Citizens Theatre

Programme Competition winner announced

2009-12-10T17:27:00.000Z

Each year we have a schools competition to design the front cover of the Christmas show programme. We received hundreds of entries and this year the prize was won by Loren Beyers (Aged 6) from Knightswood Primary.

Loren not only gets her design printed on thousands of programmes, but she and her whole class got free tickets to see Cinderella. Well done Loren!

Loren (and her class along with Cinderella stars Helen McAlpine and Andrew Scott-Ramsay) being presented with a framed copy of her programme design today - signed by all the cast!

The winning entry and 5 runners up are displayed in the foyer, so check them out if you're popping by.

Hx

A Christmas No. 1?

2009-12-07T11:13:00.005Z

The team from Citizens Learning have been working with women at Inglefield Hostel - a homeless unit for women on the Southside of Glasgow. Scottish singer-songwriter Carol Laula has been working with the group making music and exploring song-writing. Together they wrote and recorded two songs, which we've uploaded to AudioBoo.

Listen!

A christmas number one...what do you think??

www.carollaula.co.uk

Cinderella Slideshow

2009-12-04T10:20:00.003Z

Here's a wee slideshow of Cinderella pics. You can today's 5 star Herald review here.

If you've not played it yet, here's a link to our online game where you can dress up your own wicked step-sister, complete with original designs by Jason Southgate.

We were lucky enough to get time with the Director, Jeremy Raison, to chat about the show during rehearsals. You can watch our video on YouTube.

Hx

Get a look at the new brochure

2009-12-01T18:00:00.003Z

It's that time of year again when we refill the website with plentiful treats from the Spring-Summer season 2010 (is it just me or does 2010 sound futuristic?). In case you don't receive a copy of our brochure through the post, or via a leaflet rack, here's a rather splendid flickable online version from Issuu.

(Just use the arrows at either side to flick pages. You can click on the brochure to view it full screen).

Search the full What's On listing on our website.

Hx

An honour for Anna!

2009-11-20T16:56:00.003Z

We'd like to offer huge congratulations to Anna Stapleton, the Citizens Theatre's Administrative Director, who last night was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

This prestigious honour places Anna with an illustrious group of Fellows. Four Fellows were inducted in the ceremony that also included the conferment of degrees. The new Fellows were Anna, Richard Findlay, Andrew Hamnett and John Pitcathley.

Fellowship's are awarded in recognition of contribution to the RSAMD, and beyond that, to the cultural and educational environment of Glasgow and Scotland.

Anna has over 30 years experience of working in the arts, from her early days working as a Company Stage Manager and General Manager, to her years with the Scottish Arts Council and Arts Council of England. She has worked at the Citizens Theatre for almost 10 years.

Some Citizens staff joined Anna for the evening (...and thought they should apologise for eating so many canapes!).

Anna with fellow Fellows Hamish Wilson and Richard Findlay

A wonderful evening was had by all, so a big thanks to the RSAMD.

Hx

"The personal and the political"

2009-11-12T10:23:00.006Z

Starting tonight in the Circle Studio A Moment's Peace Theatre Company present The Chronicles of Irania (not Narnia...as one person thought!). This one woman show was a festival hit, delving into the life of Khadija, a middle-aged Iranian woman with more than a few tales to tell.

Neil Cooper met the company recently and wrote this article for the Herald.

Dress up your very own wicked step-sister!

2009-11-05T12:14:00.004Z

In case you didn't receive our special enews, we thought we should let you know about a brand new free online game for the Citizens Christmas Show this year.

Click on the image below to dress up your very own wicked step-sister. This game designed by our friends at Otago Street uses original drawings by Jason Southgate.

Be patient as it takes a wee moment to load...but it's worth the wait.

If you want to receive enewsletters, just go to our website and use the sign up box.

Hx

"breathtakingly well performed" The Scotsman

2009-10-29T12:34:00.005Z

I just added a few more images from Topdog/Underdog to Flickr. You can check out the full set here. If you've still undecided about coming along, here's a few recommendations that may help:

The Herald 4 stars
The Times 4 stars
The Scotsman 4 stars
The Guardian 3 stars
OnStageScotland
So far...

"It's surely the mark of a good play that you are still mining meaning from it days later....Two fine performances" The Times

"Directed with memorable intensity by Citizens Trainee Director Leann O'Kasi, and breathtakingly well performed by Tyronne Lewis and Nicholas Pinnock...some great rap-style poetic writing" The Scotsman

"the tale is grippingly told...a vivid portrait of hope against the odds" The Guardian

You can find out more or book online here.

Hx

"Making a 400-year-old play feel fresh is no small task"

2009-10-27T12:16:00.003Z

Othello continues this week. Here are a few of the nice things people have been saying about the show:

“Jude Akuwudike has a powerful physical presence as Othello, especially as jealousy reduces him to a feral despair.”
The Stage

“Guy Hollands’ direction is deeply reverent to Shakespeare’s text... This is solid Shakespeare.”
The Stage

“The supporting cast are strong and Philip Cairns lends Cassio an appropriately innocent charm.”
The Stage

"Andy Clark’s Iago is potently charismatic and disarmingly jocular… he delivers his lines with a frighteningly assured tone that calls to mind Robert Carlyle’s Begbie in Trainspotting."
OnStageScotland

“The modernisation works well…Making a 400-year-old play feel fresh is no small task. The company has managed to do so without falling into the trap of the ultra-modern.”
OnStageScotland

You can see more pictures from Othello here and some absolutely gorgeous original costume designs (by Philip Witcomb) here.

Hx

"Smart as a whip. Not to be missed."

2009-10-26T16:13:00.003Z

Leann's O'Kasi's professional Directorial debut with Topdog/Underdog has been receiving acclaim from both critics and public alike. A four star review in today's Herald newspaper states:

“It’s not hard to see why Parks’s play…scooped the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The chewy poetic dialogue rolls its way into life with a vivid ferocity.”

“Nicholas Pinnock and Tyronne Lewis bounce off each other with a relentlessly disciplined dynamism.”

OnStageScotland said:

"The two actors portray a damaged relationship that is completely engrossing."

A Twitter user said "Topdog Underdog @citizenstheatre is smart as a whip. Not to be missed."

If you've not already booked, find out more here.

Hx

The Chronicles of Irania on BBC

2009-10-20T17:06:00.005+01:00

As you may know, in November we have a great show called The Chronicles of Irania coming to the Circle Studio. A Moment's Peace Theatre Company got some great coverage on the BBC from their time at this year's Edinburgh Festival. You can watch a video of British/Iranian actress Maryam Hamidi talking about the show on the BBC website: Exploring Iran Through Theatre

There's also a report in Farsi from BBC Persia:
Chronicles of Irania - report in Farsi from Edinburgh Festival.

You can find out more and book on our website.

Hx

Partnership with St Enoch Scoops Arts and Business Award

2009-10-16T16:29:00.009+01:00

The Citizens Theatre and sponsorship partner St Enoch Centre were delighted to receive the Arts & Business Scotland ‘New or Returning Sponsor Award 2009’ last week, for the first time sponsorship of The Wizard of Oz by St Enoch Centre.

Announced at a ceremony hosted at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, the Awards are held each year to celebrate the most outstanding and creative partnerships between business and arts organisations. This year the awards were presented by Michael Russell, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution.

(L-R) Iain Valentine - Whitespace (Award sponsor), Mandy Orr - Citizens Theatre, Ann Ledgerwood - St Enoch Centre and Michael Russell - Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution.

The Citizens Theatre and ScottishPower were also commended in the Community Award category, for the project Outspoken - an innovative piece of drama that explored the reality of stammering and the impact on the lives of young people who stammer.

The award is proudly displayed in our foyer - look out for it next time you're in!
Cx

Rehearsals begin...

2009-10-08T11:56:00.004+01:00

Hello again!

I am completely new to this blogging malarky so have been trying to explore the website... I think somebody is going to have to give me a lesson! I've been looking at a couple of other blogs, one about cooking, and another about finding faces in everyday objects (which does entertain me for some reason), but I think I'll just stick with keeping you up to date with Othello rehearsals!

Day one: A 'meet and greet' cup of tea in the canteen for all in involved with both productions, Othello and Topdog/ Underdog. I was quite nervous as I reached the Stage Door, but when everyone arrived it was really informal and relaxed. A quick chance to say hello, and then upstairs for the first read through. What a play! Hearing it read aloud by the cast for the first time is always quite special I think, everybody feeling a bit nervous as their first line approaches... or maybe that was just me. Anyway, all went well, and already I had my first taste of what each of the actors might bring to their characters. After this we had a discussion with the designer, Philip Witcomb about set and costumes. The set looks amazing, and costume designs very exciting. I don't want to give anything away, but don't come expecting to see the lovely Jude Akuwudike in a pair of tights!

From then on Guy wanted to start working through the play from the beginning, just to get a rough shape to start with. Because my character is not in until the second half, I wasn't called very much at the beginning of the week, but when I came in to watch a run of the first couple of acts, I was very impressed by what had been done. It really felt like a lot had been achieved in the first week.

Week two, and we kept working through the script, people are beginning to get a bit more off book now. It's actually amazing when watching rehearsals, to see the difference in performance between the scenes that people are using the script, and when they are not. I know people have different opinions on using a script in rehearsals, but I find rehearsing easier when I'm off book... in this it hasn't been too hard for me because I'm only in three scenes, but I take my hat off to some of the others who have an enormous amount to learn. Somebody said to me the other day that they think Andy Clark has more to learn as Iago than he did when he played Hamlet... I don't know how he does it!

Anyway, rehearsals are going well, and going very quickly. Can't quite believe we open in two weeks!

Will continue to keep you posted, and I'm not too sure how this blogger works, but if you want to ask me anything about rehearsals (maybe by leaving a comment!?) I'll do my best to answer in my next blog.

Cheerio,

Mairi x

Ps. Very excited about all the Othello posters that are starting to pop up around Glasgow!

Director talks about Topdog/Underdog

2009-10-07T16:55:00.003+01:00

I grabbed a quick chat with Leann O'Kasi, director of the Scottish premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks Pulitzer prize-winning play, Topdog/Underdog.

Listen!

We totally ran out time, but I'll try to grab Leann another day to find out how rehearsals are progressing...and how the actors (Nicholas Pinnock and Tyronne Lewis) are getting on perfecting their three card monte!

Hx

Shakespeare Shortz winners

2009-10-01T10:36:00.005+01:00

The winners of the Othello tickets from our Shakespare Shortz project are yobkulcha and SkinheadNinja, for the following two clips:

Well done to both, and a huge thank you to everyone who took part! Although the competition is now closed, we are happy to receive additional clips on YouTube, so keep them coming.

We hope you can join us to see Lend Me Your Ears (8-10 Oct) and Othello (21 Oct-14 Nov).

Hx

NB. I've sent congratulations emails to the winners via YouTube. If you are a winner and haven't yet contacted me, please email Helen. If you posted a video response and have not yet sent me a copy of your film for inclusion in our compilation, please check your YouTube inbox.

Shakespeare Shortz - time's running out

2009-09-24T12:40:00.002+01:00

With only just over a day left, we are hoping to see a last minute flurry of submissions for Shakespeare Shortz. We would like you to record a wee clip of you "doing some Shakespeare". Don't worry about making this a big production. It's more about the taking part.

If you are having trouble uploading, just email Helen.

Here are a few recent submissions:

To take part, go to Shakespeare Shortz and just click post video response.

Hx

Citz enewsletter Sept 09

2009-09-18T12:40:00.002+01:00

If you are signed up to our e-mailing list you will recently have received our September enewsletter. If you're not, you can see a copy online here.

If you'd like to receive these updates each month, simply fill in your email address on our website.

Hx

Second week at the Citz

2009-09-11T14:02:00.005+01:00

Hi, I'm Mairi, the new trainee actor at the Citizens. I just thought I'd write a wee bit about how I got here, and what I've been up to so far...

In June I was coming to the end of my third year at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and I heard that the Citizens was looking for a graduating drama school student to work at the theatre for twelve months. I applied as soon as I heard, and after a couple of auditions (one in London, and one up here) I was offered the job. I was (and still am) over the moon to be given this opportunity, and after moving all my belongings back up to Scotland, and settling into my sister's flat, I am now at the end of my second week at the theatre.

I can't believe I've been here for a fortnight already, the time has flown by. In my first week I watched the Young Company rehearse for the Rosey Project, which I understand went down extremely well when they performed it last week at Hampden. I've also seen rehearsals for Lend Me Your Ears, which I loved being part of, and really can't wait to meet the rest of the cast next week.

As I'll be playing Bianca in Othello, and one of the step sisters in Cinderella, I was invited to a couple of the production meetings. It has really struck me how much work goes into the shows before the actors even have their first read through, how much careful planning goes on, and how hard everyone has to work together to ensure everything runs smoothly.

I've just had a call from Elaine in Wardrobe about measurements , so I'm going to have to nip up and see her now, will write again once rehearsals have begun for Othello...

Cheers, Mairi x

Fringe fun comes to an end....

2009-09-03T16:05:00.009+01:00

August… one month, two awards and seven 4 and 5 star reviews - not bad going!

On Sunday our Edinburgh fringe run of acclaimed show The Sound of my Voice came to a close, but it ended on a high with Billy Mack scooping the Best Actor award from The Stage for his moving portrayal of Morris Magellan.

This followed hot on the heels of Michele Gallagher picking up a Little Devil at the previous weekend's The Herald Angels award ceremony, awarded for demonstrating the true spirit of the old adage 'the show must go on' when she stepped into the role only six days before the show previewed! (Read her blog below).

Michele and Billy at the Angels' ceremony.

During the run we were delighted to receive a gaggle of 5 star reviews from Three Weeks, Onstage Scotland and the British Theatre Guide as well as 4 star reviews from Edinburgh Guide, AlltheFestivals, Fest and The List.

The cast and crew have all had a fantastic time and are now enjoying a well earned rest. Thankyou to everyone who came along to support us through in ‘the other city' - if you saw the show we'd really love to know what you thought, to tell us just click here.

"The show must go on..."

2009-08-17T12:13:00.009+01:00

Less than a week before our Festival 2009 show opened at the Assembly Rooms, our lead actress had to step down due to family illness. Her brave replacement, Michele Gallagher blogged for the Scotsman, this weekend, about the whirlwind journey that brought her to The Sound of My Voice:

“August 2009, I had planned to paint my spare room, sort out my taxes, catch up with friends and maybe cycle around Millport (I've always wanted to do that!). Performing in the Citizens Theatre's production of 'The Sound of My Voice' at The Assembly Rooms as part of this years Edinburgh Fringe was not on my agenda. Yet here I am!

On the 31st of July, my painting plans where shelved when my agent called, 'What time can you be at The Citz?'

'Eh, can you give me an hour?.' By 1 o'clock, I'm with Jeremy Raison, the director, reading from his adaptation of Ron Butlin's brilliant novel. By 2 o'clock Jeremy had offered me the part, by 3 I was handed a script, introduced to my other cast member, the wonderful Billy Mack, and the countdown began.

'The Sound of My Voice' had a very successful run last year at The Citizens Theatre. Unfortunately, the original actress had to leave the production, but in true showbiz style, 'the show must go on' and so did I.

The rehearsal process was....quick! Usually, you have three weeks to get to know your fellow cast members, create characters and learn lines. All the while the nerves and excitement build as you approach opening night. I had 5 days, there was no time for nerves.

The piece is based on an alcoholic business executive played by Billy and the complex and strained relationships he has with the people in his life. These characters, all of which I play, range from an innocent 5 year old girl to a 'gallus' 45 year old business man with many more popping up along the way.
For the few days leading up to the Fringe, I lived and breathed the script. Tearing my eyes away only to eat or sleep. My poor boyfriend patiently read each scene with me over and over again, until the characters began to find their voice and the words were committed to memory.

Now, one week into our run and those first frantic days seem like a distant memory. I am finally performing in a Citizens Theatre production, (something I have longed to do since my ushering days there, while at drama school) in an amazing play, which is part of one of the biggest and best festivals in the world and I am having the time of my life. The spare room can wait!

September 2009, Millport anyone??

Michele Gallagher”

Hx

And so it begins...

2009-08-06T13:02:00.006+01:00

Cat and I travelled through to Edinburgh last night to attend the Assembly Festival Gala launch at Assembly on the Mound. The venue was packed for a brilliant evening of varied acts from the Assembly venues.

Our show, The Sound of My Voice got a good mention amongst other theatre productions in the opening speech. There was no theatre in the launch programme, as this doesn't really lend itself to the format of the evening. Although slightly disappointing, I can totally see why, as it'd be hard to find a scene that worked.

The revellers outside Assembly on the Mound last night.

My favourite performances of the night were from Tao, The Soweto Gospel Choir and event host Jason Byrne, who was utterly hilarious. I've even been inspired to buy a ticket for his show.

Thanks to Jayne and all the team at Assembly for a brilliant night!

Alison and Cat headed back through this morning to meet our street team, Fin and Maria, who will be braving the busy/tram obstructed streets of the capital to let folk know about the show. Please say hi if you see them.

Our first preview kicks off at 3.20pm today. A crew from the theatre are heading through tomorrow to provide support. Good to luck to everyone, can't wait to see it again!

Hx

P.S. We have just added brand new functionality to the site, which allows you to add your rating and comments to each show, so please let us know your thoughts.

A Good Samaritan

2009-07-13T10:59:00.003+01:00

It's good to start the week with a nice story. Some good souls on holiday in Spain found the wallet of an actress who works at the theatre. Presumably after a Google search, they contacted us at the Citz, via our website, to say that they'd brought it home to England and were keen to return it.

After a couple of phone calls, the wallet will be winging it's way back to its very grateful owner.

Thanks to the good Samaritans who went to the trouble of doing some detective work.

...Restores your faith in humanity.

Hx

Website Review

2009-06-30T10:40:00.004+01:00

I came across this review of our new website (we're featured in the second half).

We'd love to know what you think of the new site. All feedback is welcomed.

Hx

Audience Insight Award

2009-06-29T22:07:00.006+01:00

Here's a wee clip of Alison talking about our Personas project which recently won an Audience Insight Award at the GaGAs.

Audience Insight from GGA on Vimeo.

Photo © Marius Alexander

Thanks to GGA for organising a great day...and Mark Boulton Design for leading us through our Persona Generation.

Hx

Getting to Know: Leann O'Kasi - Trainee Director

2009-06-25T19:26:00.012+01:00

From September 2008 – August 2009, Leann O’Kasi was the first Trainee Director of a new scheme generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. We asked her to share a little bit of her experience over the past year!

"I found out I got the job at the Citz one sunny Monday evening back in August 2008. A few rain storms and a week later I had moved to Glasgow and was working at the theatre on the first production of that season!

"I’ve been faced with so many different challenges that have thrown me head first into the deep end (and I can’t actually swim) but thankfully I’ve always surfaced feeling more at ease and theatrically energised. Highlights have been seeing the Circle Studio transformed into an 80s -esque underground night club for Citizen Y, being blown away by the pure visual spectacle that was Don Juan and crying like a baby at the end of the first act of the Wizard of Oz.

"But of course it’s seeing my own work being performed that has given me that extra bit of satisfaction."(Ed note: Leann adapted and directed her own version of Hans Christian Anderson's The Red Shoes in May).

"I’m really looking forward to coming back to direct Suzan Lori-Park’s Pulitzer Prize winning Topdog/Underdog this autumn. Even though it transports us to a seedily furnished room in New York it could be set in many living rooms throughout the world.

"I hope the next Trainee Director enjoys this experience as much as I did and makes it their own. As for me, I’m so excited about the next phase in my development and the endless possibilities that the Citz has opened up to me."

Thanks Leann - we've really enjoyed having you here at the Citizens as part of our team!
Cx