The National Theatre of Scotland 2022 Edinburgh Festivals, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival and the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme Announcement!

The National Theatre of Scotland announce their 2022 programme forming part of this year’s Edinburgh Festivals, including new Alan Cumming dance theatre, Burn, brand-new staging of Liz Lochhead’s Medea at the Edinburgh International Festival and Uma Nada-Rajah’s politically urgent Exodus as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Both EIF productions will tour across Scotland after the Festival. The cast announced for Liz Lochhead’s Medea includes Adura Onashile as Medea, Robert Jack as Jason, Stephen McCole as Kreon, Alana Jackson as Glauke, Anne Lacey as the Nurse and Adam Robertson as the Messenger. The National Theatre of Scotland supports a double bill of Annie George plays Home Is Not The Place and Twa at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and will also take part in the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics (programme to be announced in July 2022).

Jackie Wylie Artistic Director, National Theatre of Scotland said:

“I am thrilled that National Theatre of Scotland will have an enhanced presence this year at the Edinburgh Festivals after two very tough years for artists, freelancers and audiences. We are premiering three shows and supporting two new works by leading Scottish artists as well as co-presenting events, across the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics.

I grew up in Edinburgh and have felt nurtured, both personally and professionally by the festival presence every year; I know from experience that an August at the Festivals can change your life and I can’t wait to be part of a buzzing Festival audience again”

The National Theatre of Scotland is making its presence felt at the Edinburgh Festivals this year, with three productionsand support for new work in a programme offering fierce and powerful Greek tragedy, dance theatre inspired by Robert Burns, politically urgent new drama, a memoiristic fairytale and a tale of identity, belonging, the British Empire and migration.

The festivals programme includes a World Premiere and a brand-new staging at the Edinburgh International Festival – Burn, a powerful new piece of dance theatre inspired by the life and legacy of Robert Burns is a creative collaboration between legendary Scottish artist Alan Cumming and Olivier award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett presented in a co-production with Edinburgh International Festival and The Joyce Theater, New York City. The production premieres at the King’s Theatre Edinburgh, previewing in Greenock, before visiting Perth, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness and New York in the autumn. Medea, a fierce and powerful adaptation of Euripides’s classic Greek tragedy by Liz Lochhead, returns in a spectacular new staging over twenty years on from its original tour, and will be presented at The Hub in Edinburgh in August.

Joining Adura Onashile as Medea are Robert Jack as Jason, Stephen McCole as Kreon, Alana Jackson as Glauke,Anne Lacey as the Nurse and Adam Robertson as the Messenger.

The world premiere production of Uma Nada-Rajah’s urgent new play Exodus about politicians and posturing opens at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Bold, incisive and outrageous the production previews in Stirling, and tours to Peebles, Stornoway, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Mull in the autumn. Exodus is part of the 2022 Made in Scotland Showcase.

National Theatre of Scotland is delighted to be supporting Annie George’s Resilience double bill at Summerhall.

Part I of Resilience is Home Is Not The Place, by Annie George. This powerful production evolved from a quest by the Keralan-born writer to uncover her creative roots and tells the remarkable story of the short life and lost work of Annie’s grandfather, writer PM John shortly before India’s independence.

Twa (Part II) is written and performed by Annie George with animated live visuals by Flore Gardner. Live drawing and captivating storytelling weave together the modern story of women’s silencing and resistance with a retelling of the Greek myth of Philomela.

Both productions are supported by The Meadows Award and are part of the Made in Scotland showcase.

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BURN

Created by Alan Cumming and Steven Hoggett

Co-Choreographed by Steven Hoggett and Vicki Manderson, Set Designer Ana Inés Jabares Pita, featuring the music of Anna Meredith, Lighting Designer Tim Lutkin, Video Designer Lewis den Hertog, Sound Designer Matt Padden, Costume Designer Katrina Lindsay, Associate Director Shilpa T-Hyland.

Performed by Alan Cumming

Opening at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh International Festival with performances from 4 – 10 August 2022

Touring to Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (preview); Perth Theatre; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen; Theatre Royal, Glasgow; Eden Court, Inverness and The Joyce Theater, New York City from July to September 2022

Opening Performance 6 August 2022, 8pm at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh

“And still my motto is – I dare!”

A creative collaboration between legendary Scottish artist Alan Cumming and Olivier award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, Burn is a powerful new piece of dance theatre inspired by the life and legacy of Scotland’s most celebrated poet, Robert Burns.

The National Theatre of Scotland, The Joyce Theater and Edinburgh International Festival are delighted to be presenting Burn in both Scotland and New York. Following the production’s premiere at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh International Festival’s programme, the production will tour to Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness before receiving its New York premiere at The Joyce Theater.

Burn aims to challenge the ‘biscuit tin’ image of Scotland’s National Bard and goes beyond the poetry to focus on the man himself – his poverty, his personal tragedy, his struggles with mental health and his spectacular success.

Performed by Cumming, Burn features the music of acclaimed contemporary musician and composer Anna Meredith, with visually arresting set and video design by Ana Inés Jabares Pita and Lewis den Hertog.

Alan Cumming said “I think all any artist wants to do is tell a story. And If I have one regret in my artistic life it would be that I did not become a dancer and be able to tell a story completely, with my entire body.  Robert Burns has always fascinated me. Through his work I feel he tells us the absolute truth of who we are as Scots, but the more I researched him the more I realised I didn’t know the absolute truth of him. Burn is my attempt at trying to tell more of his story using my whole body.”

Winner of Tony, Olivier, Scottish BAFTA and CATS awards and a recipient of multiple Grammy, Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, Alan Cumming is a much-loved star of stage and screen and is making his solo dance theatre debut inBurn.

This is the National Theatre of Scotland’s third transatlantic collaboration with Alan following his performances as Dionysus in The Bacchae (2007 Edinburgh International Festival, Scottish tour, London’s Lyric Hammersmith and The Lincoln Center Festival, New York) and as Macbeth, which premiered at Tramway, Glasgow in 2012 and was presented on Broadway the following year.

His most recent Scottish stage appearances include Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age (2021), Club Cumming (2018) and Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs (2016), all at Edinburgh International Festival. He went round Scotland in a campervan with Miriam Margolyes for Channel 4’s Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland for Channel 4 and appears in a new Scottish drama documentary My Old School which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. He is the author of six books including the best-selling memoir Not My Father’s Son and the recently released Baggage, with the paperback edition launched in early June 2022.

Steven Hoggett is an internationally renowned award-winning choreographer and movement director who previously worked with Alan Cumming and the National Theatre of Scotland on The Bacchae. Other productions with National Theatre of Scotland include Black Watch (Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer), Let The Right One In (Royal Court, West End, St Ann’s NYC) and Beautiful Burnout. Recent shows include The Ocean at the End of the Lane (National Theatre), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (National Theatre) and Harry Potter and The Cursed Child which transferred to Broadway in 2018. Hoggett was founder and co-artistic director of Frantic Assembly.

The National Theatre of Scotland are also presenting Liz Lochhead’s Medea at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2022.

Touring to Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (Preview Sat 30 July); King’s Theatre, Edinburgh (Previews Thu 4 & Fri 5 Aug) Sat 6 – Sun 7 Aug, Tue 9 – Wed 10 Aug; Perth Theatre Thu 18 – Sat 20 Aug; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen Wed 24 – Sat 27 Aug; Theatre Royal, Glasgow Wed 31 Aug – Sat 3 Sep; Eden Court, Inverness Thu 8 – Sat 10 Sep.

Burn at Edinburgh International Festival is supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown.

Access –There will be audio described and captioned performances across the tour.

Full tour information and biographies here…

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Medea

Adapted by Liz Lochhead                                                                                             

Directed by Michael Boyd

Set and Costume Designer Tom Piper, Lighting Designer Colin Grenfell, Composer and Musical Director James Jones, Movement Director Janice Parker, Voice Director Jean Sangster

Cast: Robert Jack, Alana Jackson, Anne Lacey, Stephen McCole, Adura Onashile and Adam Robertson

Chorus: Lola Aluko, Leyla Aycan, Lindsey Campbell, Janette Foggo, Pauline Lockhart, Fletcher Mathers, Eileen Nicholas, Wendy Seager, Brooke Walker and Bea Webster.

At The Hub as part of the Edinburgh International Festival from 10 to 28 August 2022

Opening performance at The Hub, Edinburgh on Saturday 13 August at 8pm

Over twenty years on from its original tour, Liz Lochhead’s fierce and powerful adaptation of Medea, Euripides’s classic Greek tragedy, an unflinching interrogation of the human heart under intolerable pressure, returns in a new staging from the National Theatre of Scotland. The production is at The Hub as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2022.

Medea has betrayed her family for the man she loves, taken brutal revenge on his enemies, married him, and fled with him to Corinth. Her husband Jason now abandons her to marry the King’s daughter, leaving Medea and their children dangerously exposed in this foreign land. Her response is as resourceful as it is terrifying. And shatters every taboo.

The former Makar, or National Poet of Scotland, Lochhead was awarded the Queens Gold Medal for Poetry in 2016. She is also the author of many original plays for the stage including Mary Queen of Scots Got her Head Chopped Off, Perfect Days and Thon Man Moliere, as well as Tartuffe, Miseryguts and Educating Agnes, her trilogy of rhyming adaptations of that French comedic genius’s greatest works. Her adaptation of Medea, in English infused with her poetic contemporary Scots, was first staged in Glasgow in 2000 by Theatre Babel, directed by Graham McLaren and with Maureen Beattie in the title role. The production played the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in both 2000 and 2001 and toured nationally and internationally to critical and audience acclaim.

The titular role of Medea is played by award-winning actor, writer, and director Adura Onashile. As an actor she has a background in physical theatre and has worked previously with the Royal Shakespeare Company. With National Theatre of Scotland, she appeared in Dragon (Vox Motus,Tianjin People’s Arts Theatre) as well as leading August Strindberg’s Creditors at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre. Alongside Adura Onashile’s Medea, Stephen McCole takes on the role of Kreon. His TV and film appearances include Vigil, Outlaw King, Malevolent and Brassic. He has previously appeared in National Theatre of Scotland productions including roles in the film Adam, Let the Right One In and Black Watch. Scottish actor Robert Jack known for The Last Czars and Gary Tank Commander plays Jason. Robert previously appeared in National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch. The role of Glauke is played by Alana Jackson, who graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2020 and most recently performed in Vanishing Point’s The Metamorphosis. Anne Lacey, playing the Nurse, has worked extensively in theatre, film and television with recent performances including Molly and Mack, Shetland and The Secret Garden, previously appearing in National Theatre of Scotland’s Dear Scotland and The House of Bernarda Alba. Adam Robertson, who has appeared in River City, Outlander and feature film Dreaded Light, plays the Messenger.

An ensemble cast creates the Chorus including Lola Aluko, Leyla Aycan, Lindsey Campbell, Janette Foggo, Pauline Lockhart, Fletcher Mathers, Eileen Nicholas, Wendy Seager, Brooke Walker and Bea Webster.

As Artistic Director of Glasgow’s Tron Theatre, Michael Boyd staged his own dramatisation of Janice Galloway’s The Trick is to Keep Breathing (with Siobhan Redmond), Michel Tremblay’s The Guid Sisters (with Una Maclean, Dorothy Paul, and Elaine C Smith) Macbeth (with Iain Glen and Peter Mullan), Ted Hughes’s Crow (with Peter Mullan and Douglas Henshall) and Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson’s Sleeping Beauty (with Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson). Boyd also led the Royal Shakespeare Company through ten of its most successful recent years, receiving UK and international awards including four Oliviers for his eight play History Cycle.

The National Theatre of Scotland is also presenting the World Premiere of Burn, a new piece of dance theatre from Alan Cumming and Steven Hoggett at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh from 4 – 10 August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2022.

Medea is at The Hub, Edinburgh from Wednesday 10 to Sunday 28 August (Except Mon 15 & 22)

Wed 10 – Fri 12 Aug, 8pm (Previews); Sat 13 – Sat 27 Aug, 8pm; Sun 14, Thu 18 & 25, Sat 20, Sat 27 and Sun 28, 3pm

Access – There are BSL interpreted, captioned, audio described and relaxed performances at The Hub.

Full booking information and biographies here…

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Exodus

Written by Uma Nada-Rajah and directed by Debbie Hannan

Set & Costume Designer Alisa Kalyanova, Lighting Designer Laura Howard, Composer/Sound Designer Mark Melville, Video Designer Rob Willoughby

Full cast is:  Aryana Ramkhalawon, Anna Russell-Martin, Habiba Saleh and Sophie Steer.

Opening at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh – Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022 –  previewing at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling and touring to Eastgate Theatre, Peebles; An Lanntair, Stornoway; CentreStage, Kilmarnock; Lemon Tree, Aberdeen; Tron Theatre, Glasgow and Mull Theatre from 31 July to 21 September 2022

At the Traverse Festival at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – 31 July to 28 August 2022 (times vary) with an opening performance on Sunday 07 August at 2.30pm

Part of the 2022 Made in Scotland Showcase

Bold, incisive and outrageous, Uma Nada-Rajah’s new play Exodus about politicians and posturing, satirically exposessystematic deception and indifference to human suffering.

Directed by the National Theatre of Scotland’s Associate Director Debbie Hannan, Exodus is a dark, surreal comedy, ready to shamelessly ridicule the systems of power.

The production will premiere as part of the Traverse Festival at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022 before touring Scotland in the autumn. Exodus sees the National Theatre of Scotland make a welcome return to the Fringe following a celebrated presence over the last sixteen years (Black Watch, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Adam).

In her bid to become the country’s leader, Home Secretary Asiya Rao prepares to make a major policy announcement that will establish her as the front-runner of the political race. Alongside her cut-throat and calculating advisor Phoebe, she embarks on a publicity stunt starting with a photo shoot by the white cliffs of Dover. But rather than the tide washing her reputation clean, something else washes up… An omen or an opportunity? The women are determined to keep their eyes on the prize, no matter the cost, even if it’s a human one.

Asiya Rao, the Home Secretary is played by Aryana Ramkhalawon. Aryana is known for her stage and TV work including GHBoy (Charing Cross Theatre), When the Crows Visit (Kiln Theatre) and The Funeral Director (English Touring Theatre) and Call the Midwife. She was last seen on Scotland’s stages in the musical Glasgow Girls.

Phoebe Bernays, the Home Secretary’s Special Advisor is played by Sophie Steer. Alongside TV and film roles, Sophie’s recent stage appearances include Civilisation (Edinburgh Fringe, Home and New Diorama), Where Do We Go Next (Bunker Theatre) and Gobble Gobble Goblin (Old Vic).

Anna Russell-Martin plays the role of young journalist Tobi Tucker. Anna has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland on the film Ghost Light and on stage with Jenni Fagan’s Panopticon. The final cast member is Habiba Saleh, playing the part of Haben Haile, a performer, trained in opera. Habiba makes her professional debut in Exodusand returns to the Scottish stage following her role in Uma Nada-Rajah’s Magical Plastic Chicken with Golden Trailer Collective at The Hidden Door Festival.

Uma Nada-Rajah was the Starter Female Political Comedy Writer in Residence with the National Theatre of Scotland. She wrote The Domestic for National Theatre of Scotland’s Scenes for Survival digital programme and the film has had over 4.4 million views. She was a writer for the National Theatre of Scotland’s online festive show Rapunzel. Her play Toy Plastic Chicken was part of the 2019 Play, Pie and a Pint season at Oran Mor and the Traverse and was subsequently shown on BBC iPlayer. The play recently won Uma the inaugural Kavya Prize, a new Scottish literary prize celebrating published work by Scottish writers of colour. She was previously a participant in the Traverse Theatre’s Young Writers Group.  Uma is based in Kilbarchan and also works as a nurse for NHS Scotland.

Debbie Hannan is a new Associate Director for the National Theatre of Scotland. They previously directed Jenni Fagan’s The Panopticon in 2019 for the Company and was Associate Director for Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour. They most recently directed The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (Royal Exchange Theatre), Overflow (Bush Theatre), Pah-Lah(Royal Court Theatre), and The Ugly One (Tron). She is currently temporary Artistic Director for Stockroom and is directing a short film for Film 4.

Touring to Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (Preview Thu 28 Jul 2022); Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (Previews Sun 31 Jul & Sat 6 Aug) Sun 7 to Sun 28 August 2022, except Mondays; Eastgate Theatre, Peebles Wed 31 August 2022; An Lanntair, Stornoway Sat 3 Sep 2022; CentreStage, Kilmarnock Fri 9 Sep 2022; Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Sun 11 Sep 2022; Tron Theatre, Glasgow Wed 14 to Sat 17 Sep 2022; Mull Theatre Tue 20 & Wed 21 Sep 2022

Access – There will be BSL interpreted, audio described, captioned and relaxed performances at the Traverse during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Full Exodus tour information, booking details and biographies here

To find out more about the National Theatre of Scotland, visit here…