Spring 2024 brochure

BOOKING TICKETS

Online traverse.co.uk

By Phone 0131 228 1404

In Person 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

BOX OFFICE OPENING TIMES

Mon – Fri

10am-6pm (or until performance start time).

Sat – Sun

2 hours before performance start time.

GROUP BOOKINGS

Groups of 8 or more receive a discount of 10% on their booking, subject to availability. This will automatically apply at checkout when booking online. If you have any specific requirements, please contact boxoffice@traverse.co.uk .

SCHOOL BOOKINGS

Give us a call or email boxoffice@traverse.co.uk to make any school enquiries, discuss what you need, and to book your tickets.

REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES

We’ll refund your tickets if a show is cancelled or a time or date change means you can no longer attend. We can exchange tickets for £1 a ticket (up to a maximum of £5), with at least 24 hours’ notice, for another performance of the same production.

LATECOMERS

Latecomers may not be admitted. Please arrive in plenty of time for the start of the performance.

TICKET COLLECTION

E-tickets can be printed for collection at our Sales and Welcome desk.

CONCESSION TICKETS

Standard Concession is available for

• Over 65s

• People with disabilities (companions accompanying people with disabilities go free)

• Members of Entertainment Unions and the Scottish Society of Playwrights

Under 30s/Student Concession

• Available to everyone under the age of 30 (proof of age required)

• Young Scot cardholders

• Students (valid student ID required)

Other Concessions

• Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit

Exclusions or conditions may apply to all discounts. Please check with the Box Office when booking.

A range of shows within our programme are eligible for our £1 ticket project, as indicated by the following icon. Find out more about what's eligible and how to register on page 28

T1

0131 228 1404

traverse.co.uk

AT A GLANCE

TRAVERSE 1

26–27 JAN PROTEST by Hannah Lavery.......... p12

2–3 FEB MANIPULATE: PLINTH

Written & performed by AI Seed .............................. p5

7–8 FEB MANIPULATE: TESS by Ockham's Razor ........ p7

10–11 FEB MANIPULATE: RAGNAROK ............... p9

1–2 MAR PEAK STUFF by Billie Collins............... p14

13–16 MAR

ESCAPED ALONE by Caryl Churchill .......... p16

21–22 MAR

DON'T. MAKE. TEA. by Rob Drummond ....... p17

3–6 APR

THIS IS MEMORIAL DEVICE

Based on the book by David Keenan, adapted & directed by Graham Eatough ........p18

6–7 MAR CLASS ACT SHOWCASE

2024 ............................. p20

TRAVERSE 2

2–3 FEB MANIPULATE: THE HOUSE ................ p4

4 FEB MANIPULATE: ENVAHISSEURS (INVADERS)............... p6

9 FEB MANIPULATE: PICKLED REPUBLIC by Ruxy Cantir ................ p8

27 FEB – 6 APR

A PLAY, A PIE AND A PINT .......................... p10

15 – 17 FEB VIGIL

by Mechanimal ...............p13

8–9 MAR

A GIANT ON THE BRIDGE

Devised by Jo Mango & Liam Hurley .................p15

18–20 APR CHICKEN by Eva O’Connor & Hildegard Ryan ............. p19

TRAVERSE MUSIC

JAN–FEB MUSIC AT THE TRAVERSE

Live music ...................... p23

MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT

NCETOSAVE THE PLANET

TEAM – A STREET SOCCERSTORY

The Traverse challenges stigma and addresses the needs of our communities by widening access to the arts, supporting the boldest talent, and telling stories that reflect – and question – the world we live in today. This is more than entertainment – this is about innovation, trust and social change.

As a registered Scottish charity (SC002368) we aim to have a place for everyone to feel welcome, seen and heard. Every donation makes a difference as we rely on your support to nurture talent and champion projects that start – and propel – the advancement of our communities, stories and the arts. With your help, we can all be an asset to Scottish society and tell stories for everyone.

TSAL

SAME

DONATE TO THE TRAVERSE TODAY

Help us to discover and develop stories we want - and need - to hear.

£20 Helps buy a sound effects audio library to bring stories to life

TICKET

£10 Can pay for a school pupil’s theatre ticket

£5 Helps buy a stage prop for our performances

Or set up a regular monthly donation by visiting traverse.co.uk/support-us

Are you a UK Tax Payer? Gift Aid adds 25% more to your donation at no extra cost to you.

THE HOUSE – MANIPULATE FESTIVAL 2024

Story, production & puppeteers Sofie Krog & David Faraco Music Cuco Pérez Director adviser Martin Toft Dramaturg adviser Jette Lund

Fri 2 Feb, 6pm & Sat 3 Feb, 1pm

Tickets

Full price £15

Concession £12

Running time: 50min

Note: Please note, theatre smoke is used in this performance.

AGES 13+ T2

The House tells the story of the Warehouse Family Funeral Home. On her deathbed the undertaker changes her last will and testament, a secret begins to unravel and an evil plan is formed.

Sofie Krog and David Faraco lead you behind closed doors and into rooms which hide unspeakably dark deeds.

This complex puppet performance takes place in a revolving set featuring intricate lighting, strange contraptions and scary sound effects; the perfect setting for this comically chilling journey.

‘This piece is an absolute gem...’ EASTERN DAILY PRESS, UK

Presented as part of Manipulate Festival 2024, running from 1–11 February at venues across Edinburgh – manipulatearts.co.uk

Image: Sofie Krog Teater

PUPPETRY MYSTERY

PLINTH – MANIPULATE FESTIVAL 2024

Written and performed by Al Seed

Writer & Performer Al Seed Dramaturg Niloo Farr Khan Production Management Niall Black

Costume & Prop Design and Stage Management Zephyr Liddell Lighting Design & Show Operation Alberto Santos Bellido Set Design Kai Fischer Sound Design Guy Veale

Costume Maker Emily Smit-Dicks Prop Painter Jen Kilgour Metalwork Technician Emma Hyslop

Fri 2 – Sat 3 Feb 8pm

Tickets

Full price £16

Concession £13

Running time: 50min

Note: The performance contains loud music/sound, flashing lights, haze and smoke effects.

ASP is very grateful for the producing support provided by Claricia Parinussa during development, and for consultancy from Charlene Boyd, Judith Milligan and Hilary Westlake PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund for Organisations and Royal Victoria Hall Foundation.

AGES

14+ T1

Renowned visual theatre maker Al Seed presents his latest striking work, Plinth. A statue stands upon a plinth – a lightning rod for collective memory. Shocked into life, the statue descends into the war zone which surrounds it. Tormented by images of conflict, the statue battles to comprehend the world into which it has been thrust. As awareness grows, a monstrous transformation ensues.

Abstract, unearthly, and powerfully visceral, Plinth is a poetic exploration of statues as artefacts of war, particularly with reference to the archetypal figure of the ‘hero’.

‘Al Seed’s wordless journey through human ways and history is delivered with a precision, artistry, and intensity that is often breathtaking’  THE

SCOTSMAN

Presented as part of Manipulate Festival 2024, running from 1–11 February at venues across Edinburgh – manipulatearts.co.uk

Accessible for non-English speaking and D/deaf audience members. Little to no text, particularly suitable for Subpacs. VISUAL

Image: Laurence Winram

ENVAHISSEURS (INVADERS) –MANIPULATE FESTIVAL 2024

Sun 4 Feb

2pm & 5pm

Tickets

Full price £10

Concession £8

Running time: 25min

Special thanks to Pascal Pellan, Alan Floc’h, Agnès Dupoirier

Co-production Scène Nationale du Sud-Aquitain, Bayonne. With the financial support of the Brittany Regional Council and the City of Rennes. Thanks to Lillico, Rennes and Jungle, Le Rheu.

There is a muted threat lurking in the darkness of space. At the edge of the universe, strange, gelatinous beings are moving towards Earth. Their intentions are still unknown... Will our armies be overcome? Will our world fall apart? And what is this disturbing character, half demigod, half undertaker, creating this story before the awe-struck audience?

Attending a performance of Invaders is like popping a sour candy into your mouth for the first time in 20 years: it tickles in the present, and it brings back fond memories. It’s an opportunity to play at being scared, but at the same time everything lends itself to a smile thanks to the omnipresent spirit of derision. A short theatre show of objects on a table, largely inspired by the science fiction films of the 1950s. The general approach is a tribute to, and a diversion from, the cinematic universe of alien invasion films, from the sequencing of the scenes to the soundtrack. Invaders has been received in many festivals in France and abroad. Join the crowd of spectators mesmerised by these little green jellies!

Presented as part of Manipulate Festival 2024 – manipulatearts.co.uk

AGES 8+ T2

Directing & Acting Olivier Rannou Staging Consultant Gaëtan Emeraud

Image: Virginie Meigne

This performance is non-verbal and therefore accessible for non-English speaking and D/deaf audience members.

TESS – MANIPULATE FESTIVAL 2024

by Ockham's Razor

Wed 7 – Thu 8 Feb

7pm

Tickets

Full price £16

Concession £13

Running time: 2hr 20min (incl. interval)

Note: Contains adult themes and flashing lights.

Commissioned by London International Mime Festival and The Lowry, Salford with support from artsdepot, Shoreditch Town Hall, National Centre for Circus Arts and Bristol Circus City. Funded by Arts Council England, The Foyle Foundation, PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund for Organisations and Royal Victoria Hall Foundation.

AGES 12+ T1

Ockham’s Razor, the acclaimed UK circus theatre company, reimagines Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles through a feminist lens, blending the original text with circus physicality.

Addressing themes of power, loss, and endurance, the performance remains relevant by exploring contemporary issues like privilege, class, consent, agency, female desire, and sisterhood. Ockham's Razor, a pioneering aerial theatre group since 2004, consistently delivers groundbreaking, artistically excellent work.

Tess marks their eighth full-length show, showcasing their distinctive style that weaves circus elements into innovative narratives with emotional depth, garnering critical and public acclaim.

‘Beautifully human’ THE TIMES, THIS TIME (EDINBURGH FRINGE 2019)

‘A coming together of talents to make something quite special out of one of the cornerstones of the literary canon.’  STAGETALK

Presented as part of Manipulate Festival 2024, running from 1–11 February at venues across Edinburgh – manipulatearts.co.uk

Image: Kie Cummings

CIRCUS THEATRE AERIAL ADAPTATION FEMINIST

PICKLED REPUBLIC – MANIPULATE FESTIVAL 2024

by Ruxy Cantir

Creator/Performer Ruxy Cantir Director Shona Reppe Composer/Lyricist/Sound Designer John Kielty Lighting Designer Alberto Santos Bellido Visual Designer Fergus Dunnet Pickle Party Host/Follow Spot Geraldine Heaney

Fri 9 Feb

6pm

Tickets

Full price £15

Concession £12

Running time: 50min

Note: Contains strong language, flashing lights and haze.

Allergens: tomatoes.

Special thanks to Creative Scotland, Cristian Cantir, Surge, Zoe Williams, Scissor Kick.

AGES 14+ T2

Welcome to the jar.

Here, tragedy floats and the lonely wail of an abandoned tomato cuts through the salty atmosphere.

Come hear the lament of lives not lived, watch the chaotic energy of the search for meaning and try to find the connection between these decaying vegetables and your own existence.

Be prepared, bring a napkin, will you laugh or cry? Who knows. You’ll leave all stirred up but none the wiser. A surreal theatrical cabaret for adults with puppetry, mask, and perhaps a poem that promises more vegetables per pound than any current supermarket. So, don’t worry about inflation when there is disintegration.

The performance will be followed by a pickle party in the Traverse bar.

Presented as part of Manipulate Festival 2024, running from 1–11 February at venues across Edinburgh – manipulatearts.co.uk

Image: Andy Catlin

SURREAL PUPPETRY

CABARET

RAGNAROK – MANIPULATE FESTIVAL 2024

Original Performance Team Emma Jayne Park, Ella MacKay, Isabel Sharman & Alex Bird Performance Team Emily Nicholl, Dylan Read, Shakara Rose Carter and Jim Harbourne

Original Director Ross MacKay Associate Director Alex Bird Stage Design Arran Howie

Lighting Design Simon Wilkinson Sound Design & Composition Jim Harbourne

Dramaturgy Nicola McCartney Associate Artist Melanie Frances

Producer Emma Stewart-Jones Production Manager Elle Taylor Set Construction Guy Bishop Design Associate Valerie Reid Community Coordinator Hannah Draper

Sat 10 – Sun 11 Feb 8pm

Tickets

Full price £16

Concession £13

Running time: 1hr 15min

Note: Contains themes of death, some strong language and occasional loud sounds.

Ragnarok is an international coproduction between Tortoise in a Nutshell in co-production with Figurteatret I Nordland (Nordland Visual Theatre) and in association with MacRobert Arts Centre. CS Lottery Funded. AGES 18+ T1

PUPPETRY ANIMATION

As a golden age comes to an end with three years of winter, Ragnarok unfolds – a tale inspired by Norse mythology's cyclical narrative.

A young girl and her brother navigate a fractured world seeking a promised land, blending dream and reality. This collision of ancient myth and modern spectacle explores fate, determination, and the cyclical nature of existence.

Ragnarok delivers a multisensory theatrical experience, combining human performance, puppetry, and handcrafted live animation. Multi-award-winning Tortoise in a Nutshell creates a bold and haunting production, using scores of clay figures and an immersive soundtrack to depict the world's end and rebirth.

Presented as part of Manipulate Festival 2024, running from 1–11 February at venues across Edinburgh – manipulatearts.co.uk

Image: Mihaela Bodlovic

PRODUCED BY A PLAY, A PIE AND A PINT AT ÒRAN MÓR, CO-PRESENTED WITH THE TRAVERSE THEATRE

Image: Frannie Gee

A PLAY, A PIE AND A PINT

Tue 27 Feb – Sat 6 Apr

JACK

by Liam Moffat

Tue 27 Feb – Sat 2 Mar, 1pm (3pm on Wed 28 Feb)

It's Christmas Day. Our protagonist is presented with a puppy from his boyfriend and he’s fuming. He never wanted this but how can you say no to a puppy. But it can’t be that hard, can it? A dark comic monologue that explores the struggles of navigating a life of love, loss and finding hope. All with the help of man's best friend.

Directed by Traverse Artistic Director, Gareth Nicholls.

Co-presented with Macrobert Arts Centre.

BREAD & BREAKFAST

by Kirsty Halliday

Tue 5 – Sat 9 Mar, 1pm

A B&B in the Highlands has an ordinary day turned upside down when a visitor chokes on his morning toast. Irene wants to retire. Jo wants to go home. Kev is nowhere to be seen. And that is the staff of Nessie's Lodge...a Bed & Breakfast that is badly rated, poorly managed, and lacking in a warm welcome.

Co-presented with Aberdeen Performing Arts.

STARVING

by Imogen Stirling

Tue 12 – Sat 16 Mar, 1pm

It's 1972 and Wendy Wood is on the fifth day of her hunger strike. As the hunger pains and hallucinations kick in, her world collides with that of insecure Freya in 2021, who is starving for something to believe in. A fiercely funny drama inspired by the life of Scottish activist Wendy Wood. Produced in collaboration with Raw Materials.

PUSHIN’ THIRTY

by Taylor Dyson & Calum Kelly

Tue 19 – Sat 23 Mar, 1pm

Scott and Eilidh had huge dreams in their teens. Now, they're approaching thirty, neither of their lives are going anywhere, and they haven't spoken in over ten years. A new comedy about two former best friends who are reunited, with original songs by Dundee-based company Elfie Picket.

Co-presented with Ayr Gaiety.

HOTDOG

by Ellen Ritchie

Tue 26 – Sat 30 Mar, 1pm

Alone, dressed as a sausage in a bun and armed with only a bottle of lemonade, Hotdog is determined to be the life of the party. Hotdog explores the aftermath of a traumatic event and how it feels to lose yourself when you thought you were only just beginning.

Co-presented with Macrobert Arts Centre.

THE SCAFF

by Stephen Christopher & Graeme Smith

Tue 2 – Sat 6 Apr, 1pm

Liam plays football at school with a closeknit group of lads who decide to enact revenge when they find out that he has been called the worst thing ever – a ‘Scaff’. An epic and nostalgic comedy about a group of misfits who plot the worst football tackle of all time.

PRICING

• A Play, A Pie & A Pint: £17.50

• A Play (without a pie and a pint): £12

PROTEST

by Hannah Lavery

Director Natalie Ibu (she/her) Set & Costume Designer Amy Jane Cook (she/her)

Lighting Designer Ali Hunter (she/her) Sound Designer Novasound Movement Director Nadia Iftkhar (she/her) Associate Director Natasha Haws (she/her)

Casting Director Amy Blair (she/her) & Olissa Rogers (she/her)

Fri 26 Jan, 2pm & Sat 27 Jan, 11am & 2pm

Tickets

Full price £12

Concession £9

Running time: 1hr

Note: Contains some audience interaction.

Supported by Arts Council England, The Binks Trust, The Linbury Trust and Three Monkies Trust. Developed and supported by the Scottish Government's Festivals Expo Fund and Imaginate’s Accelerator programme. Accelerator is supported by the PLACE programme, funded by the Scottish Government (through Creative Scotland), the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.

Running is Alice’s happy place. She’s the best runner at her school and can outrun everyone…but she’s struggling to prove her worth.

Jade is being tested. Racist bullying and history classes that tell a one-sided story sets her on a mission to find out about her heritage.

Meanwhile, litter is piling up in the local forest. All over the world an environmental crisis is looming, the threat of disorder and division is growing. Chloe is determined to make a change.

Three girls prepare to challenge the status quo and tackle injustices in this new play exploring the power of friendship, activism and the believing in your own voice.

‘A stirring drama of waking up to injustice and trying to right it.’ THE GUARDIAN

‘A vibrant show, lifted by three beautiful and poignant performances.’ THE SCOTSMAN

Image: Doug Kerr

VIGIL

by Mechanimal

Creator & Performer Tom Bailey (he/him) Projection Design Limbic Cinema

Associate Director Guy Jones (he/him) Sound Design Andrew Cooke (he/him) Movement Director Philippa Hambly (she/her) LX Design Will Leighton (he/him)

Film & Tour LX Design Jenny Roxborough (she/her) Associate Producer Martin Campbell (he/him)

Thu 15 – Sat 17 Feb 7.30pm

Tickets

Full Price £15

Concession £12

U30's and Students £10

Other Concession £5

Running time: 50mins

Note: Contains flashing projection and loud noises (at a couple of points, approx. 1 min in duration), semi-nudity and strong language. Also contains some light audience interaction.

Supported by Arts Council England, UCL Culture, Summerhall and Bristol Old Vic Ferment.

Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Cinnamon-coloured Cryptic Tree Hunter, Problematic Flasher, Fire Millipede From Hell…

One human attempts to perform 26,000 other species in the space of an hour. Blending projection design from Limbic Cinema, movement, clowning, poetry, and a stunning soundscape, Vigil is a wildly playful, tragicomic exploration of life in an age of extinction.

All the animal and plant names that appear in the show are named on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of extinct and threatened species. Created by Herald Angel awardwinning company Mechanimal, and performed by Tom Bailey, this Edinburgh Fringe hit show is back in town.

The company explores new narratives of the Anthropocene era. Mechanimal creates and tours work both in the UK and internationally.

‘Memorable... a requiem against a clock counting down’ 

Image: Jack Offord

PEAK STUFF

by Billie Collins

Director Neil Bettles Composers Neil Bettles & Matthew Churcher Video Triple Dot Makers Lighting Charlie Dunford Associate Hetty Hodgson Performers – Alice, Ben & Charlie Meg Lewis (they/she) Musician Matthew Churcher (he/him)

Fri 1 – Sat 2 Mar 7.30pm

Tickets

Full Price £17

Concession £15

U30's and Students £13

Other Concession £5

Running time: 1hr 15mins (no interval)

Note: Contains strong language, flashing images and loud music. Funded by Arts Council England.

AGES 14+ T1

NEW WRITING DRAMA

PHYSICAL THEATRE

Award-winning theatre company ThickSkin make their highly anticipated return to the Traverse as they team up with the writing talents of Billie Collins (Too Much World At Once) to produce one of the most visually thrilling and inventive shows you will see this year.

Alice is done with fast fashion. Ben can't stop buying trainers. And Charlie just wants to sell out...one organ at a time.

In an age of retail therapy, climate crisis and click and collect – how does our 'stuff' define us? And have we reached peak stuff?

Using live drumming and spectacular video design, this is a timely show for anyone who has ever made an ill-fated impulsive purchase! Directed by ThickSkin’s Neil Bettles (How Not To Drown, Frantic Assembly’s The Unreturning and Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks), Peak Stuff is a tale for modern times.

‘Truly stunning’ THE SCOTSMAN ON HOW NOT TO DROWN

Image: Ray Chan

A GIANT ON THE BRIDGE

Devised by Jo Mango and Liam Hurley

Music Director and Co-creator Jo Mango Director & Dramaturg Liam Hurley Set Design Claire Halleran Lighting Design Katharine Williams Sound Designer Garry Boyle Movement Director Janice Parker

Fri 8 – Sat 9 Mar 7.30pm

Tickets

Full Price £17

Concession £15

U30's and Students £13

Other Concession £5

Running time: Approx. 2hr (incl. interval)

Funded by Creative Scotland. AGES 14+ T1

"Do you think cos I’ve been in the jail all I know is how to hurt people?”

Unflinching, spellbinding gig-theatre performed by Louis Abbott, Jo Mango, Jill O’Sullivan, Raveloe & Solareye.

Every year in Scotland 10,000 people return home from prison to an uncertain future. A Giant on the Bridge reveals the intimate human experiences within this prisonhomecoming journey, in a compelling narrative-gig which fuses acoustic songwriting, Scottish hip hop & original storytelling. Five of Scotland’s foremost musicians explore identity, family, community, systems, restoration, injustice - and the pulsing heartbeat within these hidden stories.

Devised by musician Jo Mango and award-winning theatre-maker Liam Hurley with research by Phil Crockett Thomas. Originally developed through the work of the Distant Voices Community on a research project incorporating people from all aspects of the criminal justice system, funded by the ESRC.

Image: Boxdog Inc.

ESCAPED ALONE

by Caryl Churchill

Director Joanna Bowman (she/her) Set & Costume Design Anna Orton (she/her)

Sound Design Susan Bear (she/her) Lighting Design Colin Grenfell (he/him)

Wed 13 – Sat 16 Mar

7.30pm & 2pm Sat only

Tickets

Full Price £20

Concession £16

U30's and Students £14

Other Concession £5

Running time: 50mins

The Tron Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland.

AGES 14+ T1

DRAMA

“I’m walking down the street and there’s a door in the fence open and inside there are three women I’ve seen before.”

Three friends meet for a chat in the garden. A neighbour is invited in and as darker secrets emerge, their afternoon is punctured by flashes of catastrophe.

‘Caryl Churchill’s magnificent play unleashes an intricate, elliptical, acutely female view of the apocalypse. Revolutionary.’

 THE OBSERVER

‘Caryl Churchill is a phenomenon. She remains not only prolific but also immensely inventive.’

 THE ARTS DESK

‘Escaped Alone is magnificent. It has all the qualities that mark [Caryl Churchill] as the greatest living playwright –it’s funny, it’s complicated, and it’s sinister.’

THE HUFFINGTON POST

Image: Mihaela Bodlovic

DARK COMEDY

DON'T. MAKE. TEA.

by Rob Drummond

Thu 21 – Fri 22 Mar 7.30pm

Tickets

Full Price £15

Concession £12

U30's and Students £10

Other Concession £5

Running time: 2hrs (incl. interval)

Note: Contains suicide references and violence.

AGES 14+ T1

All performances are captioned and have creatively embedded BSL interpretation and audio description.

This riveting new dark comedy from Rob Drummond “brings a laser-like focus to the current plight of disabled people in Britain” (Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman)

Another bloody serious comedy from BOP, makers of the hilarious, award-winning, My Left Right Foot – The Musical.

The near future. Chris never wanted to end up here. She’s a proud woman and hates asking for help but when her condition deteriorated she had no choice but to claim benefits. Ralph believes in the new system. He knows it can work for Chris. He’s here today, in her home, to assess her, to prove she is fit and capable of working. Can Chris persuade him to change his mind? And, if not, how far is she willing to go to save herself?

‘There will never be a performance that is totally accessible to everyone, but Don’t. Make. Tea. gets pretty damn close.’ BEL PYE, DISABILITY ARTS ONLINE

‘Laugh-out-loud comedy, psychological thriller, and deep conversation on the disabled experience of the state.’

 THE QUINTESSENTIAL REVIEW

Director Robert Softley Gale Designer Kenneth MacLeod AV Designer Jamie MacDonald Composer Scott Twynholm

Image: Andy Catlin

POLITICAL DARK COMEDY ACCESSIBILITY

THIS IS MEMORIAL DEVICE

Based on the book by David Keenan, Adapted and Directed by Graham Eatough

Director / Adaptor Graham Eatough (he/him) Set & Costume Designer Anna Orton (she/her) Music Stephen Pastel (he/him) & Gavin Thomson (he/him) Sound Design Gavin Thomson (he/him)

Video Design Martin Clark (he/him) Lighting Desig n Nigel Edwards (he/him) Movement Director Kally Lloyd-Jones (she/her) Producer Neil Murray (he/him)

Wed 3 – Sat 6 Apr

7.30pm & 2pm Sat only

Tickets

Full Price £20

Concession £16

U30's and Students £14

Other Concession £5

Running time: 1hr 30mins

Note: Contains strong language. Originally produced by The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh with the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Developed with the support of the Stephen W Dunn Theatre Fund.

Following a sold-out, Fringe-First winning run at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival, This Is Memorial Device, based on David Keenan’s cult novel, returns.

The fictional history of Airdrie's 1980s mysterious, postpunk legends. It's a gloriously hallucinatory journey back to the hopes and dreams of early adulthood, performed by Paul Higgins (The Thick of It, Slow Horses) with music by Stephen McRobbie (The Pastels) and Gavin Thomson.

‘Memories of fictional indie heroes burn brightly’  THE GUARDIAN

‘A psychoactive hymn to the power of saying yes to experience’  THE HERALD

‘The best theatre I saw (in Edinburgh) was This Is Memorial Device. I loved David Keenan’s novel so much I was worried about seeing it, but it was brilliantly adapted in a way that felt totally special, in that moment, in that place, on that night.’ STEWART LEE

Image: Mihaela Bodlovic

CHICKEN

by Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan

Co-Writer/Performer Eva O'Connor (she/her) Co-Writer/Director Hildegard Ryan (she/her)

Lighting Designer Marianne Nightingale (she/her) Costume Designer Bryony Rumble (she/her)

Thu 18 – Sat 20 Apr 8pm

Tickets

Full Price £15

Concession £12

U30's and Students £10

Other Concession £5

Running time: 1hr

Note: Contains strobe lighting, loud music and strong language.

AGES 14+ T2

SURREAL NEW WRITING

Don Murphy is a proud Irish man, a hopeless ketamine addict and one of his generation’s greatest actors.

He also happens to be a chicken. A Kerry cock to be precise. Across one fateful night, the feathered Oscar winner shares his star-studded story with an intimate audience – from getting his big break, to his first bird on bird sexual experience, to navigating life in the (humandominated) celebrity spotlight. But along the way Don will be confronted with some harsh truths about himself, chicken kind and humankind.

Sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023. Winner of Filipa Bragança award for best Female identifying solo performer at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023.

‘This show where a woman plays a chicken who thinks he's an Irishman is unlike anything you've ever seen.’ PLAYBILL

Image: Hildegard Ryan

CLASS ACT SHOWCASE 2024

Students from Firrhill High School, Craigroyston High School, Tynecastle High School, Leith Academy and Trinity High School as well as young people from Intercultural Youth Scotland

Wed 6 & Thu 7 Mar 7.30pm

Tickets

Full Price £5

Concessions £3

Note: May contain strong language. Class Act on Tour is supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the William Syson Foundation, the Backstage Trust, The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust, Aberdeen City Council, The McGlashan Charitable Trust & The John Thaw Foundation.

AGES 12+ T1

The Traverse is delighted to be presenting the Class Act Showcase 2024!

With scripts having been written by young people across Edinburgh, they will now be brought to life by a team of professional theatre-makers including directors, actors, filmmakers and musicians.

Placing professional playwrights into each school to transform students into writers and storytellers, Class Act provides creative support and a safe space for participants, encouraging them to express themselves freely and imagine without inhibition. The results address what they feel passionate about, and each script crackles with unparalleled energy.

Prepare yourself for a great night out at the theatre, witnessing dynamic storytelling from fresh young talent!

'Astonishing … the sheer variety of plays and styles on offer is exhilarating in itself.' THE SCOTSMAN (2023 SHOWCASE)

Image: Mihaela Bodlovic & Orlando Lloyd

isle of mull: Our first excursion to the islands to bring creative writing and access to culture to young pupils. With support from An Tobar & Mull Theatre.

inverness: Class Act is heading up to the Highlands, and with the help of Eden Court will showcase scripts from 5 high schools.

AYR: Where we worked with the next generation of storytellers in Ayrshire and made stories for The Gaiety’s stage.

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY: 5 schools are engaged to develoP scripts and present at Theatre Royal DumfRIes.

ABERDEEN: Our first stop where we showcased the fresh young voices of Aberdeen with the help of the lovely folks at AAC, APA and the Light the Blue Festival.

edinburgh: Class Act continued on its home turf of Edinburgh in October 2023.

support our journey by putting fuel in the Class Act engine!

DONATE today at traverse.co.uk/support

For over 30 years Class Act has offered pupils aged between fourteen and eighteen the opportunity to work with professional artists, to write and develop their own theatre scripts through the transformative process of creative writing.

In Edinburgh alone, Class Act has connected over 2,500+ young people to arts, improving attainment and developing confidence.

For the last 18 months we've been on the road to engage young people across Scotland, see where we've been on the map above!

£1 TICKETS

ARE YOU RECEIVING ANY LOW-INCOME BENEFITS OR AGED UNDER 25, OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS?

The Traverse have a limited number of £1 tickets for shows and performances, and it couldn't be easier to get involved:

Choose the production you'd like to see and which performance you'd like to attend. Look out for the £1 Ticket logo (pictured above) to see the participating shows.

Come along to the Traverse Theatre Sales & Welcome desk with proof of eligibility, or register online using our online form (traverse.co.uk/traverse-£1-tickets)

3

Purchase your ticket for £1 in person, by phone or online (subject to availability).

Enjoy the show!

help keep January warm on a cold night off the back of their most recent studio album. Norwegian grammy nominee, Wako, also make themselves at home in the bar on Valentine’s Day for a musical night with that special someone!

Bursting into Traverse 1, Soundhouse are moving from their regular Monday slot in the bar with bigger and better acts, kicking off with Cahalen Morrison. Also setting up in Traverse 1 is critically acclaimed Scottish music collective, Meursault, just off the back of their sixth full-length album.

So come along and be sure to keep your eye on the Traverse website for more being announced!

Wed 17 Jan @ 8pm, Trav Bar

Good Lovelies

Wed 24 Jan @ 8pm, Trav Bar

FEBRUARY Wako

Wed 14 Feb @ 8pm, Trav Bar

Cahalen Morrison (Soundhouse)

Thu 15 Feb @ 8pm, Trav 1

Meursault

Mon 26 Feb @ 8pm, Trav 1

Want to be the first to hear about live music at the Traverse?

Sign-up to our e-news on our website.

ACCESS

Copies of this brochure and an access guide are available in large print from the Traverse Box Office.

ACCESS – THE BUILDING

From the Cambridge Street entrance there is level access to the Sales and Welcome desk. There is lift access to the Bar and theatres, and adapted toilets on the Bar level. Guide and hearing dogs are welcome. Please mention when booking if you require lift access to Traverse 1 or Traverse 2, and make yourself known to Front of House staff on arrival.

WHEELCHAIR USERS

There are wheelchair spaces available in both theatres – please reserve when making your booking. Easily accessible seating can be reserved for audience members who prefer to transfer from a wheelchair to a seat.

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES

If you would like to use any of the following services, please let the Box Office know at the time of booking and make yourself known to the Front of House team on arrival, as they will be expecting you.

CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES

The actors' words appear on a display unit (or units) placed on the set or next to the stage at the same time as they are spoken or sung.

TOUCH TOURS

Touch tours give a guided tour of the stage set to visually impaired audience members prior to the start of an audio described performance.

BSL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES

An interpreter stands at the side of the stage and interprets dialogue, songs and sound effects for deaf audience members.

HEARING ENHANCEMENT

Hearing enhancement supplies amplified sound to a personal headset. It's recommended that patrons bring their own headphones to use with the hearing enhancement equipment, although we have a small number for those that can't provide their own.

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES

Audio description is a way of communicating the visual elements of a production for visually impaired audience members. Information is relayed as a live commentary to a personal headset. It's recommended that patrons bring their own headphones to use with the hearing enhancement equipment, although we have a small number for those that can't provide their own.

RELAXED PERFORMANCES

These are designed for audience members with a range of additional support needs, including autism spectrum conditions, learning disabilities and anyone who may benefit from a more relaxed environment when visiting the theatre.

WITH THANKS

The Traverse Theatre would like to thank the following organisations and individuals for their significant contribution to our work year round.

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

The Traverse Theatre works regularly with partners and collaborators, including:

Adelaide Festival

Auckland Arts Festival

A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór

Battersea Arts Centre

BBC Writersroom

British Council

Cadpeople

CAPACOA

Capital Theatres

Citizens Theatre

Cultura Inglesa Festival,

Brazil

Culture Ireland

Creative Informatics

Dance Base

Druid

Dundee Rep

Edinburgh College

Edinburgh College of Art

Edinburgh Cultural Venues Group

Edinburgh Futures Institute

Edinburgh International Festival

Edinburgh International Film Festival

Edinburgh Science

EPAD

English Touring Theatre

Federation of Scottish Theatre Film 4

Framework Theatre

Imaginate / Edinburgh

International Children’s Festival

Irish Consulate, Edinburgh

Intercultural Youth Scotland

Lung Ha

Lyric Theatre, Belfast

Lyra

National Theatre of Scotland

Napier University

Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Playwrights’ Studio

Scotland

Puppet Animation Scotland

Queen Margaret University

RAGE Theatre, Mumbai

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Royal Exchange Theatre

Royal Lyceum Theatre

Scottish BPOC Writers Network

Soho Theatre

Soundhouse / Tradfest

Stellar Quines

ThickSkin

Theatre Royal Plymouth

Theatre Uncut

Tron Theatre

The University of Edinburgh

Wonder Fools

Youth Theatre Arts Scotland

The Traverse Theatre extends grateful thanks to all those who generously support our work, including those who prefer their support to remain anonymous

TRAVERSE THEATRE SUPPORTERS

Diamond Alan and Penny Barr, Kirsten Lamb, David Rodgers

Platinum Judy & Steve, Angus McLeod, Iain Millar, Mike & Carol Ramsay

Gold Roger & Angela Allen, Carola Bronte-Stewart, Iona Hamilton

Silver Bridget M. Stevens, Allan Wilson, Gaby Thomson, Chris & Susan Gifford, Lesley Preston

Bronze Katie Bradford, Barbara Cartwright, Patricia Pugh, Beth Thomson, Julia & David Wilson, Stephanie & Neil, Drs Urzula & Michael Glienecke, Viv Phillips, Jon Best & Kate Duffield

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS

Backstage Trust

British Council Scotland

Bruce Wake Charitable Trust

Cruden Foundation

D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Dr David Summers

Charitable Trust

Garrick Charitable Trust

Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation

Idlewild Trust

John Thaw Foundation

Murdoch Forrest

Charitable Trust

RKT Harris Charitable Trust

The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust

The JMK Trust

The JTH Charitable Trust

The Leche Trust

The Mackintosh Foundation

The McGlashan Charitable Trust

The Nancie Massey

Charitable Trust

The Nimar Charitable Trust

The Noël Coward Foundation

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation

The Robert Haldane Smith

Charitable Foundation

The Robertson Trust

The Russell Trust

The Teale Charitable Trust

The Turtleton Charitable Trust

The William Syson Foundation

The W M Mann Foundation Unity Theatre Trust

The Traverse is supported by the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund and Adapt & Thrive, part of the Scottish Government’s Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme and delivered in partnership by Firstport, Corra Foundation, SCVO, Just Enterprise, Community Enterprise and Social Investment Scotland.

Cover design laurawhitehouse.com

Brochure design everyonelovescake.co.uk

20mins

15mins

Traverse Theatre

10 Cambridge Street Edinburgh EH1 2ED

BUSES

Lothian Bus services on Lothian Road.

1, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 22, 24, 30, 34, 36, 47, 124 N16, N22, N28, N30 & N124

LUGGAGE

The Traverse is unable to store large or oversized bags. Items of luggage can not be taken into the theatres. If you have items you wish to leave, we advise using the Left Luggage facility at Waverley Station.

TRAINS

Nearest stations are Waverley Train Station and Haymarket Train Station.

CAR PARKING

Four blue badge bays on Cambridge Street. A short distance from Castle Terrace Car Park. Pay & Display on-street parking in surrounding streets.

TAXIS

Drop off point at main entrance to Traverse Theatre. A short distance from Lothian Road taxi rank, outside the Sheraton Grand Hotel.

Due to road works and heavy traffic across the city, please leave plenty of time to travel to the venue before your performance.

0131 228 1404