|
Welcome to Glasgay! 2008 - There's never been a better time to visit Scotland and see Glasgow! This autumn Scotland's greatest city hosts The Tennessee Williams Festival - a major celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the author's death. The festival features four UK premieres and four Scottish premieres of lesser known works, a classic stage revival of Suddenly Last Summer and a 14-title classic film series at London's BFI Southbank, Glasgow Film Theatre and Edinburgh's Filmhouse.
The programme offers audiences a unique journey through some of Tennessee William's most powerful and dramatic pieces - full of the perceptions of life as it is and the passion for life as it ought to be. There are strong elements and personalities and major themes but most of all there is a wildness, a darkness and a sense of rebellion that signifies all great art. From the dizzying heights of major stardom to eventual decline audiences can now appreciate and understand Tennessee's own story, his battles for acceptance, his loves and lovers, his own dysfunctional family, his struggle with drugs and alcohol and his un-dying creativity. Tennessee's life story and his dramas are our stories and we are proud to reclaim him as one of our own.
The Tennessee Williams Festival line up features: Tron Theatre's classic revival of Suddenly Last Summer, a rich and darkly disturbing drama about lobotomy, lust and death. Plus the Scottish premiere of three short plays under the heading Like The Rain. Four Glasgay! productions - including the UK premiere of The Parade, written when Tennessee first fell in love in 1940; the Scottish premiere of And Tell Sad Stories of The Death of Queens, a lost gem about misdirected passion, deluded drag queens and seedy straight boys; and the UK premiere of The Municipal Abattoir and The Chalky White Substance, set in post apocalyptic worlds where institutonal murder is sanctioned. The Festival will also feature a new bio-play called Elysain Fields focusing on the life and curious death of Tennessee Williams.
Don't miss also the Tennessee Williams Classic Film Festival. It's not only a celebration of great features such as A Streetcar Named Desire and A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof but also a programme that explores darker wilder worlds such as This Property is Condemed and Boom! It's also a celebration of 20th centuary stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Natalie Wood and Montgomery Clift.
There is also a full line up of Glasgay! comedy, dance, music, visual art and club nights. Hightlights include Stephen Petronio Dance (New York); visual art from David Trullo (Spain), Boutique, a brand new four week programme of contemporary performance from newly emerging Scottish artists, comedy appearances by Tina C, Tim Fountain and Lorraine Bowen, and so much more. Enjoy!
|
