audiences an alternative love story; an achingly joyous celebration of sisterhood.
These uncompromising performers team up with Olivier Award nominated Ben Duke of Lost Dog to bring the work to life, with a creative team that includes Davey Anderson as Composer, with original songs by Jude Williams, Elle Taylor as Lighting Designer, Shizuka Hariu as Set Designer and Vicki Manderson as Associate Director.
Chunky Jewellery will open at Lanternhouse Cumbernauld on Friday 2 May at 7pm, before returning to partner organisation Tramway on Tuesday 29 July at 7pm. It will transfer to Assembly Rooms, Music Hall from Friday 1 August - Sunday 24 August at 1.30pm as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Talking about the works, Barrowland Ballet’s Artistic Director Natasha Gilmore said:
‘I'm excited for Barrowland Ballet to be presenting two shows this Spring and Summer, before transferring them to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As a company we believe in the power of using dance and theatre to connect with communities, and we are proud to present Chunky Jewellery and Wee Man to audiences across Scotland this year.
Wee Man is our dance theatre performed by a cast of men and male teenagers. Inspired by my own experience as the mother of teenage boys, it explores the shifting, and unshifting, rules of masculinity across the different generations.
I'm thrilled to have Chunky Jewellery returning after its sold-out success last year. It's deeply personal and incredibly moving, performing alongside Jude is a joy, and it speaks to the importance of having friends and laughter during the ups, downs and rollercoaster of life.'
Alongside the Scottish work on tour, Barrowland Ballet will tour to ASSITEJ in July 2025 - Korea’s prestigious festival for children and young people - with acclaimed production Tiger Tale by Natasha Gilmore and Robert Alan Evans. This will be presented alongside the sister production for children with complex needs, Playful Tiger by Natasha Gilmore in collaboration with Ellie Griffiths.
In Autumn/Winter, The Gift by Natasha Gilmore will receive its Glasgow premiere at the anticipated Citizen’s Theatre Studio Theatre in December 2025, following its Chinese premiere touring to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou with A.S.K, earlier in 2025.
To find out more about Barrowland Ballet and the company’s work:
barrowlandballet.co.uk
New work: Wee Man by Natasha Gilmore explores the tension within the toxic rulebook of accepted male behaviours
• World premiere at Studio Theatre from Friday 16 - Saturday 17 May at 7pm.
• Lanterhouse Cumbernauld on Saturday 31 May at 7pm
• Johnstone Town Hall on Friday 13 June at 7pm
• Assembly @ Dance Base, as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Tuesday 5 - Sunday 17 August at 7pm
Chunky Jewellery by Jude Williams and Natasha Gilmore with Ben Duke (Lost Dog)
• Lanternhouse Cumbernauld on Friday 2 May at 7pm
• Tramway on Tuesday 29 July at 7pm
• Assembly Rooms, Music Hall from Friday 1 August - Sunday 24 August at 1.30pm, as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Image: Wee Man
Image credit: Viktoria Begg
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed Gold DofE Award holders to The Palace of Holyroodhouse this morning at a very special event to mark their achievements.
READ MOREBTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREFamily favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORECapital Theatres has today launched The People’s Archive, a digital exhibition that celebrates the rich history and cultural legacy of the King’s Theatre.
READ MOREA Disney-loving mum and her one-year-old daughter have been crowned Edinburgh’s biggest Stitch fans after winning a competition hosted by Fort Kinnaird.
READ MORELivingston Designer Outlet goes Jurassic crazy this July with lifelike dinosaurs, ranger training and endless photo opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.
READ MOREDeparting on Saturday 29th November 2025 at from Edinburgh Waverley, this enchanting lunchtime journey will be led by the iconic 60532 Blue Peter.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has today announced its programme of screenings and events for its 2025 edition.
READ MOREParty at the Palace will host Scotland’s first solar-powered festival stage, the GreenFox Energy Breakthrough Stage, twinning clean energy and the joy of live music.
READ MOREGilded Balloon has unveiled a huge line-up of comedy stars to take part in a special ‘40 Years of Fringe’ in conversation series, to celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MOREAhead of its programme launch on 2 July, EIFF venues will include Filmhouse, Cameo Cinema, Vue Omni and a new pop-up screen at National Galleries Scotland: National.
READ MOREOne of Edinburgh’s most popular city centre restaurants has started a new dining chapter at its famous Castle Street venue.
READ MOREIHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today announces the opening of Garner Hotel Edinburgh - Haymarket, a 195-room flagship hotel bringing a fresh energy to the city’s West End.
READ MOREPupils from local Edinburgh primary schools swapped the classroom for beekeeping as they had the chance to visit Fort Kinnaird’s thriving beehives for a day buzzing with educational fun.
READ MOREEdinburgh started to unwrap its annual Christmas present, with the announcement of this year’s festive celebration dates and a first hint of what to expect this year.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Festival Director and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti performed alongside guitarist Plínio Fernandes as part of a series of NHS Festival Sessions.
READ MORECineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MOREThe Bothy Boutique in central Edinburgh is the retail arm of The Breakfast Bothy, a small grassroots charity supporting people in the community who are experiencing homelessness.
READ MOREDrummohr Camping and Glamping Site at Musselburgh was named Camping Site of the Year in the 2025 Scottish Hospitality Awards.
READ MOREWith the Fringe Festival right on the doorstep, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is once again hosting a fantastic array of shows and activities!
READ MOREPupils at Newtongrange Primary School have even more reason to celebrate the end of a successful academic year, having just been awarded the UNICEF UK Gold Award.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s landmark cinema Filmhouse has today revealed images of its new screens and spaces ahead of its public reopening tomorrow Friday 27 June.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MOREDrawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Titian will be among 45 Italian Renaissance drawings going on display in Scotland for the first time this October.
READ MOREEdinburgh Climate Festival returns on 28th June. A free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MOREThis weekend, in celebration of Edinburgh Pride, Pret A Manger is turning up the sparkle with an in-shop glow-up station!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MORE