David Greig gets own Festival. T in the Park feels threatened.

Sitting in my Tower of Solitude (opposite the Rawalpindi restaurant), I wonder whether Scottish theatre - the stuff that obscures my vision and fills my life -  has any meaning south of Berwick. Occasionally, I receive signals from England that suggest it does operate as part of a wider British theatre scene.

I recently did my first face-to-face interview with David Greig (soon to be broadcast on The Radio Hour). Given that he is pretty much recognised as Scotland's most famous playwright - and certainly one of the most prolific - he was generous with his time, witty and charming. He had a clear sense of his own worth, without being a dick about it. 

I think he more than deserves the David Greig Festival: a week-long retrospective featuring a number of productions, work-in-progress, performative responses and a concluding academic symposium, at which David Greig himself will appear in conversation with leading academics.Sadly, it is in Lincoln, and I am going to miss it.

The highlight might well be the arrival, at the end of the week, when Greig with the Actors Touring Company, brings his celebrated production of The Events to the stage alongside the distinguished Lincoln Cathedral Choir, renowned for its residency in one of Europe’s finest Gothic buildings.

The big thing about The Events that it had a different choir involved in every performance. I bet the Cathedral Choir give it some heft. The Events rocked the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe, and matches smart staging with a compassionate insight into the anguish of loss (in the wake of a massive tragedy). The Guardian loved it so much that they awarded it 'Best Theatre of 2013.' 

Let me have a check of the week's events, and see what I'll be missing... 

Press Release Begins...

The Events will show at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre on Friday 28^th and Saturday 29^th March

2014, as part of a performing arts festival dedicated to David Greig’s award-winning works.

The production features a new local choir at each performance, with the Lincoln Cathedral Choir set to take to the stage alongside Actors Touring Company at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre. The musicians will perform an extensive soundtrack, ranging from How Great Thou Art to Dizzee Rascal, yet will be unaware of the events unfolding before them, allowing the audience to share their genuine reactions to the shocking yet humorous script.

The Events will show at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre as part of the David Greig Festival, taking place from Monday 24^th – Saturday 29^th March 2014.

The week-long retrospective features professional and student-led productions, work-in-progress, performative responses and a concluding academic symposium, at which David Greig will appear in conversation with Professor Dan Rebellato, from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Greig, who is the first dramaturg for National Theatre Scotland and a prominent voice in contemporary Scottish culture, has seen his work performed at prestigious theatres nationally and around the world, including the Traverse, the Royal Court, the RSC and the National Theatre.

Throughout the festival, the public can enjoy a series of plays from his extensive catalogue, including a production of Dr Korczak’s Example by staff and pupils at North Kesteven School on Tuesday 25^th March.

On Wednesday 26^th March, there will be a student-led performance of The Architect, directed by University of Lincoln undergraduate Alex Watson. On Thursday 27^th March, the public can also see a cast of students in The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union, a production directed by last year’s winner of the Lincoln School of Performing Arts Student of the Year Award, Lucy Barrett.

Head of School Professor Mark O’Thomas said: “This Festival builds on the incredible work we have done in previous years with the Caryl Churchill, Sarah Kane and Mark Ravenhill festivals.  David Greig is one of our most important living playwrights and it is fantastic that Lincoln is able to host these major international events each year.”

On Saturday 29^th March, the festival will culminate in a one-day symposium bringing together scholars, theatre practitioners and students to discuss David Greig as one of the UK’s most vital playwrights. Speakers include academics from the universities of London, Dundee, Chester, Winchester and Kingston, with a keynote delivered by Dr Clare Wallace from Charles University in Prague.

The symposium will be followed by the final performance of The Events, and a post-show discussion. To find out more about the festival and to book tickets for the performances, visit www.lpac.co.uk.