Category Archives: What’s on / Listings

WHAT’S ON JANUARY: Strath Laughs

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The only regular Student Comedy Night in Glasgow! Introducing some of the most exciting Comedians, hosted by former ‘Scottish Comedian of the Year’ Jamie Dalgleish. Open to all University and College students.

Headliner: Christopher Macarthur-Boyd.

Billed as ‘the next big thing’ in Scottish comedy, Christopher is a three-time Scottish Comedian of the Year finalist, a So You Think You’re Funny? finalist, and a two-time nominee for Best New Act at the Scottish Comedy Awards.

Already. he’s made quite a name for himself as a writer, actor and director for online content for BBC Scotland’s Short Stuff and Room To Write.

Date

Thu 17 January 2019 20:30-22:30

Time

8:30pm – 10:30pm

Location

Barony Bar

Tickets

Buy tickets

£3.00 (Ticket)

WHAT’S ON MARCH: Lubna Kerr – Where Are You Really From?

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Lubna Kerr is confused about her identity. She was born in Pakistan, raised in Glasgow, married a man from Lanarkshire, has two Welsh children, one Scottish child and lives in Edinburgh. A trained pharmacist who now thinks Laughter is the best medicine. Lubna explores her identity as a Scottish Pakistani Muslim women living in a world dominated by fat, blond white men…

As seen on Still Game, Scot Squad, Armchair Detectives and (soon) Two doors down. Pharmacist, actress, comedian, writer, social entrepreneur and mother. Which hat fits? ‘One to watch’ Funny women.

FRIDAY 29 March 2019 – YES BAR, Drury Street, Glasgow G2 5AA

WHAT’S ON FEBRUARY: The Dark by Nick Makoha at the TRON

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Fuel open Tron Theatre’s main house season this Spring with The Dark (15 & 16 Feb), the harrowing and uplifting autobiographical story of poet Nick Makoha’s migration with his mother at the age of four to escape a country divided by dictatorship and consumed by conflict.

‘Night is not the only darkness. Nick takes a breath as he tries to remember.’ Fragments of a forgotten journey flicker in front of his eyes. It is night, November 1978. He is four years old. He is holding his mother’s hand as they wait on the escarpment. They are leaving Kampala. Buying safe passage and silence with all they have, they travel by matatu and the conductor asks no questions. Their companions are the missing, lost and displaced. Those who have suffered eight long years under the rule of Idi Amin.

Two performers, Akiya Henry and Michael Balogun play multiple characters in this exploration of memory directed by the award-winning Roy Alexander Weise (Nine Night) and The Dark is a co-commission by Fuel and Ovalhouse as part of their First Bites series.

Fuel Director, Kate McGrath said:
Brilliant artists create a space for a temporary community to come together and seek to understand and to imagine. Fuel’s job is to identify those living artists and bring their urgent and brave work to life for people to experience. Our 2019 season, which includes Nick Makoha’s The Dark, celebrates our common humanity: how we all connect to the earth and to each other.

Running time: 90 minutes (no interval)

NEWS: WHYTE & MACKAY GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2019 PROGRAMME

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The Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) reveals its full programme, as this hugely popular event in the comedy calendar returns for its 17th year from Thursday 14 – Sunday 31 March 2019.

Top flight stand-up lined up for the 18-day festival includes: Limmy, Julian Clary, Reg D Hunter, Larry Dean, Jerry Sadowitz, Al Murray, Jasper Carrott, Elaine C Smith, Foil, Arms & Hog, Russell Kane, Des Clarke, Rich Hall and Scot Squad star Cameron Miekelson.

From the cerebral to the joyously daft, the programme has something for every taste and budget: An Evening With Eric & Ern evokes memories of Britain’s best loved double act; the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas offers a comedic exploration of topical issues from online privacy to toxic masculinity; Matt Winning takes on the most pressing (and depressing) issue of our times – climate change; and there will be two nights of comedy in the unusual surroundings of the Hunterian Museum.

The Glasgow Women’s Library will present the Women of Colour Comedy Collective, while Phil Differ and Janey Godley will be in conversation in two evenings at the City of Glasgow College. Some of the scene’s most innovative and creative comedians can be found at the Vacant Space – Josie Long, John Luke-Roberts, Helen Duff and Ben Target will all stage solo shows at the Finnieston gallery.

The Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival always features the very best of Scotland’s home grown talent: Phil Kay, Iain Connell, Rob Florence, Ashley Storrie, Mark Nelson, Chris Forbes and Gary Meikle are all set to appear. The festival also provides a platform for rising local stars, this year including Christopher MacArthur Boyd, Susie McCabe, Stephen Buchanan and Marc Jennings.

 2019’s roster of international humour brings together hugely popular audience favourites and hotly-tipped must-see performers: Tony Law, Sofie Hagen, Bobby Mair, Desiree Burch, Dave Fulton, Evelyn Mok, Sara Barron, Olga Koch, and Catherine Bohart will all be making the trip to Glasgow in March.

As well as stand up shows in some of the city’s biggest venues and intimate gigs in pubs, the Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival features plays, sketches, improv, film and comedy for kids. Short Attention Span Theatre at the CCA features four new twenty-minute plays from Chris McQueer, Karen Barclay, Tom Brogan, and Catriona Duggan. Keith Farnan, James Campbell and Comedy with Baby! At Dram! provide laughs for all the family. Cinephiles can catch silent comedy and classic animation at the Britannia Panopticon, and special showings of Trainspotting and Gregory’s Girl at Sloans.

Comedy (and hip hop) fans on the look out for something a little bit different can catch the reliably anarchic CHUNKS collective’s ‘An Indeterminate Amount of Comedians Attempt to Perform 1993’s Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) in Full Live’ at The State Bar. For the more historically-minded, Scot Squad’s Karen Bartke will embody Mary Queen of Scots in a one woman show about life, love and hating your cousin. Avoiding the (very strong) temptation to declare GICF a Brexit-free zone, Ambush present The Salon Brexit Special at The Old Hairdressers – an idiosyncratic comedy cabaret which aims to distract us from stockpiling and blue passports in (at time of going to press) our final days of EU membership.

Events take place every day throughout the festival and tickets for all shows are on sale now, with some performances already selling out.

Sarah Watson, Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival Director, said: “Whether you’re a dedicated comedy fan seeking out the next big thing, or you’re thinking of catching some live stand up for the very first time we’ve got some great shows for you this year. It’s brilliant to see venues like The Old Hairdressers, The Bungo, Vacant Space and Yes Bar really get behind the festival with comprehensive programmes and a huge variety of shows across our run. Let’s face it, good news might be in short supply come late March, so GICF is hoping to provide a valuable public service by giving everyone something to laugh about for a few weeks at least!”

Ruairi Perry, Head of Blended Whisky Brands at Whyte & Mackay, said: “In 2019, we proudly celebrate 175 years of Whyte & Mackay. It’s our birthday year, we’re 175 years young and still surprisingly smooth. We’re delighted to start our birthday year celebrations by partnering with the biggest comedy festival in Europe- the Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2019. Let’s raise a dram to toast the biggest and best year yet! Slàinte mhòr.”

The Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival is supported by Glasgow Life and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

Councillor David McDonald, Chairman of Glasgow Life, said: “Looking at the line-up for the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, you get a strong sense of the range of exceptional talent that will be appearing in the city in March 2019. Having so many local comedians among the headliners makes this festival so special and I am looking forward to some great nights out and some unforgettable performances. Whether you are enjoying the latest tour from one of your favourite acts or setting out to discover the stars of the future, we are all in for a great 18 days of comedy.”

 Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “The Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival promises to be another great event this year. Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and the strength of the 2019 GICF programme is testament to that fact, with a variety of shows and venues, as well as big comedy acts and local talent there is undoubtedly something for everyone at the festival.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news by registering at glasgowcomedyfestival.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter @glasgowcomedy.

WHAT’S ON FEBRUARY: Baby Face at Tron Theatre

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BABY FACE

THU 7 – SAT 9 FEB, 8PM  – TRON THEATRE, Glasgow

Hey Baby! Returning from her hit success at The Edinburgh Fringe, award-winning performance artist, Katy Dye, presents her show about the infantilization of women.

Welcome to a world of knee socks, bunches, lollipops, bubblegum and models adopting the childlike expressions of six-year-old girls. Paedophilia is not OK yet fetishised images of women as prepubescent girls are. In this brave and outlandish performance, a grown woman attempts to be your baby to discover if innocence really is as sexy as we’re told it is. Winner of The Autopsy Award and Lustrum Award 2018.

In Baby Face the audience enter a strange world, where a grown woman transforms from adult, to teenager, to toddler, to baby. She dresses in a school uniform and performs Britney’s iconic routine. She squeezes herself into a clingy top printed with cartoons – meant for a child or a grown woman? In a pristine white, sparse set, using minimal costumes and a baby’s high chair, she navigates the uncomfortable line between wanting to be cared for and being infantilised. A soundtrack of bubblegum pop and drone rock feature heavily. In a cloud of talcum powder and haze, strange mixed messages hang in the air. Baby Face is an exposure of our contradictory society when it comes to women’s bodies and how they are treated.

Katy Dye comments: “We live in a world where we are frequently exposed to images of women who are made to look like little girls. As an adult who has physical childlike attributes, I was interested in becoming the infantilised images I have seen throughout my life, to find out the physical and emotional impact of this. The show blends performance art, dance and visually striking performance to ask difficult questions about the moral conscience of society.”

Running Time: 50 minutes

NEWS: Eastwood Park Theatre Announces Line Up For First Half of 2019

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Eastwood Park Theatre has lined up a series of top shows for the first half of 2019, bringing a wide variety of performances, including music and comedy, dance and drama and plenty for the kids.

Highlights include a new ‘romcom’, starring River City’s James Mackenzie to mark the Burns’ weekend, comedy shows including Glasgow International Comedy Festival’s family-friendly comedian James Campbell as well as Des McLean, Gary Little and Raymond Mearns.

No theatre season would be complete without a touch of drama – the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four will come for two nights in April, while The Electrifying Mr Johnston from Mull Theatre Company presents the story of one of Scotland’s unsung heroes and features an informal script-in-hand reading of a new play, giving the audience the chance to be part of the creative process along the way.

There are top tribute nights on the bill featuring some of the biggest names in music including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen and Status Quo, as well as The Travelling Wilburys.

Kids will also be able to catch the fantastic There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly during the February weekend, The MacDougalls’ Safari Adventure and Little Top, allowing the little ones to experience the magic of circus up close in May.

Anthony McReavy from East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure said: “There really is something for everyone in our forthcoming season at Eastwood Park Theatre.

“Make a date for a comedy night out – we have top Scottish comedians including Gary Little and Des McLean getting together for one great comedy night out and we have The Odyssey comedy coming to Clarkston Hall in May from the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons.

“Music fans are in for a treat too as we host the UK’s no.1 swing and jive band, The Jive Aces as well as some great tribute nights. You can also catch music by Scottish musician Mairi Campbell as she presents Auld Lang Syne, with live music, animation and movement.

“As always, we have plenty lined up for children including Little Gift, which is told with exquisite puppetry, original music and lots of heart from multi-award winning M6 theatre.

“Last but not least, we’re bringing back some big films to the big screen with a Grease Sing-A-Long, The Sound of Music and Paddington 2 all part of our line up.”

Find out more and book online now at:  www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 0141 577 4956

WHAT’S ON MARCH: Scottish Opera presents Janáček’s intense drama Kátya Kabanová in Glasgow

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In March, Scottish Opera presents Leos Janáček’s intense drama Kátya Kabanová in a new co-production with Theater Magdeburg, directed by the renowned British director Stephen Lawless and conducted by Stuart Stratford.

Following the recent success of Czech operas on the Scottish Opera stage with Janáček’s Jenůfa (2015) and Dvořák’s Rusalka (2016), Kátya Kabanová opens in Glasgow on March 12 and transfers to Festival Theatre Edinburgh.

Set in a small, industrial community in Russia, Kátya Kabanová is torn between her duties as a wife, and her dreams of a man who truly loves her. Trapped within an oppressive community, neglected by her husband and tormented by her mother-in-law, she is drawn towards escape, to nature and to the ever-present Volga river.

Soprano Laura Wilde makes her Scottish Opera debut in the title role, following her critically acclaimed European debut as Jenůfa in 2016 with English National Opera. Ric Furman also makes his Company debut as Boris Grigoyevich alongside Samuel Sakker as Tikhon Kabanov. Patricia Bardon returns to Scottish Opera for the first time in almost 20 years to sing Kabanicha. Scottish bass Brian Bannatyne-Scott sings Dikoy. Former Jette Parker Young Artist Hanna Hipp (The Marriage of Figaro 2016) joins the cast as Varvara and Trystan Llŷr Griffiths (Cosi fan tutte 2015) sings the role of Kudrjash. Scottish Opera Emerging Artists Alexey Gusev (Rigoletto 2018) and Bethan Langford (Rigoletto 2018) join the cast as Kuligin and Glasha.

Joining Stuart Stratford and Stephen Lawless on the creative team are award-winning Set and Costume Designer Leslie Travers and Tony award-winning Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind.

Stephen Lawless said: ‘Kátya Kabanová is one of the greatest twentieth century operas. Janáček writes consummate parts for women and the role of Kátya is arguably his best. Our compassion for her predicament draws from music of soaring intensity and heart-stopping lyricism. Scottish Opera has assembled a world class cast that will bring all their expertise to this tale of love, guilt, retribution and transcendence.’

Stuart Stratford said: ‘Janáček is one of the most concentrated of composers. Not a phrase or line is ever unnecessary. He has immense lyricism, which is always fighting for breath with a rigid and often brutal rhythmic underlay. This gives the music a real sense of dynamic tension which suits the subject matter perfectly.’

Those who wish to discover more about how the production was created can attend Kátya Kabanová Unwrapped, one-hour tasters delving further into the show, as well as Pre-show Talks. Audience members with visual impairments can enjoy the full opera experience at audio-described performances, which have a live commentary describing the action on stage without compromising the music.

 

Cast List

 

Kátya Kabanová                                             Laura Wilde

Kabanicha                                                     Patricia Bardon

Boris Grigoyevich                                           Ric Furman

Tikhon Kabanov                                             Samuel Sakker

Dikoy                                                            Brian Bannatyne-Scott

Varvara                                                          Hanna Hipp

Vanya Kudrjash                                              Tristan Llŷr Griffiths

Kuligin                                                           Alexey Gusev*

Feklusha                                                       Karen Murray

Glasha                                                          Bethan Langford*

Zena                                                             Christine Sjolander

A Man                                                           Declan McCusker

 

*Scottish Opera Emerging Artist

 

Creative Team

 

Conductor                                                       Stuart Stratford

Director                                                           Stephen Lawless

Set and Costume Designer                                Leslie Travers

Lighting Designer                                             Christopher Akerlind

Movement Director                                            Lynne Hockney

 

Performance Diary

 

Theatre Royal Glasgow, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 3QA

Tue 12 Mar, 7.15pm

Thu 14 Mar, 7.15pm

Sat 16 Mar, 7.15pm

 

Kátya Kabanová Unwrapped
Wed 13 Mar, 6pm

Kátya Kabanová Pre-show talk

Sat 16 Mar, 6pm

Kátya Kabanová Touch Tour

Sat 16 Mar, 6pm

Kátya Kabanová Audio-described performance

Sat 16 Mar, 7.15pm

 

Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT

Thur 21 Mar, 7.15pm

Sat 23 Mar, 7.15pm

 

Kátya Kabanová Unwrapped

Fri 22 Mar, 6pm

Kátya Kabanová Pre-show talk

Sat 23 Mar, 6pm

Kátya Kabanová Touch Tour

Sat 23 Mar, 6pm

Kátya Kabanová Audio-described performance

Sat 23 Mar, 7.15pm

WHAT’S ON FEBRUARY: TEASER FOR NEW TINA TURNER PRODUCTION WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? COMING TO GLASGOW

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The team behind a brand-new show celebrating the music of Tina Turner have released a video to showcase the exciting new production.

The debut tour of What’s Love Got To Do With It? launches in February 2019 promising to be the ultimate tribute show – with more than 50 dates already secured.

Finishing touches are now being put to the show, which stars Elesha Paul Moses (Whitney – Queen Of The Night, The Voice, The X Factor) as Tina Turner and showcases 50 years of hits.

Tickets are on sale now from www.cuffeandtaylor.com

What’s Love Got To Do With It? is presented by live music and theatre promoters Cuffe and Taylor. Director of Theatre Touring, Ben Hatton said: “We can’t wait for What’s Love Got To Do With It? to hit the stage across the UK in 2019 and 2020.

“This new clip of the show is a great teaser showing just how fantastic Elesha and the cast will be. We think she’s Simply The Best, and you will too.”

In this brand-new touring theatre show, audiences can expect a night of high energy, feel-good rock-and-roll featuring Tina’s greatest hits performed by the amazing vocal talent of Elesha Paul Moses (Whitney – Queen Of The Night, The Voice, X Factor) supported by a full 10-piece live band.

Speaking about playing Tina Turner, Elesha said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be touring the UK with What’s Love Got To Do With It? This is going to be a magnificent show and one that truly celebrates the incredible music and career of Tina Turner.

“Tina is a great persona to emulate on stage. I have performed as her many times over the years so to now be the lead in a show that will travel all over the UK and celebrate everything about her is an amazing opportunity and one I’m really looking forward to.”

In a breath-taking career spanning more than 50 years, audiences can look forward to hearing stunning musical arrangements of Tina’s most-loved classic hits including Private Dancer, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Proud Mary, River Deep, Nutbush City Limits, Simply The Best and many more. This not-to-be missed musical experience is a stunning celebration of one of the greatest female singers of our time.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?  TOUR DATES 2019

February    

Wed 27th EDINBURGH, USHER HALL

Thu 28th GLASGOW, KING’S THEATRE

March   

Fri 1st ABERDEEN, MUSIC HALL

 

 

WHAT’S ON FEBRUARY: Scotland’s Little Fix announce Glasgow, Lanark and Largs dates

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Finalists in BBC One’s Even Better Than the Real Thing, officially voted the UK’s number one Little Mix tribute act in last year’s National Tribute Music Awards, Glasgow’s Little Fix are coming to town. . .

Since winning TV’s The X Factor Little Mix have become the biggest girl group on the planet – topping the charts with Black Magic, Shout Out to My Ex, Wings and Cannonball among their 20 million-selling hits that also include Power, Woman Like Me, Move, Only You, DNA, Love Me Like You, Touch, Change Your Life, How Ya Doin’, Little Me and Reggaeton Lento.

Show promoter David Halford of Artistes International Management says that Little Fix deliver a high energy show that replicates the energy, stage presence and vocal abilities of the original group. “With stunning stage outfits to match,” he says. “Little Fix power through all of Little Mix’s biggest hits with identical choreography and vocal finesse that puts ‘Girl Power’ firmly back on the agenda.”

Since their TV success, Little Fix have toured the UK bringing the greatest hits of Little Mix alive on stage while Little Mix themselves have lined up a number of arena shows .

“With Little Mix not set to tour until late autumn next year,” says David, “why wait to get your fix of Little Mix, catch Little Fix at your local theatre in the coming weeks.”

Tickets for the weekend afternoon show are available from the venue box office.

LITTLE FIX The UK’s No1 Little Mix Tribute

Saturday 9 February, 2019 2pm

LANARK MEMORIAL HALL St Leonard Street, Lanark ML11 7AB

sllcboxoffice.co.uk  01555 667999

Sunday 10 February, 2019 2pm

GLASGOW PAVILION 121 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3AX

paviliontheatre.co.uk  0141 332 1846

Saturday 16 February, 2019 2pm

BARRFIELD THEATRE Largs

barrfields.co.uk  01475 689777

WHAT’S ON MAY: ROYAL WEDDING GOSPEL SINGERS THE KINGDOM CHOIR HEADING TO GLASGOW

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Royal wedding gospel singers The Kingdom Choir are heading out on a UK tour in 2019 which comes to Glasgow Theatre Royal.

The Kingdom Choir became a household name following the stunning performance of Stand By Me at the wedding of HRH Prince Harry and the Duchess Of Sussex last May.

And now the choir is set to perform at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday, May 22.

The 18-date headline tour in April and May will include a first anniversary celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in London, a year to the day after the wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Tickets are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.cuffeandtaylor.com

Following the Royal Wedding performance, The Kingdom Choir has made high profile appearances across UK TV networks as well as closing the Invictus Games in Sydney in October. Last month the choir released its debut album Stand By Me via Sony, which features the title track as performed at the Royal Wedding, as well as versions of Beyoncé’s Halo, John Legend’s All Of Me and Stormzy’s Blinded By Your Grace Part 2. It also includes original track Chases, written by members of The Kingdom Choir.

Karen Gibson, conductor of The Kingdom Choir, said: “The Kingdom Choir is absolutely delighted with the journey of the past few months! It’s been a rollercoaster, but we wouldn’t have it any other way – first, the honour of being able to sing at the Royal Wedding, then the thrill of being signed to Sony, and now a national tour!

“It’s like an un-dreamt dream – one that you wouldn’t even consider, because you never thought it could happen to you. We’re very grateful and very excited about what’s to come.”

The choir consists of seasoned male and female vocalists, chosen for their high-quality delivery of choral meets gospel. They’ve been featured in the film Tube Tales, the TV series Maisie Raine, an Orange advert, and alongside the BBC Philharmonic for the Radio 4 Easter Sunday Worship.

The choir’s rendition of Stand By Me went straight in at Number 1 on the Billboard Gospel Songs Chart after the wedding and received more than 10 million views on YouTube.

The choir was founded in 1994 London by award-winning conductor Karen Gibson. The singers, from in and around London, draw from various Christian traditions and are dedicated to creating a sound that demonstrates the community they share through their warm energy and enthusiastic performance. Prior to performing in front of almost two billion people at the Royal Wedding, the largest audience The Kingdom Choir had performed to was just 200 people.

The Kingdom Choir’s debut album Stand By Me is available now via Sony Music.

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