The List Issue 761

C DUNCAN

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OTI MABUSE EXTREME CINEMA

CATHERINE BOHART BARBARA HEPWORTH GLASGOW & EDINBURGH EVENTS GUIDE MAY 2022 | ISSUE 761 LIST.CO.UK

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

FREE

BLACK SCOT POD SHAKING UP THE PODCAST SCENE

ATGTICKETS.COM/Edinburgh

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PICTURE: MATT CROCKETT

CONTENTS

FRONT Mouthpiece

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Claire L Heuchan spreads the joy about audiobooks

My New Hobby

9

Hannah Ross takes up the button accordion

FEATURES Dance Special

10

NDT 2 and Oti Mabuse step on up

Extreme Cinema

17

The directors who make us watch through our fingers

EAT DRINK SHOP King’s Inch Whisky

25

Glasgow’s award-winning dram

Dandelion

26

How the country started to grow its own

Drink Up

30

. . . yet more whisky

GOING OUT Aye Write

35

Catherine Simpson laughs in the face of tragedy

Wuthering Heights

43

Lucy McCormick on a new kind of Cathy

Sun Ra Arkestra

46

Keeping a cosmic spirit alive

Barbara Hepworth

60

The life and work of an iconic sculptor

STAYING IN Pat Pope

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Celebrating an archetypal music photographer

The Staircase

71

Turning true crime docs into gritty drama

Macbeth

73

David Tennant sees dead people

I decide what and when I share things CATHERINE BOHART ON PUTTING HER PRIVATE LIFE ON STAGE

37

BACK Janice Forsyth

77

Celebrity doppelgangers and spotted hyenas

Hot Shots

78

Obi-Wan Kenobi rises again

COVER PICTURE: INSTAGRAM @KITTY_PRESSLAND_TATTOO

May 2022 THE LIST 3

WELCOME

CONTRIBUTORS With spring well underway, the time was obviously ripe for a dance special and all the rubbish puns that go along with that. We’ve done the dance special but, you’ll be glad to hear, avoided the bad gags (OK, there’s one hidden in plain sight on this page).

From the Netherlands come the amazing NDT 2 for another innovative and dramatic movement showcase while TV’s Oti Mabuse tells us that a tough upbringing in post-apartheid South Africa has heavily influenced her career and worldview. Plus, we speak to Leicester-based Aakash Odedra who has a deeply personal story about dyslexia to put before young audiences at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival.

Buenos Aires-born filmmaker Gaspar Noé has created some of the most disturbing moments in modern cinema. The hardcore experience of witnessing Seul Contre Tous on the big screen over 20 years ago has never left me, and hats off if you managed to stay the full course for Irreversible. But has the guy now gone soft with his new movie Vortex? And if Noé’s edge has smoothed out a little, is there a new generation ready to step into his shoes as the new radicals of extreme cinema? You bet there is.

Elsewhere across this issue, we interview Catherine Bohart about making comedy out of a break-up, chat to C Duncan about his cheery new album, hear from Lucy McCormick about a daring Wuthering Heights and learn all about the pioneering mid 20thcentury Labour politician Ellen Wilkinson. Reviews, you say? Plenty of them, including David Tennant as Macbeth, Scottish Ballet’s scandalous new work and the raucous Orphans, plus Blondie, Benediction, Barbara Hepworth and Bloc Party.

And all hail our cover stars, Suzie Mwanza and Shirley Mcpherson, whose Black Scot Pod has filled a huge gap in the market both in podcasting and the broader mainstream media, hopefully opening up opportunities for others to follow in their wake. Black Scot Pod certainly tackles some tough issues, but also offers a weekly ray of delight with new episodes going up every Thursday. These two pals from Musselburgh chat with Zara Janjua about turning banter into an artform.

PUBLISHING CEO Sheri Friers Editor Brian Donaldson Art Director Seonaid Rafferty Designer Carys Tennant Sub Editor Paul McLean Megan Merino Writers: Brian Donaldson, Carol Main, Claire L Heuchan, Claire Sawers, David Kirkwood, Deborah Chu, Emma Simmonds, Fiona Shepherd, Gareth K Vile, Gemma Murphy, Hannah Ross, Jay Richardson, Jay Thundercliffe, Jo Laidlaw, Katherine McLaughlin, Kelly Apter, Kevin Fullerton, Lucy Ribchester, Lynsey May, Mark Fisher, Megan Merino, Miranda Heggie, Murray Robertson, Rachel Cronin, Sean Greenhorn, Stewart Smith, Suzy Pope, Zara Janjua Social Media and Content Editor Megan Merino Business Development Manager

Brian Donaldson EDITOR

Jayne Atkinson Affiliates Manager Kevin Fullerton Media Sales Executive Ewan Wood

Published by List Publishing Ltd 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh EH8 9SU Tel: 0131 623 3040 list.co.uk editor@list.co.uk ISSN: 0959 - 1915

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THE INNOCENTS

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Use of magazine content is at your own risk.

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NEED SOME NEW MEALTIME INSPIRATION? TRY THESE QUICK AND EASY ASIAN-INSPIRED RECIPES FROM HELLOFRESH.

Preheat your oven to 200°C. Halve the pepper and discard the core and seeds. Slice into thin strips. Zest and halve the lime. Halve, peel and thinly slice the onion. Peel and grate garlic (or use a garlic press). Keep a few sprigs of coriander aside for garnish, roughly chop the rest (stalks and all).

Drain the mozzarella and thinly slice.

Pop the red onion into a small bowl.

Add the red wine vinegar, sugar (see ingredients for amount) and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine and leave to one side.

CHICKEN TIKKA NAAN PIZZA

WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES AND MANGO CHUTNEY We’ve combined two of our customers’ favourite cuisines, Italian and Indian, to create a winning recipe for your next pizza night. The perfect ‘tear and share’ for a night in with friends!

30 minutes, Serves 2 1 Bell Pepper ½ Lime ½ Red Onion 1 Garlic Clove 1 bunch Coriander 1 ball Mozzarella 1 unit Red Wine Vinegar 1 pack Sweet Potato Fries 1 pot Ground Coriander

1 sachet Tomato Puree 1 pot North Indian Style Spice Mix 1 pack Tomato Passata 2 units Plain Naan 1 pot Mango Chutney 1 pot Nigella Seeds 1 bag Baby Leaves 280g Diced Chicken Breast 1 tsp Sugar 1 tbsp Olive Oil

Pop the sweet potato fries on a baking tray (with a drizzle of oil, salt and pepper) and roast on the middle shelf until golden, 20-25 mins. Turn halfway.

Place sliced pepper and diced chicken onto another baking tray. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle over the ground coriander, lime zest and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread out in a single layer. Roast for 10-12 mins until the pepper begins to soften and the chicken is cooked through.

Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the tomato puree, garlic

and curry powder to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring continuously then add the passata. Increase the heat slightly and reduce the sauce until thick and tomatoey, 3-4 mins.

Stir regularly. Once reduced, mix the chopped coriander into the sauce and remove from the heat. Season to taste.

When the chicken and peppers are ready, transfer to a plate and wipe the tray clean with kitchen paper. Pop the naans onto the tray. Spoon the tomato sauce on top and spread with the back of a spoon (leave space for a crust)! Divide the chicken and pepper between the naans. Lay the mozzarella slices evenly on top. Cook the pizzas on the top shelf until the cheese has melted and the edges are starting to colour, 6-8 mins.

In a large bowl, mix together half the mango chutney, the olive oil for the dressing (see ingredients for amount) and the lime juice. Once the pizzas are out, sprinkle over the nigella seeds, pickled red onion and remaining coriander sprigs. Dollop the remaining mango chutney over the top. Pop the salad leaves into the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Serve the salad and the fries on the side.

TERIYAKI GLAZED TOFU

WITH GINGER FRIED RICE

We love good Teriyaki Tofu with Ginger Fried Rice and this deliciously simple, chef-curated recipe doesn’t disappoint.

Time to bust out the pots and pans!

35 minutes, Serves 2 300ml Water for Rice 1 pot Star Anise 150g Basmati Rice 1 block Tofu 8g Plain Flour ½ pot Thai Spice Blend 1 Pak Choi 1 pack Tenderstem Broccoli 1 Garlic Clove ½ Lime 1 Spring Onion 1 pot Sesame Seeds 1 sachet Teriyaki Sauce 1 sachet Ginger Purée 50ml Water for the Sauce Pour 300ml of water into a saucepan and bring to the boil. When boiling, add ¼ tsp of salt and the star anise.

Stir in the rice, lower the heat to medium and cover with a lid. Leave to cook for 10 mins before removing from the heat (still covered) and

leaving to rest for 10 mins (or until ready to serve).

Meanwhile, drain and pat dry the tofu using a paper towel. Cut in half lengthways and then cut each half into 6-8 cubes. In a small bowl combine the flour and Thai spice and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss the tofu cubes through the flour until evenly coated.

Trim the pak choi then thinly slice widthways. Cut the tenderstem in half widthways. Peel and grate (or crush) the garlic. Zest the lime and cut into wedges. Trim the spring onion then slice thinly. Heat a large frying pan or wok on a medium-high heat. When hot add the sesame seeds, stirring regularly until lightly toasted, 2-3 mins.

Watch them closely to avoid burning.

Transfer the sesame seeds to a small bowl.

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Pop your pan back onto a medium high heat and add a glug of oil.

When hot, add the tofu and stir fry until crispy all over, 8-10 mins. Next, reduce the heat and carefully add the teriyaki sauce and 50 ml water, it’ll bubble vigorously so stand back!

Stirring constantly, cook until the sauce has reduced and the tofu is glazed, 2-3 mins. Once cooked, transfer the tofu and all the sauce to a bowl, cover with foil and set aside.

Wipe the pan clean.

Put the frying pan back on a medium high heat, drizzle with oil. When hot add the tenderstem broccoli and stir fry until starting to brown, 2-3 mins.

Add a splash of water, cover with a lid or foil and steam fry until the broccoli is tender, 2-3 more mins. Remove the lid and add the ginger puree, lime zest, garlic and pak choi. Stir fry until the pak choi has wilted, 1-2 mins.

Remove the star anise from the rice and add the rice to the pan with the veg. Stir to combine. Season with a pinch of salt and squeeze of lime juice.

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March May 2022 THE LIST 5 1

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Never Mind The B It’s All About T THINGS ARE GETTING PUNKY ON ARDBEG DAY 2022, AS THE GRAND FINALE OF ISLAY’S FESTIVAL, OR FÈIS ÌLE, IS WASHED DOWN WITH A NEW LIMITED-EDITION RELEASE

ARDCORE TUNES

A SCOTTISH PUNK PLAYLIST A dram as epic as Ardcore deserves its own soundtrack. Stick on these five iconic Scottish punk tunes for a full multi-sensory experience:

The Rezillos - Top Of The Pops Skids - Into The Valley The Valves - Robot Love Oi Polloi - Boot Down The Doors The Zones - Stuck With You

6 THE LIST March 2 May 2022 2022

The physical return of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle) this year is worthy of great celebration, as lovers of beaches, ceilidhs and drams unite once more on the island at the beginning of June. Home to nine whisky distilleries, Islay is renowned around the world for its single malts. And none pack as much of a punch as those created by Ardbeg, who since 1815 pride themselves on creating the peatiest, smokiest and most complex flavours on the island.

The annual tradition of celebrating all things Ardbeg on the final Saturday of Fèis Ìle, then, seems only natural. This year’s Ardbeg Day 2022 lands on Saturday 4 June and will involve events both on the Isle of Islay and online for the global Ardbeg community to enjoy.

Festivities will centre around the launch of a new and unconventional limited-edition release from Ardbeg - Ardcore.

Created with roasted black malt, this devilishly delicious and

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OLD THRASHENED Ingredients • 60ml Ardcore • 8ml Cayenne Honey Syrup • 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters • Garnish: Orange Twist & Lemon Twist

Tools • Mixing Glass • Bar Spoon • Strainer • Rocks Glass • BFIC (Big Freaking Ice Cube) • Jigger

Directions Add all liquid ingredients to a mixing glass, stir cocktail for dilution. Strain into a rock glass over a BFIC and garnish.

Cayenne Honey: Add 2 teaspoons of ground cayenne pepper to 175ml honey and 120ml water, stir on low heat until incorporated.

ZIPPER Ingredients • 30ml Ardcore • 7ml Lemon Juice • 7ml Blackberry Liqueur • 2 dashes Apple Cider Vinegar • 120ml Sparkling Coconut Water • Garnish: Blackberries and Lemon Twist

Tools • Collins glass • Jigger • Bar Spoon

e Barrels, t The Black Malt!

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Directions Add all liquid ingredients, except sparkling coconut water to a Collins glass. Stir to mix, add sparkling coconut water and serve.

palate ‘punk-turing’ dram is described by Master Distiller Dr Bill Lumsden as tasting ‘like biting on a spiky ball’ with notes of marmite, burnt toast and infused coffee grounds. Inspired by the devil-may-care attitude of Ardbeg’s fans, this dram should come with a ‘not for the faint hearted’ warning label.

The concept for Ardcore draws inspiration from Islay’s little-known punk past, celebrating the characters of ‘PUNK ELLEN’ – the alleged nickname for Islay’s main port, Port Ellen, in the 1970s.

Ardbeg’s Dr Bill Lumsden expands: ‘Ardcore is a dram that wears its heart on its sleeve – its black heart!

Created with roasted black malt, burnt to hair-raising levels, this spirit is all about substance. Notes of charcoal and sweet smoke make for an in-your-face nose, while potent notes of aniseed and dark chocolate stamp this bottle out as one fit only for the most Ardcore of fans.’

For more news on Ardbeg Day 2022 and all things Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky fans can join the Ardbeg Committee at Ardbeg.com.

drinkaware.co.uk for the facts

ARDCORE TASTING NOTES Ardcore grips the senses, with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused coffee grounds making for a mosh pit in the glass. Like a safety pin through the septum, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note is present, while swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage.

RRP: £105, available to buy from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists, online retailers and from the Distillery Visitor Centre.

March 3 May 2022 THE LIST 7

PICTURE: OLIVER ROSSER FEAST CREATIVE

FRONT

Ian McKellen is a sound for sore ears

Kicking off our celeb birthday round-up are professional smoulderers Jamie Dornan, Joanna Lumley and Julie Benz, all of whom will look bloody beautiful when they blow out their candles on the very first day of May. Following them on May Day is charisma machine Dwayne Johnson, aftershave hawker David Beckham and ray of sunshine Ellie Kemper, who are all presumably ardent supporters of workers’ rights. Less gorgeous but equally talented is an impressive roster of film directors with birthdays in May, including Wes Anderson (1st), John Woo (1st), Michel Gondry (8th) and Robert Zemeckis (14th). Prefer to see glamour in front of the camera? Then join us in wishing many happy returns to acting royalty Robert Pattinson (13th), Cate Blanchett (14th), Tim Roth (14th) and Samantha Morton (13th). George ‘Gorgeous George’ Clooney (6th) straddles several of the above camps, as someone who has been both in front and behind the movie camera. And is, as the nickname suggests, quite gorgeous. Our selection of Scots who burst forth into the world like a Xenomorph includes musical supremos David Byrne (14th) and Donovan (10th), plus Andy Murray (15th), Craig Ferguson (17th), Martin Compston (8th) and Phyllida Law (8th). May your birthdays be happy and your presents many.

MOU THPIE CE Claire L Heuchan argues that snobbish attitudes towards audiobooks ignore the positive impact they have on marginalised communities Audiobooks are the fastest growing segment of the publishing industry.

Sales are soaring. Through the first half of 2021, when the country was under lockdown, the income generated by audiobooks was up a colossal 71% from a mere two years before. This rise is meteoric compared to print sales, which grew 6% in the same period; and ebooks, sales of which rose by 10%. Having more free time encouraged more people to try audiobooks, and even as the world opens up again, people continue to listen.

But the success of audiobooks isn’t purely down to the pandemic. Even before Covid-19 hit, their popularity grew exponentially. We can listen to books on a dull commute, while cooking and cleaning, when we’re shopping at the supermarket, during walks or long car journeys . . . the possibilities are endless. Audiobooks bring colour to the mundane, and calm us as we live through major historic events.

In a cultural landscape increasingly defined by clickbait and endless content, it means something that more and more people choose to spend hours of their lives immersed in listening to books. Ever since the advent of e-readers, people have been predicting doom and gloom for the future of the novel. But this widespread hunger for audiobooks tells a different story.

Apps like BorrowBox and Libby have breathed fresh life into local libraries too, allowing people to borrow audiobooks for free. Indeed, research indicates that libraries are the leading competition to Amazonowned Audible which dominates the market. The success of digital catalogues offers still more proof that libraries continue to be vital.

Yet, in spite of all the pleasure they bring readers across generations, there is a persistent snobbery attached to audiobooks. Some don’t consider it ‘real’ reading, because the books are narrated. But snobs would do well to reflect on whom their prejudices exclude from the label of reader. The ready availability of audiobooks means that more people who are visually impaired, people with dyslexia or ADHD, can engage with novels than ever before.

Besides, as audiobooks grow in popularity, publishers are more likely to invest in quality narration. Ian McKellen, Fiona Shaw, Bahni Turpin, Robin Miles (all tremendous actors in their own right) have made waves performing audiobooks. Their readings add a new dimension to every text. This quality and innovation elevate audiobooks as a medium, ensuring they are here to stay. Audiobooks are a gamechanger.  Claire L Heuchan is an author, commentator and award-winning essayist. She’s the founder and chair of Labrys Lit, an international lesbian book group.

Fantastic Mr Fox, directed by and starring two May birthday boys

HAPPY RETURNERS

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FRONT

Who better to make an Easterthemed crack than Lucy Dacus, the author of ‘VBS’ (Vacation Bible Study). Just one day later the singer-songwriter played her own resurrection gig to adoring fans in Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket after having to reschedule by a month (a dose of the dreaded ‘c’ word, we hear)

my new hobby Continuing a family tradition, Hannah Ross is steadily getting to grips with the button accordion I grew up in Shetland surrounded by ceilidh and folk music, but never really played it, instead studying classical piano and playing jazz double bass. I’ve barely played anything since I graduated in 2010, but in 2016 my mainland grandad died and left me one of his button boxes. In 2021, I finally decided to give it a proper go.

It’s diatonic, meaning each button plays two different notes or chords, depending on whether you’re pushing or pulling the bellows. Learning tunes is frustratingly slow, but also quite fun. I’ve been taking lessons online with a melodeon player in York, and with so many different influences I’m intrigued to see what kind of musical style I end up with. My aim is to be able to play in sessions with friends. I’ve tried a couple online (on mute) and I’m definitely not ready yet. Thankfully my neighbours claim not to mind . . .  Hannah R oss is Choirs Co-ordinator at Lov e M usic Community Choir; choir.lov emusic.org.uk

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IS IT CAKE?

The Netflix-breaking Bridgerton is back for its second season with more extravagant wigs, estates and hoisted bosom aplenty. But this season’s shift in focus onto the eldest Bridgerton brother Anthony leaves besotted fans yearning for more heat, hedonism and, well . . . Regé-Jean Page.

To touch a cake, to crave a cake, to sleep, perchance to dream a cake. Such is the ropey premise of Netflix’s Deal Or No Deal rip-off Is It Cake?, in which cheerful contestants guess if everyday objects are cakes or, erm, not cakes. Is it rubbish? Yes, yes it is.

Bring It Back

Get It Gone

Stuff we’d love to see return and things we wish would quietly exit May 2022 THE LIST 9

NDT 2

FEATURES

PICTURE: TRISTRAM KENTON

10 THE LIST May 2022

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It’s this ability to blend incredible technique, engaging choreography and thought-provoking content that has made each NDT 2 performance an anticipated event for over 40 years. ‘We know that we have this lineage, this history and reputation,’ says Cawley. ‘But with that reputation comes responsibility. The reason we have it is because we’re constantly pushing boundaries and thinking, “what is the next thing we want to say?” Something that’s not just noise but a true response to what’s needed in today’s world. And that’s really beautiful to be a part of and to witness.’

NDT 2, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Friday 6 & Saturday 7 May.

PICTURE: TRISTRAM KENTON PICTURE: JORIS-JAN BOS PICTURE: TRISTRAM KENTON

hey may not be visible on stage, but an old car motor, a vacuum cleaner and a mobile phone are all playing their part in Nederlands Dans Theater 2’s latest tour. In fact, there’s a whole world of ideas and preparations that we, the audience, aren’t privy to, but feed into the brilliance of this young Dutch company.

As Nederlands Dans Theater 1’s youth wing, NDT 2 is a rocketfuelled company of 19 to 25-year-olds drawn from around the world.

A stringent regime of daily classical ballet and contemporary dance classes, coupled with work by some of the finest choreographers in the business, make each show as compelling as the last. And, after a two-year absence, the current tour featuring two UK premieres

by Marco Goecke and Johan Inger, plus Hans van Manen’s Simple T hings, is a very welcome return.

First, the car motor, which doesn’t appear in Goecke’s T he B ig Crying, a work inspired by the death of his father. ‘One day Marco wheeled it into the rehearsal room and said, “that’s my father”,’ recalls dancer Cassandra Martin. ‘And he explained that when he was at the hospital visiting his father, the doctor said that our bodies are machines and as we get older the machine gets run down and stops working. It’s just a part of life and nothing you can philosophise about.’

The motor prop never made it onto the stage but did help inform the dancers’ understanding of Goecke’s grief. As a result, T he B ig Crying speaks poignantly to anyone who has ever lost someone they loved. It also contains some hugely impressive, fast-paced synchronised movement. How hard is it to achieve that razor-sharp unison, especially after the recent spell of pandemicenforced inactivity?

‘It’s very difficult,’ says Martin, before revealing another behind-the-scenes trick in the NDT 2 playbook. ‘Before each performance we have a ritual of dancing the group sections together onstage before the curtain goes up. It’s a way of getting into the right mindset, removing the ego and making sure we’re working as a unit, as a vessel for the piece.’

A little backstage magic also comes into play in Inger’s I M P A SSE , a ‘them and us’ drama driven by the infectiously joyful music of jazz composer Ibrahim Maalouf. Opening with a trio of dancers living their best, carefree life, the mood shifts when a group of commercial-looking business folk arrive. ‘The trio are more in touch with nature and have a child-like curiosity,’ explains Martin. ‘Then what we call the “city people” come in to seduce them into a more consumerist lifestyle and a slicker way of moving. So each night backstage, the city people decide what it is we’re “selling” to the trio (something like a vacuum cleaner or a phone) to influence their lifestyle.’

This duplicity flies off the stage with a lightness of touch that has ‘feelgood closer’ written all over it. Yet there’s something deeper at play in Inger’s work that slowly creeps under the skin.

‘You really see how it reflects a lot about today’s society in the way that so much turmoil and negativity happen around us, but it’s embellished in these beautiful packages that disguise what’s actually going on,’ says dancer Emmitt Cawley, who plays one of the trio. ‘And the audience gets swept up in the joy, It’s so easy to watch; it’s mesmerising. But then there’s a moment where you see it for what it is. It’s so subtle but so impactful, it really makes you question, “was that joyful or did it have something else to say?” And perhaps there are other aspects in life where these embellishments distract us from things that are tearing you down and changing you.’

NDT 2 FEATURES

Brilliant Dutch company NDT 2 kicks off our dance special. As its dancers put the legwork into riveting new pieces, Kelly Apter can’t help but be dazzled by their technique, energy and innovation

W AAKASH ODEDRA

hen award-winning choreographer Aakash O dedra was 21 years old, he realised he’d been spelling his name incorrectly his whole life, missing out the second ‘a’. The reason? Dyslexia, which he had worked throughout his school years to try and minimise. Years later, however, he would use this same neurodivergence, which O dedra calls a ‘gift’ not a ‘curse’, to create the subject for his 2015 dance piece M urmur. Following that success, O dedra has now adapted it into Little M urmur, a new work that tours with a rotating cast of solo dancers and is showing as part of the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival.

‘You’re always put into special needs groups if you’re dyslexic, or if you don’t fit the mould,’ dedra says over oom from Mumbai where he’s

word play

When understood correctly, dyslexia can be a creative superpower. In the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival programme, Lucy Ribchester finds a new dance piece

by Aakash Odedra which explores this special inner world

currently working on a new piece. ‘You’re labelled unintelligent, because there’s a lack of understanding of what dyslexia means.’ Some of the world’s brightest minds, O dedra points out, have been dyslexics: Einstein for one. Searching for a non-verbal metaphor with which to explore a language-based neurodivergence, he homed in on this idea of intelligence, and settled on the image of a starling.

‘They’re very curious (curiosity is a sign of intelligence) and when they fly they form a murmuration,’ dedra says. ‘There’s this warping of shapes in space.’ With dyslexia, he explains, information is interpreted differently via the visual cortex: ‘letters and objects change their perspectives’. In Little M urmur, he wanted the chaos of the starlings’ murmuration (created with flying paper and swirling pro ections) to echo the creative world of a dyslexic person, which can shapeshift and transform objects. It’s the reason O dedra can look at, for example, an iron and instinctively see in it an animated, characterful creature.

Little M urmur is dedra’s first piece for children. is choreographic style merges contemporary dance with classical Kathak, creating a dance language ‘without borders’. As a British Asian speaker of four mother tongues indi, u arati, athiawari and nglish), he compares this to that moment when he can’t find the right word in one language, making it feel natural to switch to another.

For similar reasons, O dedra believes that creativity is inherent in dyslexia.

‘In a school, when you’re writing a sentence and you can’t spell the word that you need, you’ll find another word that you can spell to compensate for it; that’s being creative.’ Dyslexia, it seems, has always been present in O dedra’s work, even to the extent that feeling like an outsider led him to set up his own company. ‘If you’re not going to make allowance for me, I ’ll make allowances and bring people into my world.’

Aakash Odedra Company: Little Murmur, Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, Thursday 12–Sunday 15 May. 12 THE LIST May 2022

OTI MABUSE

As one of television’s most recognisable dancers, Oti Mabuse may live a sequinned, star-studded life now.

But she tells Lucy Ribchester that it was growing up in postapartheid South Africa which inspired her to become the dancer she is today

I

BE HERE NOW

f birth names are given to fulfil prophesies, O ti Mabuse’s has certainly succeeded. ‘ tlile’ her full first name) translates from South African language Setswana as ‘I am here’.

It’s the name Mabuse has given to her new stage show, and unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past five years (or don’t possess a television or the internet), you will know that, yes, O ti Mabuse is most definitely here.

She joined the cast of Strictly Come D ancing in 2015 and went on to become the only pro dancer to win in consecutive years, doubling down on that by also leading her teams to victory twice in a row on BBC show T he G reatest D ancer. Appearances as a judge on R uP aul’s D rag R ace U K and T he M asked D ancer followed, then earlier this year, Mabuse hung up her Strictly shoes to join the judging panel of ITV ’s D ancing O n I ce.

But that, it seems, has not kept her quite busy enough, as she has now created her own touring stage show. Even the prospect of spending the summer in Scottish weather cannot dampen Mabuse’s famously vibrant spirit. ‘I love Scotland and I always think they are the best audiences; they will be rooting and shouting,’ she says brightly over Z oom, where she is knee-deep in a day of backto-back publicity interviews. Mabuse talks excitedly about the show, which

>> May 2022 THE LIST 13

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talks excitedly about the show, which she created to celebrate her path to dancing and fame. ‘I want audiences to try and feel that they know me. I want them to know where I come from and what ignites me.’

I A m Here sets out to chart Mabuse’s life through dance, blending together the sambas, tangos and jives she’s known for into a choreographed ensemble piece. But though the show aims to be ultimately uplifting, its path, she points out, was not always a happy one. s one of the first generations to grow up in post-apartheid South Africa, Mabuse is keen to show the political climate in which she discovered dance. In fact, growing up in the shadow of horror has been one of the driving forces throughout her career. ‘What we’ve been through, and what I know life to be like in South Africa, is something that inspired me to do what I do with dance right now. It inspires me to be grateful for everything that I have, and that I don’t have to fight for education or to have housing, and that I can travel.’

Mabuse has definitely walked the walk when it comes to living these values. It was this connection with her past that drove her to give away free dance lessons on YouTube and Instagram during the pandemic. Marooned from work like every other dancer, her thoughts turned to the children at the dance school her mother set up in South Africa. ‘My mum was really, really upset. She was crying. At the school they give the kids food. Some of these under-privileged kids are not going to be able to have breakfast, lunch or dinner if they don’t come to school. I ust thought, I live right now in a first world country where everybody has a phone. Let me do something useful.’

Alongside her husband, she continued streaming free lessons for a year, which eventually evolved into the CBeebies show B oogie B eebies, targeted at getting small children moving. But while it’s clear Mabuse wants to share her love of dance, anyone who watches Strictly will know this determination doesn’t always present itself with uncomplicated kindness. She famously strapped ill ailey to a crucifi to correct his posture and made elvin letcher perform press-ups if he got his steps wrong. Are there any limits to how far she will push a non-pro dancer?

‘I don’t have limits,’ she says. ‘ o, honestly . . . with ill and with elvin it was about giving them the most difficult choreography and telling them it’s easy. nd because they don’t have anybody in their ears who could tell them, no, it’s too difficult , they have no perspective of what’s easy and what’s difficult. Then on aturday, everyone goes, wow that was difficult , and they’re like, was it he told me it was easy .’

At least Mabuse only pushes others as hard as she pushes herself. As our conversation draws to a close, she’s gearing up for another of her 40 interviews scheduled to promote I A m Here. Will she get a day off tomorrow? ‘N o! ’ she scream-laughs, in that famous, friendly-but-takes-no-prisoners voice.

I don’t have limits

”

Oti Mabuse: I Am Here, SEC, Glasgow, Saturday 7 May; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sunday 8 May.

Moving Forward Kelly Apter fills us in on another quintet of top dance highlights over the coming months BALLET BLACK The dynamic London-based company celebrates its 20th anniversary with a double-bill of works by South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma (whose Dancing In The Streets appeared at last year’s Edinburgh International Festival) and Ballet Black founder Cassa Pancho.  Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 4 May.

LORD OF THE DANCE: 25 YEARS OF STANDING OVATIONS

PICTURES: BILL COOPER

The title says it all: the Irish music and dance show that Michael Flatley created after parting company with Riverdance has wowed crowds around the world. Staying seated is not an option.  Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, Thursday 19–Saturday 21 May; SEC, Glasgow, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 June, Friday 8 & Saturday 9 July.

DIVERSITY: CONNECTED Ballet Black

14 THE LIST May 2022

The Diversity troupe has come a long way since winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, playing sell-out shows

wherever they land. This time their dynamic routines focus on social media and digital connection.  King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Thursday 19–Saturday 21 May.

SCOTTISH BALLET: THE SCANDAL AT MAYERLING One of the most dramatic productions Scottish Ballet has ever staged, The Scandal At Mayerling is a true story of passion, predilection and tragedy in the 19th-century Austro-Hungarian Royal Court. See review, page 63.  Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 25–Saturday 28 May.

STRICTLY COME DANCING: THE PROFESSIONALS Unshackled from their celebrity partners, the real stars of Strictly shine like a disco ball as ten of the team (champions one and all) deliver some first-class Latin and ballroom.  SEC, Glasgow, Saturday 28 May; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sunday 29 May.

Saturday 17 September

Giants of Soul Tuesday 27 September

Ian Brown Monday 2 May

Tuesday 14 June

Bad Boy Chiller Crew

Beck

Saturday 7 May

Wednesday 22 June

Bongo’s Bingo

Jessie Ware

Monday 9 May

Tuesday 26 July

Gary Numan

Shaggy

Friday 13 May

Wednesday 3 August

Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems

Pixies

Saturday 14 May

Bongo’s Bingo Tuesday 17 May

MARINA Thursday 19 May

The Charlatans Friday 20 May

Bongo’s Bingo Saturday 4 June

A Night At The Darts

Saturday 6 August

Wednesday 5 October

Fantastic Five of 14 Saturday 22 October

The Enemy + Little Man Tate Saturday 5 November Sunday 6 November

Big Big Wedding Fair & Fashion Show

The Dualers

Monday 28 November

Monday 8 August

Fontaines D.C.

The Libertines Friday 12 August

The Wombats Saturday 20 August

O2 Academy Edinburgh 11 New Market Road Edinburgh EH14 1RJ o2academyedinburgh.co.uk

The Gaslight Anthem Thursday 1 September

Embrace

May 2022 THE LIST 15

Step back in time for a spectacular medieval weekend!

01896 830323 / www.traquair.co.uk

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16 THE LIST May 2022

EXTREME CINEMA FEATURES

k c sho tactics

ce é was on d o N r a p Gas jolte aker who ir m lm fi e th the es out of audienc cy with truly en complac epictions of d horrifying age. As he rn social ca new movie, a releases hlin McLaug r Katherine hether the maste w rs conside r has really ht teu provoca nd asks who mig a d ch softene as the ar ema im h e c repla me cin r of extre o y e v r u p

>>

May 2022 THE LIST 17

EXTREME CINEMA

W

hen Gaspar Noé’s Vortex premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, reviews suggested that the enfant terrible behind Enter The Void, Seul Contre Tous, Irreversible and Climax had finally matured. The split screen film stars ario rgento and ran oise ebrun as a couple living out their last days in a arisian apartment. It’s a confronting and formally daring portrait of ageing and mortality which o made following a life threatening brain haemorrhage. Yet, it’s not the usual bare knuckle ride associated with his provocateur reputation. ewind to a pre pandemic annes where o screened short film Lux Æterna, a provocative visual assault starring atrice alle and harlotte ainsbourg as themselves discussing their on set e periences. t the same time, a new crop of writers and directors determined to push buttons and boundaries in cinema as personal catharsis seemed to be materialising.

In a nearby theatre on the roisette that same year, uentin Tarantino was in the audience for annes’ premiere of Nina Wu, a harrowing and bold post MeToo portrayal of humiliation, rape and T inspired by the nightmares and e periences of actress e i u who starred in and co wrote the film with Taiwanese director Midi . n Tarantino attending the screening, Midi commented, ‘maybe this film reminds him of his former producer’. ollowing the outing of arvey einstein by The New York Times in ctober , the depiction of rape in movies by women filmmakers including ennifer ent’s The Nightingale and Isabella kl f’s Holiday) highlighted patriarchal brutality with long takes forcing the viewer to bear witness to horrific abuses of power. ike o ’s Irreversible, and irginie espentes and oralie Trinh Thi’s Baise-Moi, kl f’s graphic rape scene in Holiday a film about ascha, the trophy girlfriend of a anish gangster) was designed to

18 THE LIST May 2022

challenge audiences. ut at the same time, according to the director, the character of ascha was an amalgamation of co screenwriter ohanne lgren, star ictoria armen onne and herself.

Holiday was released in the by nti orlds, a distributor which specialises in ‘uni ue, provocative and challenging cinema’. n the appeal of current radical filmmakers, ndy tarke, producer and co owner of ook ilms and nti orlds, states, ‘I think so called radical filmmakers are actually personal filmmakers and that’s what appeals to me. These films e ist in a totally different world, one where they make sense probably only to the filmmaker. They are mysteries that take time to unfold. ometimes they provoke, sometimes irritate, sometimes repulse sometimes they are in danger of falling apart, but that is why they are so e citing and thrilling.’ usty Mancinelli and Madeleine ims ewer’s Violation is a hugely personal film that broke new ground as it toyed with the rape revenge sub genre, turning it into a stomach churning e perience that re ected the fantasy of vengeance. The film e ists in its own hermetically sealed world but speaks to compelling conversations happening online when it comes to rape and abuse of power. ocial networking sites have acted as a powerful tool in this regard however, they’ve also spawned a generation of livestreamers who perform shocking acts for their followers I dare you to google oopalosi) and furthered the reach of conspiracy movements such as non.

The online battle for humanity is where e treme cinema takes on new life as it considers the impact of rising technology and its I implications. ctor and Red Scare podcast co host asha ekrasova’s debut feature The Scary Of Sixty-First intends to shock with absurd humour in its depiction of paedophilia, se ual urges and the conspiracies surrounding effrey pstein’s death. imilar to im ummings’ The Beta Test, it uses s cinema

O ne of the wildest piec es of c inema released post- loc kdow n was anic a ravo’s Z ola whic h ripped its storyline from a viral 148tweet thread by a waitress who tagged along with a stripper on a scandalous road trip to lorida. In between all the se and violenc e, its themes of dec eption and c ultural appropriation in the soc ial media age are rigorously exa mined.

W hile c inema generally rec alibrates what has c ome before, shifts in tec hnology have motivated a new generation to go to ext reme lengths online for monetary gain and approval. Nothing seems to be off limits to c ertain ( largely male) livestreamers whic h is something E ugene K otlyarenko’ s gonz o satire Spree perfec tly portrays. owever, there are filmmakers who beautifully, if somewhat disturbingly, c apture what effec t being ext remely online has had over the last 20 years. J ane S c hoenbrun’s c oming- of- age horror W e’re A ll G oing T o T he W orld’s F air is a great exa mple of a nuanced film that reflects the danger and succour of internet life.

W hatever your opinion on Gaspar Noé’s body of work, his tec hnic al nous has always pushed c inematic boundaries and attempted to show the viewer something new. Contemporary provoc ateurs are using everything at their disposal, with new technology a driving force. ia nger’s M y F irst F ilm sc reens live online or I straight from her Mac ook it’s interactive and c hanges with every viewing. T hough the sc reen may have shrunk, with many releases watc hed via streaming servic es, new ki ds on the bloc k are boldly reimagining what the moving image means in this online age.

Vortex is in cinemas from Friday 13 May.

x s) Vorte limax, C s page reviou om top left) est (p t: r ta T e fr t hea Wild a ge, clockwis ane, The Be a , Tit le ib (this p s r reve Zola, Ir May 2022 THE LIST 19

EXTREME CINEMA

and S tanley K ubric k ’s E yes W ide Shut as a touc hstone. I n c ontrast to Nekr asova, Cummings uses a similar c onc ept to exa mine the digital democ ratisation of H ollywood in a post- W einstein era. ‘ T aboos against, say, inc est, c annibalism and bestiality remain relatively stable over time,’ notes film critic nton itel. ‘ ut every age has both its own push- button issues and anx ieties and its own tec hnologies; c hanges in tec hnology are ac c elerating at a rapid rate. erhaps all this is best instantiated in enfant terrible randon Cronenberg, who very muc h falls in line with the body- horror tradition inherited from his father D avid but who also updates these images and ideas to our own online age. ’ In randon ronenberg’s brutal techno horror P ossessor, an assassin’s autonomy melts away in a world where c ommerc e and tec hnology are of more value than humanity. L oss or transformation of identity, commodification of self and the distortion of reality in the digital age are fears that dominate in modern ext reme c inema. T here were reports of people fainting in sc reenings of J ulia D uc ournau’s P alme d’O r winning T itane.

That film also uses body horror to e amine our thorny relationship with tec hnology, bringing the c onversation bac k to deviant sexua l appetites while also dismantling soc ial c onstruc ts. s lockdown demanded our lives moved online more, the c rossover between c inema and internet thrived. P ublic shaming was a running theme throughout R adu J ude’s playfully provoc ative B ad Luck B anging O r Loony P orn whic h opens with a graphic se tape and uses shocking internet footage in between fictional drama. It took the top pri e at erlin ilm estival for confronting hypoc risy on all manner of subj ec ts inc luding female sexua l desire.

SCOTLAND’S YEAR

OF STORIES 2022

MORE THAN 100 EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS PART OF SCOTLAND’S YEAR OF STORIES 2022.

HERE ARE SIX TO CATCH THIS SPRING…

PERTH AND KINROSS’ YEAR OF STORIES Throughout the year, Perth and Kinross Council will be working with community groups, creatives and cultural organisations to tell the stories of women from across Perth and Kinross. These amazing stories are part of the Raise the Roof project, from the Jacobites to modern day, and will conclude in a trail across Perth with fantastic life size wire women. Other events include the Birnam Book Festival, Black Watch Museum Book Festival and Royal National Mòd. Until October, Perth and Kinross, perthcity.co.uk/section/scotlands-year-of-stories

Perth and Kinross’ Year of Stories. Photo shows wire figures © Audrey Russell Photography

OUR STORIES: TRADITIONAL GAELIC STORYTELLING Auchindrain – the last surviving Scottish Highland Township, based near Inveraray in Argyll – plans to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories by presenting a new series of Argyll folk tales on their YouTube channel. The stories will be delivered in the local Gaelic dialect and videos will be subtitled in both Argyll Gaelic and English, giving viewers an opportunity to learn a little of this rarely spoken dialect

of the Gaelic language. The series takes us back to a way of life that has been largely forgotten and gives new breath to Scotland’s traditional tales. Each story will take place across 2022, on a date significant to the old pre-Gregorian calendar – this includes a story about Beltane which will be launched on 1 May. Until 31 October, online only,

auchindrain.org.uk

Àdhamh Ó Broin, a Gaelic tradition-bearer, inside Martin’s House at Auchindrain Historic Township. Photo credit: Urras Achadh Droighinn/The Auchindrain Trust

FESTIVAL FAMILY ENCOUNTERS Free site-specific theatre and dance to surprise, challenge and delight young audiences.

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival opens on 7 May with Festival Family Encounters – a day of pop-up performances and arts activities for families. Set against the stunning backdrop of the National Museum of Scotland,

the day will include a New Stories strand of innovative storytelling, created specially by emerging artists for the Year of Stories.

7 May, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, imaginate.org.uk/festival Pop at Festival Family Encounters 2019.

Photo credit: Ruth Armstrong

FISHERFOLK FESTIVAL This fun, family-friendly celebration of the social and cultural history of the Ross-shire Seaboard Villages will have a special storytelling focus for Scotland’s Year of Stories. Traditional Scottish singers and storytellers will tell tales in English, Scots and Gaelic, exploring the area’s rich Pictish SEANACHAS The timetable of events for Seanachas will run until the end of the year when An Lanntair will present a series of events, films and special commissions celebrating tales from the Hebrides, both real and imagined, modern and ancient. In August An Lanntair will bring the festival described in Kevin MacNeil’s novel The Brilliant and

and Viking heritage, as well as its fishing trade. A variety of concerts, workshops, ceilidhs and minibus storytelling trips will take place in and around Balintore. Friday 27

– Sunday 29 May, The Seaboard Centre, Balintore, seaboardcentre.com Mermaid of the North. Photo credit: Aith Voe Photography

Forever to life! Featuring humans and alpacas, this outdoor event combines a short story competition with readings and much more. Until December, An Lanntair and

other venues, Western Isles, lanntair.com/creative-programme/ year-of-stories Alpaca, Callanish, Isle of Lewis © An Lanntair / Moira Macdonald

SCOTLAND’S STORIES: COMMUNITY CAMPFIRES Scotland’s Stories: Community Campfires is a tour of story making residencies across Scottish communities.

Working in partnership with local library services, Scottish Book Trust will bring a band of story makers – including Luke Winter and his Story Wagon – to support individuals to tell, make and share the stories that matter to them. Each residency will end with a Community Campfire event for the community to share the stories they have made over the preceding five days. This project is designed to celebrate the power of storytelling in all forms. There will be

opportunities for participants to capture their stories in a variety of ways including the written word, through digital stories, in collaboration with a professional filmmaker and through a recorded conversation.

The stories that are created will reflect Scotland’s rich tradition of storytelling and the vibrancy of its communities. Residencies will take place in Fife (2327 May) and the Western Isles (30 May – 3 June).

May to June, Fife and Outer Hebrides, scottishbooktrust.com/ reading-and-stories/scotlands-stories-community-campfires Luke Winter and the Story Wagon © VisitScotland / Chris Watt

Stories are vital to every part of Scotland and every community has its own tales to tell...

So join in with Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 and share yours.

Head to visitscotland.com/stories to find out more.

BLACK SCOT POD FEATURES

“We knew we PICTURES: @PAPAJGUN ON BEHALF OF BE UNITED

weren’t just speaking into the void

”

Frustrated by not hearing Black Scottish voices in the mainstream media, Shirley Mcpherson and Suzie Mwanza created a new podcast. Zara Janjua meets the pair and revels in their mercurial ability to turn banter into an artform

>> May 2022 THE LIST 21

BLACK SCOT POD

Suzie Mwanza (above) and Shirley Mcpherson have fully capitalised on their shared history as childhood pals

‘I

f you really want to get to know someone, give them a computer that doesn’t work. How they handle that tells you everything you need to know.’ Shirley Mcpherson taps at her headphones, as her voice dips in and out. ‘I thought the days of tech hell were over,’ she says, identifying a kink in the wire.

‘The difficulties in winter is something I never want to live through again,’ admits podcast partner Suzie Mwanza who explains they had more than just ‘can you see me, can you hear me’ issues with technology in lockdown. Thick east coast accents combined with Mwanza’s Z ambian and Mcpherson’s Lesotho heritage are a surprising combination for some, which they attribute to the lack of Black Scottish voices in mainstream media.

‘Sometimes when people south of the border meet us, they think we’re American,’ says Mcpherson. I can imagine bewildered Londoners listening to the accents, trying to match them with an African nation or Caribbean island. They grew up in Musselburgh, where there were very few Black Scottish students at their school. Twenty-nine-year-old Mwanza, who moved to Scotland when she was ten, was tasked with babysitting the now year old Mcpherson who was only seven when she arrived in the country). But she was less than keen, having ignored her at school: unsurprising given that ‘massive’ three-year age gap, which has closed as time passed.

‘At school there were a lot of expectation not to be an African stereotype,’ says Mwanza. ‘All people saw were the O xfam and U N ICEF adverts with poor, starving children. We felt like we had to prove that’s not what we were and that Africa was diverse and innovative.’ Like all good enterprising

22 THE LIST May 2022

millennials, they embraced the online world, experimenting on YouTube with content like muckbang videos about eating) before launching the B lack Scot P od in ctober .

They didn’t go the whole hog until uly , with the push of the pandemic and inspiration from Stewart Kyasimire’s B lack & Scottish documentary. ‘It gave us a spark to know that we weren’t just speaking into the void; there was an appetite for this kind of thing,’ says Mwanza.

‘Then G eorge Floyd happened and the mainstream media started talking about Black representation.’

B lack Scot P od features pop culture, current events and lived experiences, with the pair sharing their thoughts on everything from education gaps in school and a lack of lack cottish films to the challenge of finding make up for dark skin tones. istening to this podcast is like eavesdropping on a conversation between friends on the bus into town. The ‘bantercast’ format allows hosts to trade raw, unfiltered, unedited opinions and B lack Scot P od keeps everything in: burps and all.

‘We didn’t want to be formal or come across as preaching and teaching; when I’m listening to podcasts, I want to be reminded of my own experiences and have a laugh,’ says Mwanza.

‘Suzie and I have always had chemistry; I see her as a sister. We can speak candidly and I don’t have to worry what she thinks,’ says Mcpherson.

Since launching, B lack Scot P od has been spotlighted on Apple’s Black V oices list and featured on Spotify’s Black V oices, alongside the likes of Michelle O bama’s podcast. P utting themselves out there is paying off and they’ve had a number of opportunities as a result of the

this scottish life Black Scot Pod is just one of many top-quality homegrown ‘casts. Kevin Fullerton lends his ears to another set of local listens

MALT WHISKY TRAIL PODCAST The distillery aficionados at the Malt Whisky Trail have set up a podcast to help you appreciate your favourite dram. Based on the trail itself (a series of nine locations around Speyside), this is your chance to hear from the talented craftspeople creating some of the world’s finest golden liquid.  maltwhiskytrail.com

BREAKING THE NEWS Comedian Des Clarke’s Breaking The News has become a cult favourite for its acerbic and satirical take on current affairs. With weekly episodes featuring top names such as Rachel Parris, Val McDermid and Susie McCabe, this is a treasure trove for anyone searching for a light-hearted take on heavy subject matter.  bbc.co.uk/sounds

CLASSIC SCOTTISH ALBUMS A behind-the-scenes peek at some of the best albums ever produced in Scotland, from Idlewild’s The Remote Part to Donovan’s Sunshine Superman. Hosted by Davie Scott, this must-listen for pop enthusiasts features band and production crew interviews, exploring an album’s lasting influence on Scotland’s music scene.  bbc.co.uk/sounds

SCOTTISH INDIE PODCAST show. This year they’ve been asked to judge the British P odcast Awards for a second time. ‘I saw that email and thought it was spam. It’s just mind-blowing to be invited to judge some amazing podcasts and peers,’ says Mwanza. They are unassuming and painfully modest, saying they didn’t think anyone would listen. But thousands have, from Europe, Madagascar and even Australia. ‘When people started messaging us about their lived experience and asking for advice, that’s when we knew people were listening,’ says Mcpherson.

The talented duo have many strings to their bow: Mcpherson is an aspiring singer and Mwanza, who studied TV & film, has been directing and screenwriting. They recently launched T he A V Club podcast series to review shows, movies and audiobooks, having previously partnered with G lasgow Film Festival, admitting the dream would be to secure a commission from N etflix or Amazon.

‘There shouldn’t be any geographical, race or gender barriers to achieve what you want in life,’ says Mwanza. ‘We are just as talented and capable as some of the biggest stars out there.’

The opportunities are only just beginning for a podcast duo who want to be taken out of their element. ‘O r at least out of the cupboard’ they podcast from.

Black Scot Pod can be found at linktr.ee/ blackscotpod with new episodes airing every Thursday.

Since its first broadcast last year, Scottish Indie Podcast has dedicated itself to the cutting edge of our indie music scene. Each instalment features special guests, from Echo Machine’s Gary Moore to Glasvegas’ Rab Allan. One to listen to if you want to discover the hottest new music around the country.  podbean.com

THE TARTAN NOIR SHOW Scotland’s crime-writing landscape has been a towering success story for decades, and this podcast highlights some of the finest proponents of the genre. Host Theresa Talbot is joined by a special guest every week, be they crime authors or celebrity fans, to discuss everything from truecrime novels to hard-boiled fiction.  thebiglight.com

MAY CONTAIN NUTS May Contain Nuts makes the most of the free-form nature of podcasting in this weekly improvisational barrage of silliness. Fronted by Russell Miller, Stuart Condy, Chris Miller and CraigJames Moncur, there’s plenty of fun in hearing four comics riff on an idea for as long as possible, with plenty of bizarre tangents along the way.  bbc.co.uk/sounds

May 2022 THE LIST 23

BLACK SCOT POD

FEELING MY SHELF Literary nerds Joshua Tompkins and Maxime Swift’s brand-new monthly podcast Feeling My Shelf is tackling Scotland’s book scene and inviting local writers along for the ride. Tune in for the duo’s erudite take on the world of literature, from tiny novellas to doorstop novels. Perfect if you need some new book recommendations.  mixcloud.com

XXX

DISCARDED SPIRITS CO. IS TAKING THE WORLD’S MOST RUBBISH BAR TO SCOTLAND!

Pioneers of the sustainable spirits movement, Discarded Spirits Co. are taking the World’s Most Rubbish Bar to Edinburgh with the immersive experiential event set to prove that sustainability does not mean sacrifice.

The brainchild of the zero-waste spirits brand, the bar is built on the Discarded Circular Cocktail Economy – with bar waste from local venues being used to create the drinks on offer. From unwanted coffee grounds to flat sparkling wine – all sourced from bars and coffee shops – these ingredients will be given a delicious new purpose.

Two of the world’s leading bars will also be on hand, transforming ‘waste’ into exquisite sustainable cocktails featuring the three delicious zero-waste spirits from the Discarded Spirits Co. From Banana Peel Rum, to Sweet Cascara Vermouth made from the husks of coffee cherries, to Grape Skin Vodka made from the waste leftover from wine production, these spirits give a second life to waste ingredients whilst creating an experience that’s both premium and purposeful.

The World’s Most Rubbish Bar’s messaging resonates as new research shows sustainable living is starting to spill over into consumers’ alcohol consumption – with 34% saying they would choose a more sustainable option from a bar menu – equivalent to 14 million people. In fact, over half (53%) would like bars to offer more sustainable drinking options and 39% would order a zero-waste cocktail if they could.

Calum Fraser Discarded Spirits Co. ambassador said: “By being more resourceful we can unlock undiscovered flavours, whilst creatively reusing ingredients that would otherwise be discarded.

The World’s Most Rubbish Bar is the perfect way to show ecoconscious consumers how waste, taste and purpose beautifully collide.”

To secure your place at The World’s Most Rubbish Bar, simply feature a sustainable cocktail on menu which includes Discarded Grape Skin Vodka for six weeks. Send your cocktail and enquiries to Calum.Fraser@wgrant.com

drinkaware.co.uk for the facts 24THE 1 THELIST LISTMarch May 2022 2022

The World’s Most Rubbish Bar is taking place on Monday 16th of May 2022 at The Caves, 8-10 Niddry St South, Edinburgh, EH1 1NS. 7:30 – 11:30. Transport provided from Glasgow and Dundee. @discardedspirits

Released in late 2021, this latest whisky from the city comes courtesy of Courageous Spirits, the folks behind Glaswegin, demonstrating that they are more than just fancy gin slingers. Their small batch whisky is a lowland single malt, aged in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, with a fruity, spiced character. The name nods to the former island in the Clyde (now part of the south bank at Braehead) and the old three-barleycorn measure for an inch. It’s been grabbing some gongs at recent gatherings including a gold medal at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco and being named the UK’s best in show at the London Spirits Competition.

(Jay Thundercliffe)  kingsinch.com

EAT DRINK SHOP

KING’S INCH GLASGOW SINGLE MALT WHISKY

EAT

GROW YOUR OWN WAY

D

Suzy Pope explores Dandelion, a community-focused celebration of food, culture and arts taking root in Scotland this summer

uring lockdown, people across the country sought refuge and calm in green spaces. P ublic parks and gardens became even more important to those without their own outdoor refuge.

Dandelion takes this newfound appreciation of public green spaces and pairs it with a ‘grow your own’ ethos. Running through to eptember, the pro ect features ne pected ardens across Scotland, from the Western Isles to the Borders. Each garden grows vegetables, herbs and more, combining traditional dirty gardening with the technical growing of vertical farming in structures called Cubes of P erpetual Light. P atches of unused land will be transformed into productive gardens where communities are encouraged to grow their own. andelion will create gardens in the likes of ist, lness and tranraer as well as cities such as lasgow and dinburgh. erhaps the flagship no pun intended) is the floating garden making its way along the nion anal. Two barges have been transformed into a cube filled vertical garden and a miniature allotment and will spend the growing months stopping at towns and villages along the canal, engaging with schools and local growers. The floating gardens are a picture of sustainability,

cleaning the canal as they go and feeding the plants with nutrients from the water.

The event’s motto is Sow, G row, Share, and N eil Butler, Dandelion’s festival and events director, says, ‘we want to show that you don’t need a garden to grow your own food; maybe you just want to grow a garden on the kitchen shelf.’ The floating garden and other ne pected G ardens will be giving out 8 5 ,000 vegetable plug plants for free, to be planted in disused spaces, be that a barren patch of land at the end of your street or even an old pair of wellies filled with soil outside your front door.

Events held at select gardens throughout summer will also offer advice on how to grow your own produce, no matter how small a space you have.

Dandelion is Scotland’s contribution to the programme of creativity and innovation taking place across the and was inspired by a desire to bring science and art together. Its Sow, G row, Share philosophy e tends beyond gardening. ‘It’s cultural and horticultural,’ utler e plains. ach ne pected arden has a local musician or band in residence who will spend the growing months composing a soundtrack for a harvest festival at the end of the season. P upils from over 5 00 schools will work towards each harvest festival with the musician in residence and a food innovator to create music and a menu specific to each locale.

Bookending the summer, two large free festivals in lasgow’s elvingrove ark riday unday une) and Inverness’ orthern Meeting ark riday Sunday 4 September), featuring a spectacular ten-metre high vertical farm/ art installation/ concert platform called the P avilion of P erpetual Light, will host international and Scottish acts, alongside talks, workshops and demos on food poverty, climate action and sustainability.

Dandelion runs until September; dandelion.scot

26 THE LIST May 2022

street food

Suzy Pope reports on the latest news and openings plus the return of a major vegan food festival

I

n Edinburgh, a second branch of the French/ V ietnamese-inspired Banh-Mi Bar has opened in Morningside, serving up sandwiches in crusty rench bread stuffed with outheast sian flavours. In eith, aperitivo-lovers can pop in to Bittersweet which opened at the end of pril for Italian inspired small plates and luminescent sprit , ust like the bars of ologna. rema akehouse at the foot of eith alk is a new spot with a range of picture perfect home baking. longside the opening a couple of months ago of Cocorico on J ane Street (from the team who were behind ater f eith af istro), eith’s cake and coffee scene is in good health. t the end of March, rgentinian steakhouse aucho opened its first branch in lasgow where flame grilled steaks are served in a sleek interior on est ile treet. ollowing its first cottish opening in Edinburgh, Filipino fast food chain J olibee opened to eager queues on auchiehall teet at the end of March too. nd perhaps to balance the universe, lant londe vegan caf opened its doors on yndland treet, where owner ennifer alls has turned her lockdown baking hobby into a fully fledged business with signature mpire biscuits the star. berdeen sees the opening of fine dining restaurant i y ico on nion treet, where each themed tasting menu tells a story. The opening menu is The hipper, an elevated ode to the cottish chippy that proved a crowdpleaser in ico’s dinburgh and lasgow branches. inally, after two years of cancellations, the Scottish V egan Festival (Sunday May) is back at dinburgh’s orn change where you can sample plenty of plant based food plus cooking and diet demonstrations.

EAT

We choose a street and tell you where to eat. David Kirkwood, in the first of a twopart exploration of Glasgow’s Dumbarton Road, tucks into bagels, bibimbap and bhuna at its east end

BRAWSOME BAGELS A hip, well-executed take on the classic bagel takeaway. Ten types of fresh-baked bagels in the window, with loaded options getting increasingly more filling and filthy, from the ‘Umami-corn’ (tofu, avocado, salsa) to the ‘Pig Mac’ (bacon and ham and cheddar . . . and macaroni cheese).

side dishes

EIGHTY EIGHT

Bittersweet

A top-end, small-plates spot that’s been quietly building its rep since opening in 2020. The menu is ever-changing, the pasta is handmade daily, and while it’s not a vegetarian restaurant, it’s striking how many of the dishes sing without meat (gnocchi with wild leek and mushroom, or broccoli with burnt onion yoghurt and preserved lemon).

DUMPLING MONKEY There’s a glorious number of Chinese and Southeast Asian eateries on this stretch, and Dumpling Monkey has that familiarly expansive menu of all sorts of variations of meats and cooking styles. But it’s best at hand-folded dumplings, whether boiled, potsticker or Boo Zi (steamed buns). All great, all ridiculously cheap.

BIBIMBAP Luscious space just off Dumbarton Road pumping out bassy music and Korean favourites to a young crowd. You’ve got your fried chicken and your kimchi fries, but you’d be hard-pushed to beat the bibimbap itself, a steaming clay pot of rice, meat, veg and seaweed with a fried egg.

BALBIR’S One of the most accomplished of Glasgow’s grand old curry houses, where sauces are rich and robust, and the dining-in experience is nice and formal. The tandoori salmon and the lamb ginger bhuna are perennial favourites.

May 2022 THE LIST 27

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EAT

PICTURE: JAMES PORTEOUS

RESTAURANT

THE PALMERSTON If starting a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic is a gutsy move, starting one in the streets between Haymarket station and Princes Street, one of Edinburgh’s last restaurant wildernesses, might seem like madness. All hail The Palmerston then, one of those rare jewels that make the art of hospitality seem easier and breezier than a CoverGirl commercial.

Opened in August 2021, there are more than a few echoes of a traditional French bistro here: the beautiful bones of a former bank building, bentwood chairs, dark wooden bar and accessible menu. This changes daily, though there are clear themes: there’s almost always a hunk of beautifully cooked white fish atop a puddle of broth or pile of pulses, and a daily sharing plate tends to feature a roast, a pie or (memorably) a chop that’s bigger than your head. Meat options, in particular, show careful sourcing, with rare breeds name-checked and slow-grown options like mutton championed. Wisely, these carefully sourced ingredients are then allowed to shine without fuss or pretension, so roast hake tastes entirely of itself while the accompanying white beans create a comforting, homely stew.

Desserts show the careful hand of the in-house baker, who also produces their delicious sourdough (which you can take away) and pastries to help ease you into the day with a morning coffee. An interesting wine selection is stored in the former bank vault and a concise cocktail list (with more local producers) means it’s worth building in time to bookend your meal perched up at the bar with a drink. It’s all matched with warm, thoughtful service from a team who seem genuinely pleased to see their guests. It is this little touch of stardust that elevates a meal here to that rarest thing of all: really good fun. (Jo Laidlaw)  1 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, thepalmerstonedinburgh.co.uk

PODCAST

SPILLED MILK Since 2010, friends Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton have been making a weekly podcast about food and drink. They focus on one topic per episode (pears, calzone, sumac, gochujang, Coke flavours, peanuts, salted butter, negronis, alcohol-free beers, for example) then sample some flavours together and see which rabbit holes the conversation will take them down.

Wizenberg is the author of fantastic queer memoir The Fixed Stars and the food blog Orangette, named after the French word for the chocolate-dipped candied orange peels she was eating when she began writing it. On Spilled Milk, she often pulls up memories from living in Paris and London, or running her craft cocktail bar and wood-fired pizza restaurant, both in North Ballard, Seattle.

Amster-Burton is author of Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo, and drops in occasional fun facts such as the Japanese word for someone who doesn’t like piping hot food (it translates as ‘cats tongue’, FYI). This is a geeky, gourmand celebration of takeout food, home cooking, comfort snacks and international recipes. Listening to the meandering discussion of brewing techniques, personal eating habits, cookbook recommendations and restaurant trends makes for a very moreish kitchen companion. (Clare Sawers)  Episodes available at spilledmilkpodcast.com

29 THE LIST April 2022

May 2022 THE LIST 29

DRINK UP In our regular drinks column, Kevin Fullerton tries a few tasty beverages and lets you know exactly what he thinks of them.

This month we need Kevin to talk about . . . whisky

DRINK

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part from bagpipes, A idan M offat’s beard and an indefinable sense of misery, there’s nothing more S c ottish than whisk y. W ith T he National W hisk y Festival tak ing plac e this month, it’s high time I c overed a few bottles and see what I thought of them. E ac h of these samples was mix ed with four ic e c ubes and, after a few c ursory sips, topped off with a dash of soda water. T ut all you lik e, whisk y purists, but I refuse to be bound by the c reak y dik tats of anti- mix er alc ohol afic ionados.

First up is a c heeky wee single malt from T he Glasgow D istillery Company, titled the Glasgow 1770 ( £ 49 for 70c l) . T riple- distilled in virgin oak c asks , this lightly c oloured number c ombines fine S c ottish barley with water from L oc h K atrine to c reate a smooth and vibrant text ure. L ike a souped- up lapsang souc hong, the taste is smoky with a woody spic e that, while not overly c omplex, c reates a smooth ride from start to finish.

W e head south of the border for our nex t tipple, a Heritage Corn Whisky ( £95 for 50c l) from the O xf ord A rtisan D istillery. T his 2017 harvest uses native E nglish grains to c reate a c omplic ated mixt ure with a light brown finish. I f it was advisable to snort whisky , I ’d be all over this like a V ic torian snuff merc hant, its intoxi c ating sc ent evok ing c aramelised bisc uits fresh from the oven. T he taste enervated similar c ulinary parts of my palate, with a doughy top note c reeping into a nuttier aftertaste. S qui nt hard enough and you might even detec t a sliver of banana bread. I f you’ve ever thought whisky was a drink more about strength than taste, then O xf ord A rtisan D istillery will prove you wrong in one delic ious gulp.

M arki ng out similar territory is our final drink of the month, an eight- year- old James Eadie Single Malt ( £41.95 for 70c l) from the B lair A thol D istillery. T his one thrums like the heart of the S c ottish c ountryside with its mossy taste and smell, its ruggedness shrugging off subtlety in favour of hard- nosed peat and gunpowder. I f you like a hardy bottle, then trac k t his down.  T he N ational W hisky F estiv al, SW G 3, G lasgow, Saturday 7 M ay.

BAR FILES We ask creative folks to reveal their favourite watering hole

SINGERSONGWRITER LIZZIE REID

My local pub in Glasgow is the Titwood Bar and is one of my favourite places to drink when I can’t be bothered trudging into town. I love a bit of an old-man’s pub. It’s very relaxed and never loud, which is good for me because my hearing is poor (sounds like I’m turning into an old man). I’m usually the designated driver, so it’s always nice going to the Titwood as it’s a two-minute walk from my flat. It means I can go crazy for a change . . .  Lizzie Reid was shortlisted for the 2021 SAY Award for her EP Cubicle. Her latest single Bible is out now.

30 THE LIST May 2022

EAT DRINK SHOP SHOP

SMALL WONDER

Megan Merino chats to Asta Petkunaite, the woman behind Edinburgh vintage clothing and antiques shop Pascal & Co, about her creative journey from journalism to small-business owner

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sta P etkunaite has worn many (gorgeous) hats in her lifetime. The journalism graduate turned children’s book author and illustrator has been a successful artist, worked for a fine art reproduction studio at ummerhall and sung in a rench ypsy a band. casual passion for vintage clothing led her to opening an online tsy shop before securing a physical pop up space in inti ues on eith alk. ast forward to eptember and what was inti ues became her very own ascal o named after her beloved panish rescue pooch). etkunaite’s array of skills make this little vintage clothing and anti ues shop feel more like a gallery, with every item revealing a story she’ll share as you peruse. ‘ efore anything comes in the shop, I do so much work to every piece it has to be perfect, it has to be washed, it has to be pressed. I don’t want any holes. eople always say, oh, it smells really clean that’s because it is You should ust be able to put the item on, walk out and make it fit into your wardrobe.’ ith the small store space placing limitations on how many items can be displayed, P etkunaite needs to be ruthless in her curation. ‘ e’ve got enough clothes to go several times around the world,’ she says. ‘There’s so much treasure out there. ut now I’m like a magpie, you know If I’m in a flea market, I scan it really uickly and then I’ll ust cherry pick. I’ll go, I know this will work with this”.’ hat criteria, then, does an item need to make the cut abric uality, colour and pattern play a large role and with gems from the likes of Burberry, Jaeger and uascutum lining the shelves, e pert craftsmanship and design are also prioritised. ‘ nce you’ve set the benchmark, like when you start getting dresses that are handmade in aris, you want to maintain a level of uality. ll the shop’s fabrics are natural fibre. o I think I’m always leaning towards that beautiful touch and feel . . . it has to be cottons, cashmeres, woollens

or silks. ut I’m also drawn to beautiful pattern, vintage muted tones and folky motifs. That’s really the aesthetic, I think, if I look around the shop.’ etkunaite also creates her own bespoke garments using linen tea towels belonging to her partner’s late grandmother ‘I ust thought, well, they’re so beautiful.

I’d love to celebrate them.’ In collaboration with a local seamstress, a selection of patterns named The Gardener, The Sailor, The Singer and The Hostess) are designed with the customer’s needs in mind, from the fit to the print. ‘ ach one is uni ue, you know, you can’t create it over and over again.’ very inch of ascal o is charged with creativity and love, so much so that etkunaite finds ways to hold on to items. ‘ ometimes I’ll ust not have a price tag on something because I really love it in the shop. That’s a really bad businesswoman thing to say I’m attached ut if you put something on and feel incredible, then it’s yours.’

Pascal & Co, 20 Albert Place, Edinburgh, instagram.com/_pascalandco_

May 2022 THE LIST 31

what’s in the bag?

Deborah Chu discreetly asks another individual to reveal the contents of their bag to us. This time around, she convinces Meryl Gilbert, head of commercial events & partnerships at SWG3, to tell us what lies within

MERINO WOOL HAT It’s from Scottish designer Kestin Hare, whose eponymous flagship store can be found in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge.

EAT DRINK SHOP

DAVID BYRNE’S BICYCLE DIARIES This is the book I’m currently reading. It’s a celebration of bike riding told via his experiences of cycling all over the world these last 30 years and the rewards of seeing urban life at bike level. It’s a great read.

A CROISSANT My dangerously delicious morning croissant comes from Zique’s, based in the Acid Bar at Glasgow’s SWG3.

WESTERN BATHS MEMBERSHIP CARD Even if I don’t make the gym session, I go most nights for a sauna and swim.

CAR KEYS The keys to my 1988 Porsche 924 S: it’s not available anywhere else.

shop talk

Six Acres

Megan Merino takes a browse around another set of intriguing establishments

SIX ACRES A new home, accessories and furniture store has arrived in Morningside, having opening its doors in late April. Co-founders Sarah Stanger and Claire McLoughlin conceptualised Six Acres during lockdown, with the aim of creating a shop with a conscience that would champion sustainable goods, raise up female artisans and support UK manufacturing. The result is rather charming.  422 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, six-acres.co.uk

REJEAN Siobhan Mckenna is the mind behind ReJean, the Glasgow-based business reclaiming, repurposing and repairing denim. Her bespoke jackets and accessories are created in Glasgow’s East End and take inspiration from traditional workwear. The ReJean Repair Shop accepts all denim garments and uses a selection of techniques, including Japanese Sashiko mending, to give pieces a new lease of life. Give it a go at ReJean’s monthly mending workshops organised in venues across Edinburgh and Glasgow (the next one is at Bawn Textiles, 613 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow).  rejeandenim.com

ILIUM Part café, part record and music shop, Ilium in Edinburgh’s Marchmont neighbourhood prides itself on being a community hub for customers to hang out, study and discover new music. Locally sourced coffee is served from Williams & Johnson and regular events and open-mic sessions make this spot a lively space during the day or into the evening.  100 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh, iliumshop.com

G12 VINTAGE The increasingly popular vintage brand, founded by Daniel Gallagher, has opened a newly renovated space in Glasgow’s West End, nestled next to fellow local businesses The Bothy and Hanoi Bike Shop. Gallagher’s locally sourced pieces have already successfully sold on ASOS and Depop, but

32 THE LIST May 2022

the new quirky shop will help bring his high-quality, sustainably sourced vintage clothing direct to the fashionable people of Glasgow.  10a Ruthven Lane, Glasgow, g12vintage.com

HINBA COFFEE ROASTERS The popular Oban-based coffee specialists have opened a Glasgow shop, much to the delight of their loyal fanbase. Taste their pure Hebridean coffee, roasted on the Isle Of Seil, sweet and savoury snacks, and maybe take home a bag of beans for later (you’ll definitely want to).  86 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, hinba.co.uk

PICTURE: OLIVIA ROSE

Blessed (or cursed) by comparisons to Bill Withers and Gil Scott-Heron, the London singer-songwriter whose parents fled the Idi Amin regime in Uganda has certainly made his own name during a fruitful decade. After two acclaimed albums, his third, the simply and defiantly titled Kiwanuka, nabbed the 2020 Mercury Music Prize. Stunted by covid, his new tour is finally here, with the sold-out signs going up in quickfire time.

Those fortunate enough to catch him live can expect a treat for the ears and heart.  O2 Glasgow Academy, Friday 6 May.

GOING OUT

MICHAEL KIWANUKA

F R E E T I C K E TS TO THE IDEAL HOME S H O W S COT L A N D

4-24 May 2022 mhfestival.com

The List are partnering up with the Ideal Home Show Scotland offering readers 1000 FREE tickets.

Returning to Glasgow’s SEC from Thurs 26 to Mon 29 May, the Ideal Home Show Scotland, in partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland is set to be the best yet.

Showcasing the latest interior trends, home renovation, DIY, gardens and technology, the exhibition is the largest of its kind in Scotland. With four show areas packed with ideas and 400+ brands, there will be plenty of choice from must-have accessories and furniture for your living room, to state-of-the-art solutions for kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. Plus, you’ll get inspirational home and garden ideas with live talks from top celebrities and experts!

You’ll also get free access to the Eat & Drink Festival, sponsored by Thermomix, set to tempt the tastebuds with masterclass sessions, the festival showcases Scotland’s best produce and flavours at the Artisan Producers’ Market.

How to claim: Go to idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk and enter code IHSSLIST when prompted on booking page.

TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer closes on May 29 or when all allocated tickets are claimed. Maximum of two free tickets per booking, per email, per household. Children under 15 go free. Tickets usually £13 in advance or £16 at the door. Tickets subject to availability, on a first-come first-served. Tickets are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives. All tickets will be scanned upon entry. Multiple applications will be refused entry onsite.

Open to UK residents only.

34 THE LIST May 2022

GOING OUT

talk

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ta s•

alks

BODY OF WORK

PREVIEWS

A breast cancer diagnosis proved the catalyst for novelist and memoirist Catherine Simpson to look back on a life lived inside a woman’s body. Ahead of her Aye Write appearance, she tells Lucy Ribchester about laughing in the face of tragedy

B

ack in 2018 , Catherine Simpson’s heart-wrenching and bleakly funny memoir about her sister, Tricia, was on the cusp of its launch.

Though the book chronicled the most deeply personal of tragedies (Tricia took her own life in 2013 ), it also set in stone Simpson’s success as a writer, having netted a major book deal and endorsements from celebrated authors. And then, eight months before publication, Simpson was diagnosed with breast cancer. O nce again, she found herself caught in the most extraordinary of circumstances; and once again, she turned to writing to document it. The result is her new memoir, O ne B ody.

If W hen I Had A Little Sister reads like a bullet from the heart, O ne B ody feels like the work of a lifetime. Writing it led Simpson to dive back through the events of her entire life, through childhood illness (a ‘nuisance’ on the impsons’ ancashire dairy farm), puberty, first tampons, abortion, childbirth, obsessive calorie counting and, of course, cancer. It packs the wallop of a wrecking ball but reads as easily as a page-turner; in each chapter, crystal-hard and startlingly clear truths about the realities of living in a woman’s body come pouring forth. It reads, in fact, as if it was brewing long before the trigger came that led to Simpson writing it.

May 2022 THE LIST 35

3 OTHERS TO SEE AT AYE WRITE ANNIE MACMANUS To many people, she is Annie Mac, distinguished DJ and broadcaster. Now she is Annie Macmanus, debut author of Mother Mother, a coming-of-age tale and Belfast-set family drama about a woman, Mary, who was very young when her mum died and is trying to navigate her own path through motherhood with a teenage son.  Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Friday 6 May.

CLIVE STAFFORD SMITH

PREVIEWS

Previous page and above: Catherine Simpson, then and now

For years, Stafford Smith has been a tireless campaigner for human rights, tackling the establishment head on whether it was over cases on Death Row or in Guantanamo Bay. But behind it all, he had his own personal dramas with a father who struggled with mental health all his life. The Far Side Of The Moon is a book which tackles this personal story while looking at broader issues within society.  Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Friday 13 May.

DARREN MCGARVEY The rapper, journalist, social commentator and author of Poverty Safari is back to analyse the wide divides that exist in Britain. The Social Distance Between Us wonders why it is that people who are least qualified to do a job (politicians) wield the most power and influence over the rest of us.  Tramway, Glasgow, Sunday 22 May.

Catherine Simpson appears alongside Lucia Osborne-Crowley at Aye Write, Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Saturday 14 May.

Annie Macmanus

36 THE LIST May 2022

PICTURE: STEPHANIE SIAN SMITH

‘It has been brewing, but I didn' t realise it was,’ Simpson says, over Z oom. She’s dressed for the summery weather, with a streak of natural silver in her brown hair (which she only recently stopped dyeing) giving her a Michelle V isageish kind of wise glamour. ‘There is a sort of resentment, when you start looking back and realising that you thought ridiculous things and lived by them and judged yourself by somebody' s standards. Who is it that we' re trying to get ten out of ten from?’

Before the cancer diagnosis, Simpson says she hadn’t managed to formulate her thoughts on these subjects properly. But they were always there, going around ‘like in a washing machine. It’s only when you suddenly see your body turn against you that you step back and think, this is not right. When I realised that the fear of getting fat was only a short step behind the fear of dying of cancer, that’s quite a penny-dropping moment. I just thought, “whoa, something has gone really wrong here”.’

The book, Simpson says, burst from her ‘like champagne from a bottle, and it felt such a relief actually. And then I started shaking the bottle because I thought, “oh, well, this is great”.’ This juxtaposition, of brutal epiphanies overlaid with comic imagery, gives a flavour of what it feels like to read O ne B ody. ne moment you find yourself knee-deep in contemplation (and often rage) about the trauma and judgement enacted on women’s bodies the ne t you’re blindsided by life affirming humour or laughing out loud. At one point, in the midst of a chapter pondering mortality, Simpson pauses to remember a friend’s 16 th birthday party, where ‘the table decorations were tubs of cigarettes’.

‘I think I' ve got a real sense of the absurd,’ she says. ‘It' s the juxtaposition of things that often highlight just how bad things are, and just how funny things are.’ She cites another moment in the book, when a nurse is halfway through delivering her cancer diagnosis, and her husband Cello begins to feel faint. ‘I' m actually both laughing and crying at the same time, because it’s a terrifying experience, but also bloody funny that my husband is on the hospital bed. That scene kind of encapsulates the absurdity of life.’

Simpson’s candour has certainly been resonating with readers. Women have got in touch with her to share their own experiences that chime with the book. Two early readers told her that they’d both had abortions too. It’s a pattern with Simpson’s writing that it’s followed by an outpouring of solidarity. R ecently a story broadcast on R adio 4, about taking her 95-year-old father to a care home, made one listener contact her to say they’d had to stop the car, her story mirrored so closely their own experience.

In documenting the private pain, joy, anger and absurdity of life, is she tapping into something desperate to be said by a whole generation? ‘I think people used to think that to write a memoir you have to be a celebrity. But I think memoir is having a big moment now, and I hope it' s long lasting. I just think we' re getting more and more interested in the lives of our fellow human beings and just how we deal with life.’

PICTURE: MATT CROCKETT

‘Anyone who thinks “what’s the angle?” is potentially a psychopath’ Acclaimed Irish stand-up Catherine Bohart is attracting considerable acclaim for her latest show which recounts being dumped by her long-term partner (another comedian) just before lockdown. She tells Jay Richardson about sharing pain for art and profit This Isn’t For You seems like a career leap forward. What do you attribute that to?

Being out of the comfort zone of my first few biographical stories and needing to write something about my current life. I worked harder and I’m more present onstage. Because of lockdown, I’ve had more time to write than usual under that Edinburgh pressure. And I’ve been doing this longer: comedy is a skill that’s honed by writing, failing and repeating. Still, I’m pleasantly surprised. There was a chance that writing alone for a year and a half in my flat could have led to something very, very bad, and unrecognisable as ‘comedy’.

How do you balance talking about personal stuff night after night without becoming overwhelmed, yet keeping it fresh enough so you don’t grow detached from the material?

PREVIEWS

The work-in-progress phase was kind of overwhelming. But I did it enough times to find where my own boundaries are. You can only really find out what you’re comfortable telling strangers by doing it. You don’t have to reveal more than you want to, though people will often stay afterwards to ask more than I might want to answer. And you know what, I respect it. I’m nosy too. This show has never felt like a recital though. Every night on tour someone chimes in with a break-up horror story. And honestly, it’s so exciting; I feel like we’re all finding out things for the first time.

Is it strange having people eager to hear about your break-up?

I don’t think you can talk about your private life on stage as much as I do and then judge the audience. It can be tricky when you don’t have jokes about something as quickly as people have interest but that’s part of the job. I try not to worry. My favourite thing about stand-up is I decide what and when I share things. And so long as I’m working to make sure I’m comfortable, I’ll be fine. P lus, people buying tickets because they want to know my secrets is still people buying tickets.

Were you thinking of stand-up about the break-up as soon as it happened?

I was not. Anyone who comes out of a five-year relationship and first thinks ‘what’s the angle? ’ is potentially a psychopath.

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Catherine Bohart: This Isn’t For You, The Stand, Glasgow, Sunday 29 May; The Stand, Edinburgh, Monday 30 May.

ome

f il m

Set in Sicily during the years just after World War II, Cinema P aradiso is a gentle ode to cinema and a clarion cry against the supposed impending doom to the form as those nasty small screens started to invade homes.The film rode a nostalgic wave back in , so much so that O scar judges lavished it with the Best Foreign Film prize, audiences and critics (minus the odd cold-hearted one) melting at the tale of a young lad named Toto working alongside his town’s projectionist and chief censor. Directed by G iuseppe Tornatore, it features a typical swoon-worthy score by Ennio Morricone.

(Brian Donaldson)  Filmhouse, E dinburgh, F riday 6–Sunday 8 M ay.

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CLASSIC CUT: CINEMA PARADISO

May 2022 THE LIST 37

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38 THE LIST May 2022

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GOING OUT

MUSIC

2013's Don Giovanni directed

by Sir Thomas Allen

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In playing the title role of Mozart’s dramma giocoso (serious but with some laughs), baritone Roland Wood has some of opera’s best ever arias to sing. But it’s not just the tunes that make Don Giovanni one of the most enduring of operas. Rather, it’s the bits between them too, the recitatives, where much of its story unfolds. ‘There’s nothing wishy washy about Mozart,’ Wood says. ‘You have to be razor sharp, and hopefully what we’ll demonstrate is that it’s precision and clarity of intention that communicate with the audience.’

Although jocular, the tale of daring seduction and deception makes for somewhat black humour. ‘Maybe Don Giovanni can be seen as a loveable rogue,’ says Wood, ‘but we’re seeing the opera through the lens of #MeToo and the subject matter is not pleasant. Contemporary audiences have a different take now on Don Giovanni, but we have to stay true to the story.’

Wood’s character is a rotter through and through, most especially where women are concerned, although he does very much get his comeuppance. Set in the nooks and crannies of 17th-century Venice’s backstreets, the production is appropriately dark and sinister, with plush, flowing costumes and masks. ‘It’s reminiscent of the period in which it’s written,’ says Wood, who comes to the role not for the first time. Whether he or Jonathan McGovern, with whom he shares the full run of 18 dates, will notch up the 300 performances of director Sir Thomas Allen as Don Giovanni is another matter. For now, Wood is soaking up Allen’s wealth of experience as he passes it on in his own production. ‘I saw him in Don Giovanni in 1992 and thought it was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen.’ (Carol Main)  Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sunday 15, Wednesday 18, Saturday 21 May, with more dates to come in June.

PICTURE: JAMES GLOSSOP

ART

ALMA WOLFSON Glasgow School Of Art graduate Alma Wolfson is celebrating her 80th birthday with a solo exhibition in her home city. A Painter’s Passion will display Wolfson’s work, which depicts Scottish landscapes in all seasons, capturing the country's earthy colours, weather effects and atmosphere. Taking inspiration from Joan Eardley and William Gillies, Wolfson immerses herself in her landscape. ‘The best thing in the world is to be tucked away, out of the wind, in the Scottish countryside or by the sea, painting like a fury before the next change in weather.’ Her work creates a calm in the storm of Scotland’s often very chaotic climate.

Alongside this, A Painter’s Passion also features never previously exhibited drawings of her much-loved subjects of working horses, ships and boats, and musicians with their instruments. Wolfson loves painting en plein air in the Scottish countryside and seaside, producing compelling work in both oils and watercolours.

Born in 1942, Wolfson studied under Robert Stewart in Glasgow where she mastered her craft, going on to earn many awards, with numerous key galleries and museums featuring her work over the years. Up until the late 1980s, Wolfson’s paintings were completed in gouache but she was encouraged to switch to oils after joining the Glasgow Art Club. Alma Wolfson never looked back.

(Gemma Murphy)  Gerber Fine Art, Glasgow, until Saturday 14 May.

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FUTURE SOUND Our column celebrating music to watch continues with Blue Violet. The pair tell Fiona Shepherd about overcoming stage fright and developing a new sound

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nglo-Scottish spousal duo Blue V iolet chose their name as a celebration of contrasts (‘blue as in melancholy and violet as a warm vibrant colour,’ says guitarist am otley) which is reflected in their bittersweet music, as well as their environment. The couple are based between the urban sprawl of L ondon and the rural beauty of L och Awe in Argyll, where singer Sarah’s family live and where they’ve spent much of the last two years.

‘We got the best of both worlds: middle of nowhere, middle of the city,’ says Sarah while Sam adds: ‘some people really like the hustle and bustle of the city. I like being in a quiet space so it’s great for that. And loud guitars! ’ The Blue V iolet dream-pop sound is at the gentler end of the spectrum but grew from their previous incarnation as roots band Broken Bones Matilda. P rior to that, Sam was in a rock band while Sarah, an able singer from her youth, could only watch supportively from the sidelines, stymied by stage fright.

Her live-performance epiphany came while Sam’s group were touring the US and she jumped on stage in a dingy New Orleans dive. ‘There was nobody in the audience and there was a washing machine in the corner of the room and no door on the toilet,’ she recalls. ‘I don’t know what it was about this place but I thought, “this is my moment”. I always had this vision of being onstage as being under scrutiny, but actually when I stood up there I felt this freedom. It was the opposite of what I expected.’

Blue V iolet launched during the pandemic with a couple of online covers, a smoky French language version of the Everly Brothers’ ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream’ and Edwyn Collins’ ‘A Girl L ike You’, and an online tour hosted on the Instagram feeds of various craft breweries. ‘They sent us a lot of beer,’ notes Sam with gratitude.

By this point, the duo were sitting on a brand new album, Late N ight Calls, recorded in autumn 2019 with P J Harvey coconspirator R ob Ellis, which was different to anything they had made as Broken Bones Matilda. A name change seemed in order to reflect the move away from strictly roots music into llis’ more esoteric territory. ‘ e ust ignited this thing in us,’ says arah. ‘It definitely brought a lot of his style into what we were doing, so it went from that quite traditional Americana thing to being a bit more on the alternative side with more synth sounds. We wanted to bring in some of our influences from growing up in the s early 2000s, the grunge and shoegazey stuff. We also discovered a theme going through it as we were making the album, which is positivity coming out of darkness; ironic that we recorded it before covid. Now we just want to enjoy having this album out.

We can’t believe it’s actually happening.’

Blue Violet play Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Monday 9 May; King Tut’s, Glasgow, Tuesday 10 May; Late Night Calls is out now on Me & My Records.

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THEATRE

THE METAMORPHOSIS: UNPLUGGED Although Vanishing Point have toured a dark meditation on Kafka’s famous novel of transformation, their parallel production, The Metamorphosis: Unplugged, takes the story in a different direction. Like the previous Vanishing Point Unplugged production of The Dark Carnival, this scaled-down musical production adapts the action into a cabaret format.

Two cleaners discover a copy of the novel and entertain each other with extracts and musical accompaniment.

Director Joanna Bowman has followed the comedic elements of Kafka’s book, allowing the cast of two to introduce joy and humour to a narrative that is often associated with gloomy pessimism. A man finding himself as a cockroach may appear horrific but it is also absurd and potentially hilarious.

Having been stripped back to a small cast and using a format that evokes the ceilidh play and storytelling, The Metamorphosis: Unplugged tours across some of Scotland’s smaller venues, bringing the rawness and imagination of Bowman’s vision to places that perhaps don't experience the type of theatre commonly performed in the central belt. It’s a testament to both Vanishing Point’s commitment in reaching out to unfamiliar locations and their restless creative energy that they can find two ways of responding to Kafka’s classic story. (Gareth K Vile)  Touring until Sunday 22 May; full list of dates at vanishing-point.org

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Sketch group Tarot on Gein’s Family Giftshop and Goose [in other words, themselves]

PICTURE: KAYLA WREN

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Don’t worry, we’ve just been sick down ourselves too, but let us explain.

Tarot is a sketch group featuring members of Goose and Gein’s Family Giftshop, the peanut butter and jelly of sketch groups. Or maybe, actually, that weird taste on a sandwich after you’ve put your finger in your ear.

We first met in 2014 as finalists at London SketchFest. Gein’s were waiting to go on and from the audience watched a strange, sweaty red-headed guy jiggle about on stage. Not Mick Hucknall (this time) but Adam Drake. We remember watching the first ten seconds of the sketch, when Ben Rowse (the silent member of Goose) came on stage and uttered a line so badly that Kiri [Pritchard-McLean] leaned forward and whispered to the rest of Gein’s, ‘no need to worry about them, then’. But then Adam started performing and was such a whirlwind of jokes and ideas that he managed to fan away the stink which Ben had created. We had never been pool sharked/hustled before and were rightfully blown away. Comedy crushes were formed.

Gein’s were on shortly afterwards and had a great gig at their relaxed best knowing that the winner’s certificate would be emailed to Goose. It doesn’t matter who won that night because the real winner was friendship and stain removers for vomit because at that moment we found our comedy heroes: each other. Just been sick again.

We started running a comedy night together (shout out to Suspiciously Cheap), we made short films together (hey Pedwar and Hiraeth) and we’ve travelled the country together making each other laugh and audiences politely smile. But we usually have a good one in Scotland so maybe come along and see a sketch group which manages to be as revolting as a circle jerk and just as funny. (As told to Brian Donaldson)  The Stand, Edinburgh, Tuesday 17 May; The Stand, Glasgow, Wednesday 18 May.

“It’s an intense

gothic story about a lot of dysfunctional people

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Lucy McCormick has always been drawn to tragic characters. Ahead of a very different Wuthering Heights, this provocative performer tells Lorna Irvine how she brought chaos and complexity to her Cathy

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daptations of W uthering Heights have often tended towards the traditional, with somewhat stiff, overwrought, hand- wringing c lic hés of doomed Cathy as histrionic heroine, with H eathc liff a one- note, brooding totem of mac hismo. S o, leave it to W ise Children artistic direc tor E mma R ic e to bring her ic onoc lastic vision to the stage. T his partic ular version, direc ted by R ic e, aims to shak e up prec onc eived notions of the drama, dealing in issues around rac ism and feminism, and featuring puppetry, danc ing and a Greek c horus who are more lik e a gospel c hoir.

T he lead role of Cathy is played by L uc y M c Cormic k , best k nown to theatre audienc es for her provoc ative c lub/ performanc e art work suc h as T riple T hreat and P ost P opular. H er Cathy is very different, a vision in D oc M artens and with wild hair, a 2 1 st- c entury version for those who were perhaps e pecting flowing gowns and braying thespians.

I t’s a role that really resonated with M c Cormic k , who read the book as an ac ting student. ‘ I read it bec ause I thought I should read some old c lassic novels, and now I ’m in it! I t’s a really dark , intense gothic story May 2022 THE LIST 43

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PREVIEWS about a lot of dysfunc tional people. W hen we were mak ing it, we dec ided not to be too reverential to the novel and bring some of ourselves to it. I wanted to bring wildness and c omplex ity and c haos to the part of Cathy.

I ’m a bit more intense than Cathy in my real life. M y Catherine is a good one! S he’s me. ’ It’s the essential flaws in people that are fascinating for actors. The portrayal of Cathy has to matc h the intensity of her narrative arc . ‘ I t’s one of the great love stories,’ notes Mc ormick. ‘There’s the classic tortured relationship, people who never mak e the right dec ision and are j ust total selfish pricks that’s timeless.’ The themes too are rooted in tough reality, also lending a timeless q uality to the produc tion. Cathy’s struggles in her life are something many women c an still relate to, despite the supposed big shifts in moving towards eq uality. ‘ I ’m passionate about dec onstruc ting patriarc hal c apitalist systems,’ states M c Cormic k . ‘ Cathy is steeped in a patriarc hal system; she’s ex pec ted to stay at home and get married. B ec ause of that, I wanted to bring some understanding to Cathy’s c ruelty; she’s a real lesson in repressing emotion and who you really are. W hat Cathy is going through is essentially a nervous break down. I ’ve always been drawn to tragic c harac ters. I n my live shows I’m trying to figure out the tragedy of life and doing that through comedy.’

M c Cormic k ’s live shows tend to tilt towards more raunc hy, anarc hic onstage antic s, and W uthering Heights c ouldn’t be a more different beast.

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B ut c hanging this produc tion up has been a deeply satisfying proc ess for the performer. ‘ I think all those genres of theatre, c omedy, c lub c ulture and performanc e art are all related. I love performing and having the c hanc e to do something a bit different. I ’m suc h a theatre geek , I absolutely love it. I love being direc ted. D oing something under your own name is really, really intense. S omebody else c ontrolling those dec isions is really enj oyable. I t’s j ust a different c reative c hallenge. I wanted to help E mma R ic e deliver her c reative vision. ’ I t’s not, M c Cormic k says, a c onventional or linear k ind of play, but still tac k les issues head- on. ‘ I t’s not a nic e, polite piec e of period drama; it’s theatre with a capital T, with music, dancing, magic and trickery. It’s a bit deconstructed with contemporary elements. The show is brilliantly camp and theatric al, and I guess lik e some of my other work , it balanc es the tragic and the comic and finds a certain kind of irreverence.’

To that end, ucy Mc ormick promises that anyone coming to see the play will have the c omplete theatre ex perienc e of feeling every emotion and relishing in the c harac ters’ highs and lows. ‘ A udienc es are going to laugh, they’re going to cry, and feel celebratory at the end. They will have gone through a j ourney. ’ Wuthering Heights, King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 25–Saturday 28 May.

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May 2022 THE LIST 45

GOING OUT

the cosmic is coming

PITCH IN

AARON JONAH LEWIS

We ask a performer to sell us their show in exactly 50 words The classic banjo music I perform is like a jigsaw puzzle: I spend hours putting it together and when people hear it they say, ‘oh, isn’t that nice’. I love to share fiddle tunes, songs and stories from the time when the only way to hear music was in person.

The Sun Ra Arkestra are keeping a sonic pioneer’s spirit very much alive. Stewart Smith profiles a band who bring vibrancy, eccentricity and skronk to every room they enter

 Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Saturday 7 May, as part of Edinburgh Tradfest.

PICTURE: BRADLEY LOHMAN

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event. The swing era showmanship a learned from his mentor letcher enderson remains an integral part of their concerts e pect glittering costumes, band members showing off their dance moves and horn section walkabouts through the auditorium. osmic wonder and goofy humour meet apocalyptic dread as aunty melodies and bouncy rhythms flip into hair raising horn freakouts and foreboding chants. onducting the rkestra with karate chop moves, llen remains a magnetic presence. nd he still blows, complementing vinegary spurts of alto sa ophone with the delightfully freaky tones of his lectronic ind Instrument. a ophonist noel cott and rench hornist incent hancey have been with the rkestra since the s, bringing with them a wealth of e perience.

The younger members are e ually compelling, honouring the spirit of the music, while offering their own voices. assist ave avis’ energy and enthusiasm are infectious, while pianist arid arron’s vocabulary of c hordal vamps, dissonant c lusters and lusc ious romanticism enhance the music’s symphonic sweep. tepping into the shoes of the magnificent une Tyson, vocalist and violinist Tara Middleton has come into her own, imbuing un a’s poetry with grace and power.

‘There are other worlds they have not told you of,’ intoned un a in . periencing the rkestra live will take you there.

The Sun Ra Arkestra, Summerhall, Edinburgh, Thursday 12 May.

PICTURE: ALEXIS MARYON

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lmost three dec ades sinc e S un R a asc ended to his home planet of S aturn, the world is finally catching up with his A frofuturist vision. I n the c ontex t of B lac k L ives M atter, the alternate histories and liberated futures of this c omposer, bandleader and philosopher’s A stro lack Mythology are highly relevant, connecting science fiction and frica’s great civilisations to contemporary civil rights struggles. nd the music a heady brew of big band a , cosmic skronk and e tra terrestrial electronics) still sounds out of this world.

A rec ent festival at New Y ork’ s arnegie all celebrated the legacy of S un R a and fellow A frofuturist pioneers A lic e oltrane, arliament unkadelic and author ctavia utler, with performances from lying otus, icole Mitchell and ngel at awid. The un a rkestra, now led by the year old marvel that is Marshall llen, took pride of place on the bill, oined by lack uantum uturist poet Moor Mother and cellist elsey u. ollowing on from ’s Swirling, a rammy nominated album of new c ompositions and reworke d c lassic s, that c onc ert was proof that the A rke stra remains a c reative forc e.

A ll this mak es their return to S ummerhall a real

REASONS TO

The Mercury-nominated C Duncan returns with a new album and an urgency that comes with finding his mojo again. He tells Fiona Shepherd that even his downbeat songs are making him blissfully happy

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ow that spring has sprung, a young music ian’s thoughts turn to light, love and nature. O r j ust sending the last two years pac k ing and ‘ driving up and down the c ountry in a van and sharing T ravelodge rooms again’. C D unc an says he ‘ c an’t wait’ to set out on tour onc e more, with his rapturous fourth album A lluv ium in tow.

L ife is c urrently a blend of new horiz ons and familiar forms for the H elensburgh- based c omposer.

H e moved out of Glasgow to be c loser to his family but stepped bac k into the solo home- rec ording mode of his first two albums T he M idnight Sun and the M erc ury P riz e- nominated A rchitect) after using a studio and producer lbow keyboard player raig P otter) for third album, Health. ‘ M y intention for this rec ord was to do something a lot more upbeat and optimistic than the last rec ord,’ says D unc an. ‘ Health was q uite harrowing for me to write, it was about a lot of personal issues and themes, and life has c hanged for me a lot sinc e then. I ’m in a muc h more stable, happy plac e and I wanted to mak e a rec ord that reflected that even if some of the songs are downbeat, there is still a q uirk iness to them. ’ A lluv ium is still instantly rec ognisable as a C D unc an produc tion, its c elestial c hamber pop reflecting his training in c lassic al c omposition. B ut it also features a c ouple of out- and- out

synth pop songs, ‘ H eaven’ and ‘ I T ried’, and even a number of guitar solos. ‘ I j ust wanted to try out loads of things again, a bit lik e A rchitect. B ac k then, I was finding my feet and trying to work out what kind of music I wanted to mak e. I t turns out I still don’t k now.

I think this album reflects my diverse interests from elec tro pop to overly romantic wedding songs to guitar solos. I lik e things to be densely harmonised and I j ust wanted to pac k it all in and see what it sounded lik e as an album. ’ aid wedding song cryptically titled ‘The edding S ong’) was written for his brother’s nuptials, in lieu of a best man’s speec h. D unc an’s parents, both retired c lassic al music ians, j oined his family ensemble to perform it on the big day. Curiously, another album track, ‘ e ave ifetime’, would make a great first dance soundtrack, its positivity inspired by c onversations with D unc an’s late grandmother. ‘ S he was very philosophic al and was always talki ng about how to enj oy life,’ he says.

I n further we’ve- only- j ust- begun news, A lluv ium is uncan’s first collection since signing to ella U nion, the glorious label run by former Coc teau T win S imon R aymonde. D unc an is reluc tant to say muc h about his previous deal other than, ‘ I had to get out.

T owards the end of the last rec ord, I was starting to get a bit sc eptic al about the music world: who’s really interested in music or is it j ust business? T his is the total flipside, and the people who are around me now are total musos and they will push it bec ause they want people to hear the music . ’ C Duncan plays The Caves, Edinburgh, Wednesday 11 May; King Tut’s, Glasgow, Saturday 14 May; Alluvium is released by Bella Union on Friday 6 May.

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HANNAH PEEL AND PARAORCHESTRA WITH CHARLES HAZLEWOOD Having been commissioned by Paraorchestra, Northern Irish genre-fusing composer Hannah Peel’s latest work, The Unfolding, recently topped the UK classical charts.

Released at the start of April on Real World records, the album is a meditative body of work which fuses elements of minimalism, folk and electronica, featuring beautifully breathy woodwind and haunting vocals from Peel herself and Nigerian soprano Victoria Oruwari.

Under the baton of its founder and conductor Charles Hazlewood, Paraorchestra will perform the full album live, alongside Latent Bloom, a brand-new work from Paraorchestra’s associate music director Lloyd Coleman. Latent Bloom is inspired by a photograph of the same name by Jack Latham, and both works explore the beauty of algorithms in nature.

Set up by Hazlewood in 2011 with the aim of integrating professional disabled performers into the mainstream, Paraorchestra is the first ensemble of its kind. The 14-piece group that performs The Unfolding creates an atmosphere of ethereal beauty through Peel’s music, each individual voice weaving around the others to create a rich sonic tapestry. (Miranda Heggie)  Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, Thursday 5 May.

PICTURE: HOLLY REVELL

FESTIVAL

3 TO SEE AT . . . SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL

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All Of Me

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Director Mark Jeary and writer Mariem Omari both have a reputation for powerful, emotive explorations of serious issues. For One Mississippi, they approach the way in which childhood experiences shape the identity of adult men. With a script based on real-life recollections, and combining physical theatre and humour, the production looks across ethnicity, religion and geography to discover how adverse childhood experiences can determine the course of a life.

In the aftermath of punk, a new scene developed in London: precursors of Riot Grrrl and offering a celebratory activism, the Rebel Dykes were anarchic, creative, sex-positive and faced many of the problems that still exist for queer communities. This film follows their journeys (and subsequent successes) through vintage footage that ranges across gigs, protests, contemporary interviews and BDSM clubbing in an optimistic re-examination of a marginalised history.

Winner of the 2019 Mental Health Fringe Award and The Stage Award for Excellence, Caroline Horton’s one-woman show All Of Me is unapologetic about its savagery and bleakness. Created during a bout of misery, it veers wildly from song to monologue, finding a power in honesty while challenging both depression and expected easy answers. (Gareth K Vile)  Various venues, nationwide, Wednesday 4–Tuesday 24 May; mhfestival.com

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FULL LINE-UP ANNOUNCED JUNE Over 150 across 10 days in North Berwick. How you design your Fringe by the Sea is up to you.

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PICTURES: PAMELA RAITH PHOTOGRAPHY

MISS SC As the ultimate outsider, Ellen Wilkinson was a true force of nature in 20th-century Labour politics. Rachel Cronin talks to playwright Caroline Bird about squeezing her incredible story onto the stage

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he ext raordinary life of 4f t 8” phenomenon E llen W ilki nson has take n six years to reac h the stage. M ulti- award- winning poet and playwright Caroline B ird spent over half a dec ade researc hing and writing the largely unsung story of one of the most outrageous and inspiring women in B ritish politic al history. B ird desc ribes the L abour politic ian’s life as ‘ a magic ian’s top hat’, a bottomless entity into which she found herself repeatedly reaching to find more material.

The playwright’s first draft was over five hours long, which is no surprise given that ilkinson never stopped in her fight for fairness, even to catch a breath. ird’s e tensive research involved filling in as many days as she c ould in a 15- year diary, starting from 193 and ending with W ilki nson’s death in 1947, an exe rc ise that she desc ribes as ‘ exha usting and inexha ustible as she was’. ur ustice hungry heroine was abour M , firstly for Middlesbrough E ast and then later J arrow, eventually bec oming M inister For E duc ation ( the only female minister in Clement A ttlee’s government) and organised the infamous 30mile J arrow M arc h down to W estminster in order to fight unemployment. imultaneously, she was the first to report on itler’s invasion of the hineland and fought against fascism in pain.

W ilki nson worke d hard ( arguably rec kl essly) all her life while suffering

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SCARLET from the c hronic asthma that eventually ki lled her aged j ust 5. ‘ T hat’s one of the paradox es of her life,’ says B ird. ‘ I f she’d look ed after herself, she wouldn’t have been able to ac hieve everything that she did. S he was c onstantly ignoring doc tors’ req uests to go on bedrest. W hile I was writing it, I j ust c onstantly wanted to pull her out of the story and mak e her rest, even for a sec ond. ’ W ith ‘ hair as red as her politic s’, W ilk inson was never fully aligned with the L abour P arty’s ambitions, partic ularly in battling fasc ism, with the leadership refusing to tak e a proper stand against it. ‘ I t’s a big swirling whomp of a play in that it slaloms through all these huge events of the 2 0 th c entury,’ adds B ird. ‘ B ut at its heart, it’s a c harac ter study about this woman who saw herself at the c entre of everything and yet was never truly accepted. It’s an irony that you fight for something your whole life, and even when you’re right at the c entre of the establishment and you’ve made it, you c an still be on the outside look ing in. ’ T his inc redible and c omplex c harac ter is portrayed by the eq ually energetic ac tor, B ettrys J ones. ‘ I t’s wonderful to be able to write a c harac ter and then sit bac k and watc h them as if you haven’t written them, as if they were j ust always there,’ says the playwright. ‘ T hat’s what it’s lik e watc hing B ettrys. ’ W ilk inson’s spirit of togetherness was

c arried throughout the play’s evolution. ‘ T here’s been a real unity with the whole c ast and c reative team. T his play was delayed for two years and we’ve had outrageous c hallenges. B ut they’ve got through it all and I ’m very grateful to be work ing with suc h an amaz ing c ompany. I t’s also amaz ingly direc ted by W ils W ilson. T here are transitions through so many worlds and loc ations, and to pull that off and c reate suc h speed and energy in the produc tion has been awe- inspiring to watc h. ’ It seems ‘ ed llen’ is finally being credited for the leaps and bounds she made for the betterment of B ritain and the world, but unfortunately many of her fights are still ongoing. ‘ llen introduced free school meals and we’re still debating now whether we should let our c hildren go hungry,’ notes B ird. ‘ W ith the c ost- of- living c risis and war in U kr aine, the topic s of the play are suddenly painfully familiar. U nderstandably, we’re all c ompletely sic k to the bac k teeth of politic s but there are still good politic ians in this c ountry. T hey’re j ust often on the bac kbe nc hes where llen ilkinson sat most of her life. It’s those people who fight every day for their constituencies. I have faith that there is still fire out there, we ust need to c up our hands round it. W e need to protec t our E llen W ilki nsons.’

Red Ellen, Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 4–Saturday 21 May.

May 2022 THE LIST 51

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Red Ellen is a Northern Stage, Nottingham Playhouse and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh co-production

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH SASA MUSIC PRESENTS

4 MAY - 21 MAY 2022 “INSPIRATIONAL … RED ELLEN CRACKLES WITH MODERN DAY RESONANCES”

GUARDIAN plus special guest

“A TRENCHANT PORTRAIT OF A POLITICAL TRAILBLAZER”

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THE TIMES

THE STAGE

TUESDAY 31 MAY 2022

AMY HELM

USHER HALL EDINBURGH

Tuesday 14 June 2022

Edinburgh Usher Hall

WRITTEN BY CAROLINE BIRD DIRECTED BY WILS WILSON

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

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ELEVEN-PIECE ENSEMBLE, PERFORMING FORTHCOMING NEW ALBUM SORROWS AWAY, PLUS UNTHANKS FAVOURITES

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SUNDAY 22 MAY 2022 QUEENS HALL EDINBURGH

ROACHFORD REGULAR MUSIC BY ARRANGEMENT WITH LME PRESENTS

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY 2022

Glasgow Oran Mor

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE MAIN THING

26 mAY 2022

EDINBURGH LIQUID ROOM

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27 mAY 2022 28 may 2022

GLASGOW ORAN MOR a REGULAR MUSIC and SYNERGY CONCERTS presentation

REV MAGNETIC plus special guests

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SATURDAY 21 MAY 2022

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TICKETS 0131 248 4848 | lyceum.org.uk

FRIDAY 27 MAY 2022

GLASGOW GLAD CafÉ

FINLEY QUAYE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ‘MAVERICK A STRIKE’

WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE 2022

EDINBURGH LIQUID ROOM

Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd is a Registered Company No. SC062065 Scottish Charity Registered No. SC010509

52 THE LIST May 2022

THURSDAY 2 JUNE 2022

GLASGOW ORAN MOR

www.ticketmaster.co.uk regularmusic.com

Tickets Scotland Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Venue Box Offices and all usual outlets.

regularmusicltd

regularmusicuk

GOING OUT

KIDS

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

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3 TO SEE AT . . . SNEAKY PETE'S

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Now that intimate live shows are making their way back into our day-to-day lives, discovering new bands and artists is a rewarding way to feel connected to the contemporary musical moment. Edinburgh’s Cowgate houses one of the capital’s most iconic independent venues, Sneaky Pete’s, where you can hear Water From Your Eyes (Thursday 5 May), a dynamic duo crossing the pond from New York to play a selection of their genre-bending tunes that combine sparkly prog rock with electronic dance music.

The 2021 single ‘Quotations’ is one of their most popular but take a listen to ‘Adeleine’ and ‘When You’re Around’ for a good cross-section of their work.

Or if a cosmic instrumental six-piece from Geneva is more likely to make your ears prick up, check out L’Eclair (Tuesday 7 May) who are taking the groove and rhythm scene by storm with their captivating compositions. Popular songs include ‘Homo Sapiens’ (created with The Mauskovic Dance Band) and ‘Si O No’. To satisfy all your indie grunge needs, the Bristol-based outfit Wych Elm (Monday 30 May) make an appearance having previously secured opening slots for Snail Mail, IDLES and Black Honey with their contemplative and lyrically rich two-album discography. The band’s biggest track ‘School Shooter’ shows them at their indie best, while a track like ‘Executioner’ gives us a glimpse into the band's sonically darker side. (Megan Merino)

Water From Your Eyes May 2022 THE LIST 53

PREVIEWS

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PICTURE: BART GRIETENS

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It’s always nice to see hazmat overalls given out to audiences at a children’s show: it makes you feel in safe hands. But for Belgian company Grensgeval’s piece Plock!, the precaution comes with good reason. Using Jackson Pollock as its inspiration, this ‘acrobatic painting show’ (yes, you read that right) features performer Jakob Lohmann trying to recreate his hero’s iconic splashscapes with brushes, cans and ‘entire containers’ of paint. It aims to appeal to kids who like to colour outside the lines; anyone who has parented one such child will surely be grateful for the hazmat suits.

For a less colourful but more audible experience, musical show WhirlyGig brings together an orchestra of 30 instruments, but only four musicians to play them. Cue comic mayhem as the ensemble explore how music is made and what happens when it all goes wrong. Sound Symphony also features music as part of an interactive, sensory performance open to schools whose pupils have complex autism needs. Director Ellie Griffiths created the show for the ‘sound seekers’ of the world. Expect shimmering beads, crinkling foil, lyrical melodies, play and silence.

The National Museum Of Scotland is opening its doors for the festival’s free all-day Family Encounters. As well as featuring music and walk-about characters, a new piece has been specially commissioned for visually impaired children. Elsewhere, productions aimed at older children place mental health front and centre. The Hope River Girls tells the extraordinary true story about a group of teenage girls who began behaving strangely one day, while I Am Tiger tackles the subject of suicide through a fable about a girl given a big cat as a pet by her parents, following the death of her brother. (Lucy Ribchester)  Various venues, Edinburgh, Saturday 7–Sunday 15 May; imaginate.org.uk

GOING OUT PICTURE: GEORGE MUNCEY

Alt J (and bottom from left), Bianca Del Rio, Kate Livingstone, DC League Of Super-Pets

PREVIEWS

OTHER THINGS WORTH GOING OUT FOR We’ve covered a whole heap of events happening in Edinburgh and Glasgow this month, but there’s plenty more going on as we move towards ‘summer’ ART

KATE LIVINGSTONE Inspired by the surrealist poetry and woodcut prints of Wassily Kandinsky, Livingstone’s second solo exhibition is Heliotrope, a meditation on pattern.  Upright Gallery, Edinburgh, until Friday 6 May.

COMEDY

BIANCA DEL RIO RuPaul’s Drag Race victor brings her snarky bluntness to the central belt with the fierce and fabulous Unsanitized tour.  Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Tuesday 17 May; SEC, Glasgow, Wednesday 18 May.

SIMON AMSTELL Promising ‘a night of unprecedented joy and laughter’, the former Popworld host (going back

a fair bit there) allows us into the Spirit Hole for a musing on love, sex, shame and mushrooms.  Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Thursday 19 May; Tramway, Glasgow, Friday 20 May.

FILM

DC LEAGUE OF SUPERPETS Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon and Keanu Reeves lend their vocal abilities to the animated tale of Krypto The Super-Dog and his kidnapped buddy Superman.  In cinemas from Wednesday 18 May.

MUSIC

ALTJ

On the back of their new album, The Dream, this multi-billion streamed trio bring us their tunes about personal darkness merged with true-crime

stories and tales of California’s earthquake-surviving Chateau Marmont.  Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Thursday 5 May; Barrowland, Glasgow, Friday 6 May.

THE GREAT EASTERN A top-notch selection of innovative acts gear up for another one-day extravaganza across the capital featuring Kathryn Joseph, Hailey Beavis, Free Love, Porridge Radio and Anna B Savage.  Summerhall, Edinburgh, Saturday 21 May.

THE UNTHANKS Later in the year they tour as a five-piece, but for this gig, there are 11 folk up there on stage as sisters Rachel and Becky lead their band in sound and song that moves between jazz, classical, ambient and post-rock.  Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sunday 22 May.

THEATRE

THE WHITE CHIP Sean Daniels’ Off-Broadway success is a bittersweet story of a life getting increasingly out of control, featuring mint juleps, Mormons and misery.  Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 18 May; Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Friday 20 May.

WOODED Untie My Tongue Theatre launch with an atmospheric tale of seven people in the quiet woods at night, unaware of each other while facing some equally tough life decisions.  Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 May.

54 THE LIST May 2022

Dundee Rep Ensemble presents

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May 2022 THE LIST 55

The extraordinary meets the ordinary and mundanity battles against superheroism in a new Scandi classic.

Emma Simmonds hails The Innocents for sidestepping predictable visual effects for a jaw-dropping subtlety

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ot to be c onfused with J ac k Clayton’s 1 9 6 1 tak e on H enry J ames’ T he T urn O f T he Screw, T he I nnocents might share its name with a c lassic but it refuses to sit meek ly in its shadow.

I nstead, it offers its own uniq ue spin on sinister k ids, while delving intelligently into the subj ec t of superpowers. T his thoughtful, emotionally flooring and unflinching supernatural thriller is the brainc hild of Norwegian direc tor- sc ribe E sk il V ogt, whose direc torial debut was the ironic ally eye- c atc hing B lind and who work s regularly with his ac c laimed c ountryman J oac him T rier ( the pair were rec ently O sc arnominated for c ollaborating on the sc ript of T he W orst P erson I n T he W orld) . et during a pleasant ordic summer on a woodland flanked housing estate, T he I nnocents tells the story of nine- year- old I da ( the superb R ak el L enora Flø ttum) who moves to the area with her family, inc luding her mum ( B lind’s E llen D orrit P etersen) and her non- verbal autistic sister A nna ( A lva B rynsmo R amstad) . W e see the j ealousy and frustration I da feels towards A nna, with her twisted c uriosity regarding her sister’s c ondition resulting in her at one point putting brok en glass

56 THE LIST May 2022

in A nna’s shoe under the mistak en impression that she doesn’t feel pain.

L eft largely to her own devic es, I da strik es up friendships with B en ( S am A shraf) , a lonely and disturbed boy who has minor telek inetic abilities, and the adorable A isha ( M ina Y asmin B remseth A sheim) , who is able to telepathically connect with nna, allowing her voice to finally be heard.

A s the c hildren spend more time together, away from the watc hful eyes of their parents, their powers grow stronger, with B en emerging as a threat and the other three realising that they’re the only people who c an stop him.

D espite showing impressive sensitivity and drawing some remarka bly nuanc ed performanc es from its pre- teen c ast, T he I nnocents is a fearless, sometimes shocking piece of filmmaking that might stun you with how far it is willing to go. I t expl oits the basic ally unc omprehending but seemingly c allous nature of ki ds to the absolute maxi mum with expe riments getting nasty, rec kl essness bec oming a problem and potenc y being embrac ed. I f there are seque nc es that are truly c hilling as B en’s lac k of empathy is expl ored, there are breakt hroughs, too, and ac ts of touc hing c ompanionship and unity among the girls.

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O ne I n it deserves to have that film’s international impact), while the basic premise is e plored with substantially more class than the comparably themed superhero horror B rightburn, from director avid Yarovesky. erhaps most impressively, given the genre it is working within, the film never allows itself to be swallowed up by stunts. It turns a low budget to its advantage, maintaining a close focus on character while the use of effects is kept to a minimum even the grand and rather nail biting finale is e ecuted with ingenious, somewhat breathtaking subtlety. s pider Man has been repeatedly reminded, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’, but what if you’re simply too immature to get a grip? T he I nnocents shows that, with their lack of impulse control and understanding, there really is nothing more frightening than a superhero kid.

The Innocents is in cinemas and on digital platforms from Friday 20 May. May 2022 THE LIST 57

GOING OUT

ogt was inspired to make the film after having children of his own he witnessed their attempts to make sense of the world and became fascinated by their secret lives, which in turn triggered memories of his own childhood. This relationship to reality lends the film curiosity and substance issues of peer pressure, sibling rivalry and the devastation of falling out with friends feed into the film’s more fantastical elements, generating emotional depth and poignancy.

Through the character of nna, T he I nnocents challenges assumptions about autism, while assigning her a key role in the story.

The mundane yet gorgeously shot semi rural surroundings give the film further credibility, as this e traordinary story plays out against an ordinary landscape. This e tremely tense effort shows what happens when adults are unwilling or unable to provide protection, making much out of the inescapability of the girls’ situation, their lack of agency and their vulnerability to attack. lthough T he I nnocents is largely its own beast, there are shades here of Tomas lfredson’s seminal vampire flick Let T he R ight

FILM OF THE MONTH

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KATHERINE RYAN

Despite meeting her husband in the unquestionably unique circumstances of filming ancestry show Who Do You Think You Are? in Canada, Katherine Ryan’s Missus is not dismissively titled, even if it is knowingly ironic. She is, by turns, playful and caustically sharp. Yet at base, this is an account of Ryan’s domestic set-up as a recently married mother-of two, raising a teenager and new baby.

Fans will already be aware of the circumstances by which she reunited with former childhood sweetheart and now spouse, Bobby Kootstra, as well as the tabloid news of how he tackled a burglar who broke into their house.

Still, the pleasure of Ryan’s typically tight show is the fine details with which she illustrates these stories. Unquestionably the breadwinner in her household, Ryan flips the ’er indoors routines of bygone stand-up and has tremendous fun at Kootstra’s expense, portraying him as a slightly conservative rube struggling to adjust and find a purpose in metropolitan London life.

Yet here, as with her depiction of her right-on daughter and vaccine-sceptic sister, the comic presents a balanced, three-dimensional portrait. She tends to open with finely tuned mockery but immediately humanises her loved ones, expertly treading a line between relatable affection and concise, witty swipes.

Very much including herself in these critiques, Ryan elicits big laughs over the cosmetic enhancements she’s undergone and her status as an older mother.

But there’s only so much self-deprecation she’ll allow herself, with a confidence and satisfaction in her achievements both uplifting and infectious.

All of which might not sound that important. Yet Ryan’s openness and willingness to seem both vulnerable and unashamedly proud also permits her to indulge in her speciality of celebrity gossip without appearing overly mean, even about Matt Hancock and his very public love life. Marrying precise, accomplished writing with her chatty, catching-up delivery ensures that Missus passes in an entertaining breeze. (Jay Richardson)  Edinburgh Playhouse, Saturday 28 May; reviewed at SEC, Glasgow.

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Missus

FILM

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

(Directed by Emmanuel Carrère)

‘I want to make the invisible visible,’ insists journalist Marianne (Juliette Binoche) when a job-centre worker threatens to expose her. She’s been posing as a cleaner in the French city of Caen to raise awareness of dodgy employment practices. Although Marianne’s intentions are admirable, Between Two Worlds far from paints her as a saint as it delves fascinatingly into the moral minefield of undercover work.

Based on Florence Aubenas’ book The Night Cleaner and directed by Emmanuel Carrère (The Moustache), the film heartbreakingly highlights a sense of solidarity that exists between the otherwise ignored as Marianne befriends single mother Chrystèle (Hélène Lambert, more than holding her own against one of France’s greatest thespians).

Deftly avoiding the grim or patronising, this genial film nevertheless draws stark attention to just how hurtful it is to spy on someone and pretend to be their pal. Marianne begins the film endearingly but seems less like a good sport as it wears on. Rather than keeping his heroine on a pedestal, Carrère drags her right off it and, in doing so, makes us truly see the humanity of those who Marianne thinks she’s helping.

(Emma Simmonds)  In cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema from Friday 27 May.

58 THE LIST May 2022

SACRED PAWS + KAPUTT, THE QUILTER & NEKKURO HANA SAT 07 MAY SAINT LUKE’S, GLA

ANDY SHAUF TUE 10 MAY SUMMERHALL, EDI

PINEGROVE TUE 10 MAY QUEEN MARGARET UNION, GLA

MEN I TRUST WED 18 MAY TV STUDIO, SWG3, GLA

FAYE WEBSTER WED 25 MAY MONO, GLA

GHOST-NOTE TUE 07 JUN SAINT LUKE’S, GLA

BIKINI KILL SUN 12 JUN O2 ACADEMY, GLA

SNAIL MAIL FRI 24 JUN QUEEN MARGARET UNION, GLA

COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS TUE 05 JUL THE VOODOO ROOMS, EDI

LOS BITCHOS TUE 16 AUG SUMMERHALL, EDI

DEERHOOF SUN 28 AUG SUMMERHALL, EDI

ANDREW WASYLYK FRI 16 SEP CCA, GLA

SOCCER MOMMY SAT 24 SEP QUEEN MARGARET UNION, GLA

!!! (CHK CHK CHK) THU 06 OCT STUDIO WAREHOUSE, SWG3, GLA

KATHRYN JOSEPH SAT 15 OCT SAINT LUKE’S, GLA

ANGEL OLSEN THU 20 OCT USHER HALL, EDI

JAPANESE BREAKFAST SAT 22 OCT OLD FRUITMARKET, GLA

PORRIDGE RADIO FRI 28 OCT SAINT LUKE’S, GLA

ALDOUS HARDING FRI 21 APR ASSEMBLY ROOMS, EDI

May 2022 THE LIST 59

REVIEWS

Barbara Hepworth was a leading light in modernism and arguably one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Claire Sawers reflects on Hepworth's career as a major exhibition of her work opens in Edinburgh

60 THE LIST May 2022

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n , the year before arbara epworth died in an accidental fire in her studio, she said, ‘ I detest a day of no work , no music , no poetry. I t’s all brewing in my mind; all I want is time. ’ S he was 7 2 years old when she died and, following her wishes, her home and studio in Cornwall bec ame a sc ulpture garden and museum whic h is still run by the T ate Gallery.

H epworth’s art weaved together her view of the world and many of her passions: women, bodies, movement, nature, light, music , politic s, tec hnology, paganism and spac e travel. T he Y ork shire- born sc ulptor c arved her way deftly through a partic ularly male sec tor of an already male- dominated art world, c rafting stunning c urves from the c hallenging materials of hardwood, bronz e and marble without c onsidering that what she was doing was in any way pioneering.

B arbara Hepworth: A rt & Life is the largest ex hibition of work by H epworth to c ome to S c otland. I t features over 1 2 0 work s, inc luding the tender, c omforting undulations of ‘ M other and Child’ ( 1 9 3 4 ) in pink A nc aster stone, made while she was pregnant with triplets. M otherhood rec urs throughout her work and it’s fasc inating to see the prec ise geometric sk etc hes she took to drawing by night, when her c hildren were young and these were the only hours she could find to focus on work. ust as the round hills of her childhood in Yorkshire influenced the soft shapes that bec ame one of her trademark s, the bending lines of c oastline and swelling waves near her adopted home of S t

I ves in Cornwall also seeped into her style. T he standing stones near S t I ves appealed to her interest in mystic ism and paganism, and influenced works including ‘Two igures Menhirs)’ and ‘Two orms in chelon’. Movement and dance became a thread too, not only in the silken gestures and flows she captured in her abstract sc ulptures but in a more physic al sense too; she bought the former danc e hall P alais de D anse in S t I ves in 1 9 6 1 and used it as her studio.

H epworth’s outdoor bronz e sc ulptures have been a part of the dinburgh landscape for years ‘ scending orm loria)’ and ‘ ock orm orthcurno)’ stand in the oyal otanic arden and her ‘ Conversation for M agic S tones’ is part of the permanent furniture in the grounds of this ex hibition' s venue, the S c ottish National Gallery of M odern A rt. S o many of the piec es on show here look inc redibly strok eable, but the tac tile, inviting q uality of the lines she made are balanc ed with a tough, unbreak able strength. T here is resilienc e in the softness she builds. S eeing the sheer breadth of her work gathered here in soft ribbons, c irc les and sharp strings and points, in sc ulpture, c ostume and drawing, allows a prec ious window into the mind of a phenomenal artist.

Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life, Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art, Edinburgh, until Sunday 2 October.

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MUSIC

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Blondie’s long-awaited performance at Glasgow’s Hydro was an electrical fire of pent-up covid energy with Debbie Harry describing lockdown as ‘a very long vacation in isolation’. Despite postponements, almost every seat in the house was full for this leg of the Against The Odds Tour, with support coming from Johnny Marr.

Harry, now aged 76, possesses a stage presence that is nothing short of atomic. The idol emerged in a glittery orange waistcoat and sunglasses, white hair in wisps round her shoulders. She delivered the iconic opening lines of ‘X-Offender’ with an effortless coolness that would engross us for the remainder of this hit-after-hit set.

The singer’s voice was as crisp and clear as in her glory days, yet the key in some songs was changed to suit Harry’s 2022 vocal range. Her compassion and graciousness for the rest of the band was notable, introducing ‘What I Heard’ which appeared on their 9th studio album Panic Of Girls, as an original song by keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen.

Original drummer Clem Burke’s unmistakable style had the happy-go-lucky audience bouncing in their seats (and out of them). Mastermind Chris Stein had to pull out of the tour due to heart problems, but was replaced by Sex Pistols bassist, Glen Matlock. Long-standing bandmates Andee Blacksugar and Tommy Kessler fuelled the fiery musical atmosphere, ensuring that nothing felt lacking.

Audience enthusiasm wobbled momentarily in the encore, when lesser-known hits (‘No Exit’ and ‘Fragments’, a cover from their 2017 album, Pollinator) made a surprise appearance. However, Harry’s undeniable eagerness and passion for the songs carried the crowd over this tiny hiccup. A gig that had to end with a couple of crowd-pleasers, ‘Call Me’ and ‘One Way Or Another’ were the ideal climax of an unforgettable performance. Against The Odds is not an attempt to return to Blondie’s chart-topping days, instead it marks a new era for this multifaceted music machine. (Rachel Cronin)  Reviewed at OVO Hydro, Glasgow.

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THEATRE

ORPHANS

(Directed by Cora Bissett)

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A lot of love has been deposited at Peter Mullan’s feet for his 1998 film, Orphans. So staying faithful to the original while bringing it up to date was always going to be one of National Theatre Of Scotland’s biggest challenges. But within seconds, all fears are laid to rest as deeply as poor Ma Flynn, the matriarchal corpse at the centre of this superb funereal farce.

Taking place over one long night, the show bounces from church to pub to fairground, via the odd home and workplace, as Thomas, John and Sheila attempt to come to terms with the death of their mother. The laughs come thick and fast, thanks to Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly’s no-holds-barred lyrics (‘Every Cunt Should Love Every Cunt’ surely going down in history as Scottish musical theatre’s proudest moment), Douglas Maxwell’s clever adaptation of Mullan’s script, Cora Bissett’s astute direction, and the cast’s precision timing.

In an ensemble devoid of a weak link, special mention goes to Robert Florence of Burnistoun fame, whose ability to sing, act and carry a coffin marks him out as a true triple threat. And while laughter is the main aim here, as only befits a funeral, Bissett ensures we’ve a wee tear in the eye by closing time. (Kelly Apter)  Run ended; reviewed at King’s Theatre, Edinburgh; soundtrack album available at nationaltheatrescotland.com

May 2022 THE LIST 61 March

GOING OUT

FILM

THE QUIET GIRL

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DANCE

SCOTTISH BALLET

The Scandal At Mayerling

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A young girl gets the tantalising taste of a better life in this immaculately spun, visually arresting drama set in early 1980s rural Ireland. The Quiet Girl is the feature debut of writerdirector Colm Bairéad and plays out in both Irish and English.

Catherine Clinch plays Cáit, a timid child prone to bedwetting and flights of all-too-brief freedom who is part of a large clan living on farmland in dirt-poor circumstances. Her knackered mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh) has another baby on the way, while her harddrinking, adulterous father (Michael Patric) is more a hindrance than help. Ahead of the newborn’s arrival, Cáit is sent to live with her mother’s cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her husband Seán (Andrew Bennett), a childless couple who are strangers to Cáit and hide a devastating secret.

The kindness and care which Eibhlín shows Cáit is hugely moving, as the film imagines what it might feel like to be the apple of someone’s eye after years of neglect. Meanwhile the gradual thawing of an apparently indifferent Seán is also beautifully done. This is a film of gentle, melancholic rhythms and small but important gestures where sadness dominates but rays of hope get in too. (Emma Simmonds)  In cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema from Friday 13 May.

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(Directed by Colm Bairéad)

62 THE LIST May 2022

Tackling the inner trials of a prince consumed by substance abuse and a fascination with death, The Scandal At Mayerling retells true events that triggered the AustroHungarian empire’s demise. Sex, drugs and his spiralling mental state sink Prince Rudolf from the lavish Royal Court of 1889 Vienna and on to murder and suicide. This shocking Scottish debut is certainly not the fairytale you might expect from a traditional ballet.

Scottish Ballet in its entirety (more than 40 dancers) are present onstage for parts of this unconventional period piece. Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s original choreography from 1978 elevates events to a state of imperial grandeur.

The story then slides into a shadowy scandal that shaped the course of European history. A complex and twisted tale to tell through dance, Christopher Hampson and Gary Harris have seamlessly adapted this narrative for the Scottish stage.

The whites of Rudolf’s manic eyes are visible even from the dress circle of Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. Possessed by privilege and power, our anti-hero (played by Evan Loudon) torments his terrified bride Princess Stephanie (Constance Devernay) in a climactic encounter that ends in sexual assault. The dancers intertwine with pain and passion as Stephanie is flung forcefully around the stage by her husband. It’s no surprise the company worked closely with intimacy directors when putting this performance together.

A heart-stopping score by Franz Liszt is all the more captivating under the conducting of Martin Yates, and Elin Steele’s costume and set design is exquisite. From the nobility of Vienna’s Royal Court to that city’s downtown brothels, no two of these characters’ opulent outfits are the same. Our backstabbing bachelors and barrelling baronesses are certainly not the snowflakes or sugarplum fairies of other ballets, which only makes this raunchy rollercoaster that much more compelling. (Rachel Cronin)  Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 25–Saturday 28 May; reviewed at Theatre Royal, Glasgow.

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JOHNNIE WALKER PRINCES STREET PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR CULTURE AND CREATIVITY Edinburgh, world-renowned for entertainment, has an exciting new experiential venue.

AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER IN A CITY LIKE NO OTHER

Edinburgh is world-renowned as a hub of cultural activity. With a full festival season across the summer, international visitors descending on the city and a number of institutions housing headline acts, there is no shortage of art and entertainment in Edinburgh.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street is welcoming some of the city’s brightest upcoming talent over 2022. Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s west end, the eight-floor whisky experience is ideally situated and excited to host everyone from household names to this year’s up and coming talent.

Already this year, the building’s dedicated performance space, The Label Studio, has welcomed audiences to its first ticketed event in partnership with Sofar Sounds. Sofar is famed for its element of surprise, announcing Johnnie Walker Princes Street as its host venue only 36 hours before the event and the line-up kept a secret until guests walk through the door. Performances included George Cosby, Amy Duncan and Mike Bailey from The Lonely Together.

BOOK NOW Enjoying whisky highballs and acoustic performances, including a return visit home to Scotland from Mike

Bailey, guests were able to enjoy being among the first to set foot in one of Scotland’s newest and buzziest performance spaces.

With eight storeys to explore, the possibilities for entertainment are limitless at Johnnie Walker Princes Street. The ground-floor retail store has also partnered with Scottish charity, Turn the Tables for regular DJ shows across several weekends throughout the year.

Turn the Tables is a local charity with the aim of re-engaging those who have become unengaged from education or employment through the art of music to help them shape a brighter future. Shoppers at the store can not only learn about their favourite whiskies but help provide young talent with new skills and self-belief.

The summer of 2022 is set to be an exciting one, with the return of live entertainment without restrictions and the team at Johnnie Walker Princes Street are excited to welcome new and returning guests to enjoy the wide variety of performances.

From monthly DJ and whisky events, special intimate performances in the Label Studio to Jazz, Funk & Soul Sundays in the stunning Explorers’ Bothy bar set to thrill visitors throughout the year, there is no better time to follow their social channels.

For more info visit johnniewalkerprincesstreet.com

drinkaware.co.uk for the facts

1 THE LIST March 2022

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64 THE LIST May 2022

GOING OUT

FILM

BENEDICTION

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Siegfried Sassoon goes under the spotlight in this elegant and unconventional biopic from the great Terence Davies, which features striking work from Scotland’s Jack Lowden as England’s First World War poet. It’s an admirable endeavour which marries Sassoon’s poetry and principled words with archive combat footage while painting a colourful, bitchy picture of the era’s arts scene.

At first the film frustrates with the brevity of its dramatic sequences. But things open up when Sassoon becomes disillusioned with the war he has been awarded a Military Cross for fighting, and is sent to a Scottish hospital for the treatment of nervous disorders. There, he discusses his stance with a sympathetic doctor (played by Ben Daniels) who also shares his attraction towards men, and forms a strong bond with fellow poet Wilfred Owen (Matthew Tennyson).

Simon Russell Beale’s Robbie Ross is a constant companion with whom Sassoon delivers scathing verdicts on the artistic efforts of friends and acquaintances. Later, there’s an acrimonious affair with wildly popular entertainer Ivor Novello (Jeremy Irvine), who Siegfried’s mother Theresa (Geraldine James) dubs ‘amusing but unpleasant’. Writer-director Davies highlights Sassoon’s tortured soul and rebellious spirit in what are contrastingly very carefully staged scenes. This is the performance that could make Lowden a star; he captures the poet in all his infuriation, anxiety and pride in a fittingly intelligent portrayal, while other leading lights of the time are vividly depicted.

Environments merge through dissolves, as Sassoon’s memories of battlefields and field hospitals take over, and the glitz and glamour of his London lifestyle recedes into the background, showing the lingering impact of war. And the melancholy young man eventually gives way to a bitter older version (played forcefully by Peter Capaldi) in a film that fashions Sassoon’s life into the richest of tapestries. (Emma Simmonds)  In cinemas from Friday 20 May.

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(Directed by Terence Davies)

AMANDA THOMSON AND ANNALEE DAVIS

Nature’s unceasing movement and universality in the aftermath of colonialism are themes of this delicately crafted and gently informative exhibition. Annalee Davis and Amanda Thomson’s like-minded works weave seamlessly together to build a bridge between Scotland and Barbados.

CCA’s Gallery 1 is transformed into a tearoom symbolic of the coloniser; two types of tea have been curated by Scottish herbalist Tariqua Gorrissen to be sampled by gallery-goers on Saturdays during the exhibit’s run.

Davis records the names of 152 Scottish women (perhaps thought to be witches) who were taken to Barbados to work alongside slaves from Africa. Writing their names in the Atlas Of British Flora, imperial practices of cartography are contradicted by the unsung histories of individuals who suffered under colonialism.

Thomson’s soundwork drifts like wind through grass in Gallery 2.

Overlapping layers of audio list moth species and habits. The use of plants in folklore and ancient medical practice are described. A series of small televisions create a meadow of forest footage collected over the past decade from Cairngorms National Park. The viewer becomes a moth in a trap, forced to slow down and wallow in the wildlife. A wider historical context can be identified in this quiet close-up of two countries’ intersecting pasts. Davis and Thomson teach us that in a post-colonial landscape, all nature is connected. (Rachel Cronin)  CCA, Glasgow, until Saturday 21 May.

May 2022 THE LIST 65

STAYING IN

CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS After the roaring glory of Normal People, news that another Sally Rooney TV adaptation was in the works left fans quite flush with excitement.

Conversations With Friends was the County Mayo novelist’s debut from 2017 and revolves around more characters who are young and talented with a special gift for self-destruction. Jemima Kirke and Joe Alwyn star in this tale about two pals who get involved in an unsettling scenario with a married couple. n Available on BBC Three from Sunday 15 May.

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PODCASTS

TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ

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The wonderful world of sounds keeps Dallas Taylor’s podcast ticking along. Claire Sawers talks to him about people who share his name and how he escapes the din

PICTURE: STEPHEN VOSS

Dallas Taylor is creator and presenter of Twenty Thousand Hertz, a fascinating podcast that goes behind the scenes of ‘the world’s most recognisable and interesting sounds’. Since 2016, Taylor has geeked out over blockbuster movie sound effects as well as noises from Speak & Spell toys, home appliances and 808 drum machines. Podcast guests are often asked about their favourite sounds. ‘I’ve noticed a trend,’ says Taylor. ‘Most answers are nature or human. Laughter comes up a lot. And the ocean.

Personally, it’s the voices and laughs of my kids or wife. I adore those.’

In episode 140 from February, Taylor tracked down people with his name and stumbled on some freaky coincidences. ‘“Being Dallas Taylor” started with the notion that the sound of our own name is the sweetest we can hear. The really surprising thing was when I interviewed a names expert about commonalities people named Dallas Taylor might share. I’d already interviewed the other Dallas Taylors by then so it was a really profound thing essentially hearing her predict what we would discover.’

When Taylor is not doing the podcast he’s a sound artist for clients including Google, Disney and Nike, making sounds heard by millions of people. ‘I started Defacto Sound design studio 12 years ago. Last year we made 800 trailers for Netflix. The projects that really get me jazzed have inspiring people behind them. Almost Holy was a 2015 documentary about a Ukrainian pastor, a vigilante helping get kids off the streets. That one was really emotional for me. He’s in Mariupol right now so he’s back in the news.’

The podcast is lovingly made, with passionate attention to detail on the tiniest of noises. Twenty Thousand Hertz has also heard from deaf activists, describing life without sound. In his profession, does Taylor ever worry about hearing loss? ‘A certain amount of hearing loss is normal as we get older; children hear 20,000 hertz,’ he explains, revealing where the podcast’s name comes from. ‘I’m down to around 15,500. I’m more worried about cultural hearing loss: the idea that loud equals fun. I strongly disagree with that. I don’t want to go to a bar or restaurant where I’m struggling to hear. There is so much nuance and performance in the voice. I also don’t want to go to a concert of a band that I love and have to put in earplugs; I want it to be at the proper level.’

When Taylor’s ears need a break, like many guests, nature is the soothing balm. ‘I get very overwhelmed with loud sounds, so going for a walk in nature, hearing the wind, birds, just trying to focus into the now is really important. If my kids are screaming, sometimes a walk around the block to recalibrate can really help.’  Episodes available at 20k.org

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BINGE FEST

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Our alphabetical column on viewing marathons reaches F

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A fter the sad death of P aul R itter, watc hing F riday N ight D inner ( A ll 4) will be a bittersweet expe rienc e for anyone c atc hing up or sampling the c haos of the weekly oodman family gathering for the very first time. ach cast member is note perfec t, from the four main players to M ark H eap as oddball neighbour J im and his faithless B elgian S hepherd, W ilson, to R osalind night also sadly departed in ) as ‘horrible grandma’.

T here’s sadness, too, in going bac k over 264 episodes of F rasier ( A ll 4) with J ohn M ahoney having passed away four years ago while his sideki c k Moose who played ack ussell Terrier, ddie) e pired in , two years after the original show ended. The dog may be easier to recast when the sitcom returns later this year.

The ma or death that nags at your mind as you fire through si seasons and a 20 reunion spec ial of T he F resh P rince O f B el-A ir ( B B C iP layer) is ill mith’s career after lapgate. ee him in his breakthrough role as streetwise teen W illiam ‘ W ill’ S mith ( imagination running rampant there) and wonder how it all eventually went so wrong in the most public manner possible. rian onaldson) Other F binges: Fargo (Netflix), Fortitude (NOW TV), Feel Good (Netflix).

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RURA / LES AMAZONES D'AFRIQUE / NEWTON FAULKNER / NITEWORKS THIS IS THE KIT / THE ORCHESTRAL QAWWALI PROJECT WITH ABI SAMPA ADMIRAL FALLOW / DARLINGSIDE / HANNAH RARITY / JASON SINGH NATIONAL YOUTH PIPE BAND / LYRE LYRE / GLASGOW AFRICAN BALAFON ORCHESTRA LISA RIGBY / BAQUE LUAR / HEN HOOSE FEATURING TAMARA SCHLESINGER, EMMA POLLOCK, ELISABETH ELEKTRA, SUSE BEAR, PIPPA MURPHY, KARINE POLWART, JAYDA AND AMANDAH WILKINSON MORE SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

DANDELION KELVINGROVE FREE FESTIVAL PARK GLASGOW 17––19 JUNE Totally

Commissioned by

As part of

Funded via

68 THE LIST May 2022

A three-day celebration that dares to reimagine our relationship to food and the planet.

Featuring live music, performance, plant giveaways, workshops, talks, science and arts.

Dandelion.scot #AnythingGrows

STAYING IN

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In 2018, the rock music and celebrity photographer Pat Pope suffered a stroke. He was the man who photographed everyone who mattered in the 90s and noughties, from Pixies to PJ Harvey, Bowie to Beastie Boys, and Human League to Haley Joel Osment. In the immediate aftermath of his illness, his hometown of Tunbridge Wells set up a fundraising gig called Patstonbury. A new campaign has been set up to create a publication that will capture many of those top stars who ended up in front of his lens between 1992 and 2012. If you want to contribute and get your hands on a signed copy of the book, head to indiegogo.com

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Clockwise from top: Natalie Imbruglia, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Jon Bon Jovi, Beastie Boys, Billy Childish

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In this Q&A, we throw some questions about ‘firsts’ at debut authors.

This month we feature Kate Maxwell, author of Hush, a story about motherhood, womanhood and career identity

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What’s the first book you remember reading as a child? D ogger by S hirley H ughes, about a boy who loses his toy dog. I t’s a pic ture book page turner: will D ave find D ogger? I now read it to my daughter and son and love its 7 0 s illustrations and gentle learning moments: ‘ then B ella did something very k ind’, H ughes writes when D ave’s sister gives him the teddy she won at the fair. I f only my c hildren were as thoughtful to eac h other . . .

What was the first book you read that made you decide to be a writer?

T o K ill A M ockingbird. T he idea that suc h powerful, important themes c ould be c ommunic ated so effec tively in literature made a huge impac t on me. I was reminded how moving the book was when I saw A aron S ork in’s brilliant stage adaptation rec ently, with R afe S pall as the perfec t A ttic us Finc h.

What’s your favourite first line in a book? ‘ 1 2 4 was spiteful’, from B elov ed by

T oni M orrison. O pening lines don’t get more intriguing.

Which debut publication had the most profound effect on you?

M artin A mis’ T he R achel P apers: I thought it was so smart and funny. Y ears later, when I was work ing at Condé N ast T rav eler magaz ine in New Y ork , I sat nex t to Gully W ells, A mis’ then girlfriend, to whom he dedic ated the book . S he c laimed she wasn’t the inspiration for R ac hel, but I ’m not so sure. I re- read it rec ently and it was j ust as good.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up on a writing day? M ak e a

pot of c offee. T hat first mug, the sun rising and the rest of the house still asleep: nothing is as c onduc ive to writing.

What’s the first thing you do when you’ve stopped writing for the day? Go for a run. I ’ve found it’s the best thing for unk notting plot tangles and mak ing c harac ters behave themselves.

In a parallel universe where you’re a tyrant leader in a dystopian civilisation, what’s the first book you’d burn? L ast Christmas, I was given T he

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PICTURE: CHARLIE HOPKINSON

Life-Changing M agic O f T idying. I ronic ally, it has remained unopened, its only role to add to our house’s c lutter, so the fire is probably the best plac e for it.

What’s the first piece of advice you’d offer to an aspiring novelist?

K eep going. A s a wise author friend onc e told me, the novels that get published aren’t necessarily the best ones they’re the ones that got finished.

Hush is published by Virago on Thursday 12 May.

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In recent years, there’s been a surprisingly successful trend of adapting classic horror films as video games. We’ve had Blair Witch, Friday The 13th: The Game and Dead By Daylight, a hugely successful multiplayer effort which assembles a who’s who of horror icons from the likes of Halloween, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and A Nightmare On Elm Street.

Evil Dead: The Game is a survival horror featuring co-op and PVP, similar to Left 4 Dead and its recent follow-up, Back 4 Blood. The legendary Bruce Campbell returns as hero, Ash, alongside other characters from the original films and TV series Ash Vs Evil Dead. Taking control of Ash, or one of his friends, you’ll need to use a variety of tricks (and weaponry) to survive the night, or you could possess the Kandarian Demon and hunt down its human prey.

This one is an asymmetrical multiplayer game akin to Friday The 13th which did a good job of pitting a seemingly unstoppable force (Jason) against a team of victims, although a licensing row brought a premature end to the fun. Hopefully, the vast legion of Evil Dead fans will help maintain a healthy player count, something that’s crucial to this type of game’s success. (Murray Robertson)  Released by PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on Friday 13 May (naturally).

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The Staircase starts on Sky Atlantic, Thursday 5 May.

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hen a raft of true crime documentaries began to flood both the digital streaming services and mainstream T channels, one knock on effect was highly predictable. ithin a short space of time, these series often adapted from books or podcasts or newspaper articles) would themselves find a new outlet for their very grim stories. arlier this year, a drama series was concocted from T iger K ing, the sordid tale of oe otic and arole askin which enthralled and appalled viewers ust as the first lockdown clamped us at home. hile surely only the very few would relate to these two individuals, at that moment in time March ) we could all empathise with those caged big cats. The consensus on J oe v s Carole starring the likes of ate Mc innon as askin and yle Mac achlan as her husband oward) was that while it came over as less seedy than people had feared, it was a simple case of coming a distant second to a documentary series that had featured acres of drama and twists on an episode by episode basis. e await any news on M aking A M urderer being given a dramatised spin ach alifianakis as teven very and aul ano as his nephew rendan assey, surely ) but May ushers in T he Staircase, the tragic and room dividing tale of Michael etersen whose wife athleen died in their home after a boo y night in. he was found dead at the foot of their stairs. e claimed to have no knowledge of how she met her death of all the speculations, the ‘owl theory’ was undoubtedly the wildest). olice and forensic scientists had other ideas and eventually etersen was put on trial. ll along the way, he pleaded his innocence, claiming that the authorities had a grudge against him after he stood for election and threatened to out corruption among officials in his home town of urham, orth arolina. ut when odd parallels of this case were tracked back to an incident in his earlier life, even his most ardent supporters began to lose faith. nd so now, we have Michael etersen being played by olin irth, Toni ollette as his ill fated spouse athleen and Michael tuhlbarg as hotshot shifty lawyer avid udolf, while ane e aan and ophie Turner play two of their grown up children. etersen had si across his two marriages, and soon loyalties became split down the middle as rumour tipped over into accusations and doubts were cast on their father’s innocence.

T he Staircase is a solid piece of T and shouldn’t really fail with the breadth of intriguing characters and backstories that the makers get to play with. nd irth has certainly done a tremendous ob in nailing etersen’s uirky characteristics that were laid out for all to see in the documentary he veers from highly emotional to seemingly callous shoulder shrugging with ease, usually punctuated by frantic sucking on that signature pipe. ut one key uestion will remain for those who were obsessed with the original documentary series how long will they spend e plaining what an lford plea is

TV OF THE MONTH

Death On The Staircase was a forerunner of the true-crime documentary wave. As a new drama series is made out of one extended family’s pain, Brian Donaldson wonders whether seeing Michael Petersen walk around in Colin Firth’s body can be a good thing

May 2022 THE LIST 71

tv • CHIVALRY

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Channel 4

A #MeToo satire that takes a swipe at those malevolent forces at play underneath the Hollywood sign was the TV comedy-drama many have been waiting for. Whether Chivalry was the end result hoped for is debatable. Co-written and starring Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani, it sets out its stall straight from the off. He is movie-producer dinosaur Cameron, a man who is struggling to come to terms with the post-Weinstein way of things on and off-set, while she is Bobby, an acclaimed indie director called in to re-shoot a film’s sex scenes in order to shift the focus away from its rigid male gaze.

All of which seems fair game for lampooning, but the emphasis is less on the dangerous men who have destroyed countless careers and lives, and more on the new regimes on-set which are portrayed as interfering at best and neo-Stasi at worst. An intimacy coach proves to be hopeless while the women start behaving almost as despicably as the men.

Perhaps this is the point that’s being made: wherever power resides, there’s a tendency for it to be warped out of all recognition and fall prey to overambitious tyrants, no matter the gender. It’s certainly a dispiriting message that arguably threatens to let the bad guys off the hook.

(Brian Donaldson)  All episodes available now on All 4.

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ALBUMS

BLOC PARTY

Alpha Games (Infectious/BMG) Like a prize fighter who’s taken a killer cranial blow, Bloc Party have grown sluggish since their mid-2000s heyday, muddling their way into musical cul-de-sacs and half-baked experiments with each new release. It’s perhaps appropriate, then, that their sixth studio album, Alpha Games, feels akin to former champs revisiting their glory days.

Gone are the vague stabs at pop accessibility that plagued Hymns, the ‘will this do?’ stink of Four, or even the well-received foray into club bangers for Intimacy. In their place is an invite to the wild abandon of 2005, when Silent Alarm’s rapid-fire take on post-rock placed them on the edge of superstardom while the sparky energy of ‘This Modern Love’ was ubiquitous.

Pitching for fan nostalgia can make any band sound like a tribute act to themselves, but here, the approach yields looser and more fun-loving results than songwriter Kele Okereke has mustered in a decade. A lightning pace pulses through each song, as with relentless opener ‘Day Drinker’ or lead single ‘Traps’, which drenches a grungetinged riff with the lusty tale of a casual hook-up. Riskier experiments also prove successful and illustrate the newfound vein of seediness running through Okereke’s lyrics, as in the violent glam strut of ‘The Girls Are Fighting’, the paranoiac outburst of ‘Callum Is A Snake’ or the bitter tinge of album closer ‘The Peace Offering’.

Plenty of tunes fail to make contact: ‘Rough Justice’ continues Okereke’s habit for looping the most annoying noises imaginable, while the album’s quieter moments recall the banalities of landfill indie. But Alpha Games gives Bloc Party the chance to hit the reset button after a handful of lacklustre releases. They may not fit into drainpipe jeans anymore, but there’s life in the old band yet. (Kevin Fullerton)  Out now.

GAMES

LEGO STAR WARS: THE SKYWALKER SAGA

(PC / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X/S)

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The Lego and Star Wars franchises were first united in videogame format way back in 2005. All but the most recent two films have been adapted over the years, and now this epic nine-part omnibus brings together the entire Skywalker saga in a completely revamped collection for modern systems.

You control detailed Lego mini-figures which sport adorable mould lines and even get dusted with sand (Anakin was right: it gets everywhere). You explore environments, fight enemies and collect studs plus other Lego objects which are used as currency to purchase additional characters and RPG-style upgrades. Locations from the series are beautifully rendered as realistic backgrounds to the more basic but detailed structures.

You can break down most of the objects which litter the maps, sometimes satisfyingly reconfiguring constituent pieces into something else.

While the likes of Harrison Ford and Ewan McGregor don’t reprise their roles, there’s a surprisingly solid cast of impressionist talent in their place. Pleasingly, some of the original cast do show up, including Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams. Combat is simple, usually using blasters at a distance or fists up close. Some boss battles require a little bit of strategy but this is in no way a challenging game while the only penalty for death is the loss of some studs. As such it’s a great game for families to enjoy, and a second player simply has to pick up a controller to join in the fun at any time.

While the story isn’t particularly long, there’s plenty of replay value in ‘free mode’, a chance to mix and match characters and further explore the world. No matter which Star Wars film is your favourite, all of them have been lovingly recreated with the same care and attention to detail. None of it is taken seriously, and a broad but winning sense of humour winds through the whole saga. (Murray Robertson)  Out now.

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PODCASTS

CLIVE BRILL

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Macbeth (BBC Sounds)

PICTURE: GEORGIA TENNANT

When you cast an actor who has played everyone from a Time Lord to Dennis Nilsen in the title role of Shakespeare’s tragedy, it is reasonable to expect variety. Thus it is that David Tennant gives a multifaceted exploration of the light and shade of the Scottish king. In Clive Brill’s production, he starts off the genial comrade of Stuart McQuarrie’s Banquo, intrigued by the three witches and their electronically distorted voices but sceptical of their prophesies, perhaps even indignant.

He switches quickly into a reflective Hamlet-like aside, an early sign of the schism between his public and private personas. Taking his cue from the line, ‘false face must hide what the false heart doth know’, Tennant plays the charming host to his guests and, behind closed doors, the equivocal husband to Daniela Nardini’s Lady Macbeth, her sweet-voiced delivery belying a murderous intent.

We get Tennant as temperate strategist, Tennant as superstitious fool and Tennant as vicious tyrant. They are shards of a personality held together by the clarity of his delivery and, at any one point, suggesting an alternative ending is possible. In two brisk one-hour episodes, with only the lightest of edits, it makes for a lucid and intelligent interpretation of this ever-topical study of power. (Mark Fisher)  All episodes available now.

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BOO HEWERDINE

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Ahead of Gaslit’s release, Dan Stevens (who plays Richard Nixon’s henchman John Dean) said the series would tell the ‘human stories’ surrounding Watergate. What we get instead is a confusing mishmash of scenes and characters, strung together in such a way as to be almost completely devoid of humour or suspense.

The problem lies in a basic confusion around what kind of tale Gaslit is meant to tell. Is it a heist story?

An unfunny pastiche of The Thick Of It? A psychological drama about sexism? Is Gordon Liddy (the plot’s mastermind played by Shea Whigham) a seer into Washington’s heart of darkness? Or is he a bumbling idiot, incapable of operating a shredder? Even the most essential decisions around character are left frustratingly unresolved.

By far the series’ greatest misstep, however, is its decision to give precedence to Stevens’ Dean over Martha Mitchell, played by Julia Roberts. As the lonely, paranoid wife of Nixon’s attorney general, and a charismatic powerbroker in her own right, Mitchell’s story is Gaslit’s only true draw. Yet its creators could not resist crowding her into a cast of bland, delusional male politicos, contributing zero insight into one of the most iconic episodes in 20th-century American politics. If these are truly the hidden stories of Watergate, then they’re best left untold.

(Deborah Chu)  Episode one available now; new episodes every Sunday.

74 THE LIST May 2022

Understudy (Reveal Records) Boo Hewerdine’s latest solo album comes 40 years into a career during which he flirted with success via The Bible and worked with Eddi Reader, among others. Understudy finds him contemplating the passing of time and the seemingly mundane connections that we all lost during the last two years. His voice is reassuring, and the production is warm, but as a collection of songs it’s decidedly unambitious. Hewerdine’s longevity and consistency in the UK folk-rock scene gives this album a ‘checking in with an old friend’ feeling. A satisfying listen for old fans perhaps, but unlikely to win anyone new over.

The record’s opening two tracks ‘Magnets’ and ‘Useful’ have sparse instrumentation, with Hewerdine crooning softly over a strummed guitar or piano, and serve as a suitable introduction to an overwhelmingly gentle listen. That is not to say that there aren’t moments, such as on the third number, ‘Men Without War’, where the production opens up and Hewerdine’s lament of ‘how we are all the same’ is buoyed by vibrant strings and a crashing electric guitar.

Sadly, these dynamic moments are few and far between, and the production sheen that covers most of the other songs does little to prevent them from bleeding into one another.

Most tracks fit neatly into either lilting guitar ballads (‘Ancestors’) or more optimistic Randy Newman-esque piano (‘Euston Station’).

Hewerdine often relaxes into well-trodden tropes both sonically and lyrically, with safe production choices and clichéd imagery dogging this album. It is a shame, as Hewerdine is clearly a dab-band with a pleasant folk-rock melody. Perhaps with less dependency on production he could have arrived at something rawer on this collection, something that communicates the emotions he’s going for more clearly. (Sean Greenhorn)  Released on Friday 27 May.

ALBUMS

KIKAGAKU MOYO

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Kumoyo Island may be positioned as a farewell album for the psych-rock Japanese quintet who recently announced an ‘indefinite hiatus’ after a decade and five studio albums, but it narrowly avoids feeling self-aggrandising. The 11 tracks pack in every trick in Kikagaku Moyo’s book, from the meditative to the chaotic and with some groovy numbers in between.

‘Dancing Blue’ tiptoes around the edge of funk, while ‘Daydream Soda’ is hypnotic in its rhythm but experimental through its use of naturalistic samples. Winds, rattles, hisses and breaking waves feature a lot throughout this new work, cinematically exploring the album’s mysterious concept. The band’s distinct sounds of sitar and drone can be heard loud and clear in ‘Cardboard Pile’, which scratches out into a pleasing ‘Jolene’-adjacent hook (yes, the Dolly Parton one).

Tracks like ‘Yayoi, Iyayoi’ (featuring a rare instance of the band singing in native tongue) and ‘Gomugomu’ lean into prog-rock influences. Meanwhile, a cover of Brazilian pop rocker Erasmo Carlos’ ‘Meu Mar’ and the trumpet lines in ‘Effe’ take listeners to new sonic territory. Perhaps Kumoyo Island is where Kikagaku Moyo’s musical journey culminates, but every bump and turn seems to have been solely on their own terms. And boy, how their fans have enjoyed going along for the ride. (Megan Merino)  Released on Friday 6 May.

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Kumoyo Island (Guruguru Brain)

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BOOKS

EMILIE PINE

Ruth & Pen (Hamish Hamilton)

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REVIEWS

This debut novel from the internationally bestselling author of Notes To Self is as contemplative and enveloping as expected with Emilie Pine’s transition from essayist to novelist both smooth and assured. Ruth & Pen is a book about two women tackling one very different day. Teenager Pen is falling in love, stretching her wings and testing her boundaries, while adult Ruth is processing years of infertility and the potential breakdown of her marriage.

Their stories are largely told in parallel with the similarities between them and questions they face clear, even though their situations and paths barely cross. The pair are shown as they miss and make connections. Ruth and Pen are searching for the hope and bravery needed to keep fighting; or to know when to stop and accept that there are some battles that shouldn’t be won. Both are grappling with what it really means to reveal yourself and how to confront the fear of what you’ll do if you share exactly who you are and are rejected for it.

Pine confidently explores love in all its guises and there is real strength in her portrait of the various ways there are to care. The characters are rich in their complexity and the portrayal of Pen’s mum, who is drawn through her daughter’s thoughts and observations, is particularly well rendered.

Through lots of little interactions and seemingly casual conversations, the author examines all the ways relationships can wither or thrive, depending on those miscommunications that aren’t necessarily anything to do with a lack of words, but most certainly down to a gap in mutual understanding. This tender and inquisitive novel is a reminder that no one lover or friend or authority figure has all the answers, but that the pursuit of understanding is noble all the same. (Lynsey May)  Published on Thursday 5 May.

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SAMPLES, MASTERCLASSES, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES & BOOZY EXPERIMENTS

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THE

QA

WITH JANICE FORSYTH A respected commentator and presenter of arts broadcasting in Scotland across five decades now, Janice Forsyth hosts The Afternoon Show with authority and wit. In our Q&A she tells us whose voice soothes her and which tyrant she’d like to haunt

PICTURE: ALAN PEEBLES

downbeat when we arrived but were transformed as we all j oined hands and belted out ‘ W e A re Family’.

Whose soothes

speaking voice your ears? No

c ompetition: it has to be L iam Neeson, espec ially after his hilarious turn as a polic eman in the final series of D erry G irls.

B e still my beating heart.

Who should play you in the movie about your life? I t has to be K aren Gillan. S he’s

S c ottish, she’s my spitting image and the same age and height as me. It would be a fantasy film, obviously.

If you were to return in a future life as an animal, what would it be? A spotted hyena.

T hey live in matriarc hal soc ieties led by alpha females who do the maj ority of hunting, dic tate soc ial struc ture and raise c ubs as single mothers. W hat’s not to love? A nd I ’d always have the last laugh.

What’s the best cover version ever? S o many c ontenders, but it has to be J oni M itc hell’s c over of S c ottish singer A nnie R oss’ ‘ T wisted’. T he lyrics are astounding sassy, funny, very difficult to sing) and J oni nails it.

week , in very different c irc umstanc es, I was mistak en for broadc aster M uriel Gray. A guy shouted ac ross to me in the street, ‘ oi M uriel, how are you doing? ’ W e had a bit of banter and he was none the wiser. T he sec ond oc c asion was a tad more biz arre. I had an appointment with a doc tor who ex c itedly ask ed me about my hillwalk ing adventures; he was so lovely and j olly that I c ouldn’t bear to tell him that I was not S t M u of the M unros.

What tune do you find it impossible not to get up and dance to, whether in public or in private? ‘ W e A re Family’ by S ister S ledge. I

adore that song and have birled around endless dancefloors to it, but the most memorable oc c asion was when I was work ing in B asel in S witz erland for the summer when I was 1 9 .

M y gal pals and I hit the town one night only to find that everywhere was closed apart from a tumbleweed strip j oint. W e ended up danc ing the night away with the strippers who had been really

If you were playing in an escape room, name two other people you’d recruit to help you get out? I ’d stic k with family: my physic ist son,

J amie, and his dad, T he B lue Nile’s P J M oore.

B etween them, they’d have a good c ombo of lateral think ing sk ills and gallusness c ombined with a bit of brute strength that would mak e up for the fac t that I would be utterly bambooz led by the whole esc ape room malark ey.

What’s the most hi-tech item in your home?

M y phone. I ’m not a gadget person, and I ’m in awe of the tec h in our mobile phones. I never tak e it for granted bec ause I remember the old days of standing in a phone box full of shattered glass and urine.

If you were selected as the next 007, where would you pick as your first luxury destination for espionage? W arsaw. I was

there years ago with a theatre show whic h was staged in the P alac e O f Culture. I ’d love to return to see the huge c hanges in the c ity sinc e then. A nd the c ity’s c ombo of old and new arc hitec ture, winding alleyways and stairc ases would mak e for spec tac ular c ar c hases with me behind the wheel of my A ston M artin D B 5 .

Janice Forsyth presents The Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Scotland and is co-founder of The Big Light: Scotland’s Podcast Network, thebiglight.com

Describe your perfect Saturday evening?

A fter a blissful summer day c hilling out on the shores of L oc h Fyne in A rgyll and going on favourite walk s, my c ompanions and I would head to my favourite restaurant, the always fabulous I nver, in Cairndow, for a k noc k out dinner. Chef P am B runton never fails to surprise and delight with her c elebration of loc al produc e.

If you were a ghost, who would you haunt?

V ladimir P utin. I ’d do a c omplete J ac ob M arley number on him ( minus me being c ursed to wander the earth for all eternity) . I ’d forc e him to reassess his life and values, and then on a live T V broadc ast, c onfess that beneath the mac ho image is a traumatised c hild who now wants to bec ome a global P eac e A mbassador and end the invasion of U k raine with immediate effec t.

What’s your earliest recollection of winning something? Y ou’ve made me remember

winning a Sunday M ail c rossword when I was 1 2 . O h, the double j oy of seeing my name in the paper and then rec eiving a 5 0 p postal order priz e.

Which famous person would be your ideal holiday companion? T he ac tor W illem D afoe.

A s a lifelong fan of New Y ork theatre c ompany T he W ooster Group, I ’ve seen him onstage in Glasgow and New Y ork in numerous produc tions and had a long c onversation with him in a Glasgow bar bac k in 1 9 9 0 . H e’s a fasc inating guy and I ’d lik e to pic k up the c hat about theatre, film and politics where we left off.

NEXT TIME The summer festival season gets properly up and running in June, so we’ll be peeking behind multi-arts extravaganza Hidden Door as well as speaking to Riverside headliner Roísín Murphy. Iconic women are in abundance next issue as we also feature Elizabeth Fraser, Joan As Police Woman, Bikini Kill, Phoebe Bridgers and Kate Bush (kind of . . . ). You can also read about Laurel & Hardy, Max Richter, Elvis, Scottish Opera’s 60th birthday, speciality coffee, and quad skating.  Next copy of The List will be out on Wednesday 1 June.

BACK

When was the last time you were mistaken for someone else? Y ears ago, twic e in the same

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PICTURE: CRAIG SUGDEN

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HOT SHOTS

In 2012, around 20 young women from Upstate New York started behaving unusually and breaking into spontaneous convulsions. Coming to the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival and touring across Scotland, The Hope River Girls tells this curious tale through choreography, text and video.

If you haven’t got enough Star Wars in your life, then praise be that Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to Disney+ for six whole episodes. The lad Ewan McGregor reprises his role as the titular Jedi dude while Hayden Christensen is also back in his old Darth Vader guise.

The ultimate whodunnit arrives at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre with Cluedo already having baffled audiences around the country. Former EastEnders femme fatale Michelle Collins transforms into Miss Scarlett, wielding a candlestick for intentions either cruel or perfectly innocent.

78 THE LIST May 2022

May 2022 THE LIST 79

80 THE LIST May 2022