Tuesday 15 April 2014

Dear Scotland

Dear Scotland could be seen as the National Theatre of Scotland's contribution to the Independence Debate. Since the performance's communities offerings so far have been relatively low key (Alan Bissett did a shouty poem, Union at the Lyceum was a mess), it will be interesting to see whether the artists can add to the discussion without appearing partisan.

The format is simple enough: twenty writers (some usual suspects) 'have penned short, sharp monologues, inspired – or provoked – by 20 of the collection’s celebrated artworks for a series of pit-stop performances around the gallery.' It's like a guided tour of the portrait gallery, except some of the pictures come to life and tell you how it is.

Unfortunately, the press release doesn't say who is writing about which character from Scottish history. Luckily, the Vile Arts is having a competition. Can you match up the writers with their subjects?

THE WRITERS
Peter Arnott
Veteran playwright with a eye for the telling detail and serious intent.
Jo Clifford
Caused a big load of trouble with Jesus, Queen of Heaven, Clifford's work is often sensitive and elegiac with a clear spiritual purpose.
Rob Drummond
Known for liking a fight (Wrestling), he's not frightened of taking on big issues and adores a spot of science
Janice Galloway
Big on dialogue, sharp satirical short stories.
David Greig
Usually called Scotland's most successful playwright, he has done plays about everything from Palestine to Border Ballads. Even did a sequel to Macbeth.
Zinnie Harris
Recently, her remix of Miss Julie impressed at the Citizens, but she is better known for an apocalyptic intensity, and seeing the personalities in the political.
Iain Heggie
Another playwright who has been a fixture since Scottish scripts began to boom.
Stuart Hepburn
Jackie Kay
Poet
A L Kennedy
Sometime stand-up comedian who fears no taboo.
Hardeep Singh Kohli
Controversial political thinker and sometime comedian and excellent cook.
Liz Lochhead
The Makar did a life of her predecessor and friend Edwin Morgan, and seems to have reserved slots at Oran Mor's Play, Pie and Pint programme. Enjoys remaking classics.
Iain Finlay Macleod
Nicola McCartney
Versatile writer and dramaturg.
Johnny McKnight
Currently the clown prince of Scottish drama, no McKnight script would be complete without saucy gags.
Linda McLean
Rona Munro
Did this one about a witch in the International Festival.
James Robertson
Ali Smith
Louise Welsh
Although she is utterly charming, Welsh delves into the dark side of Glasgow in a series of gripping, sinister novels.

THE PICTURES
James Boswell
Friend of Johnson, butt of many jokes and man-slut about town when men wore those fancy wigs.
Robert Burns
Didn't go to the Caribbean to be a slave master, but stayed home and wrote poetry instead.
Michael Clark
If this is the dancer, let's hope he is off the drugs for his monologue.
The Cromartie Fool
Robert Bontine
Cunningham Grahame
James VI (of Scotland) and I (of England and Ireland)
Unified the two crowns in one person, and started all the United Kingdom business.
Prince James receiving his son Prince Henry
Jackie Kay
Poet
Michael McGahey
Chic Murray
Music hall legend and spiritual predecessor of Jim 'Nick Nick' Davidson.
All of the portraits in Gallery 9
Anonymous woman in "Poets' Pub"
Spends eternity hoping the writers will get a round in.
The Oncologists
Cheerful surgeons fighting the darkness.
The Queen
Muse to John Lydon before he went commercial and sold butter
Jimmy Reid
He liked unions, although not necessarily between nations.
Sir Walter Scott
Invented shortbread and tartan tourism.
Mary Queen of Scots
Got her head chopped off.
Muriel Spark
Always in her prime.
Robert Louis Stevenson
PR man for the pirate industries, disguising their rapacious nature behind child friendly parrots-on-shoulders and treasure chests
Clementina Graham Stirling
This is a mystifying choice.

2 comments :

  1. You're playing the game, we like it!

    We've been conjuring up clues with the writers which will be releasing on our Facebook and Twitter pages in the run up to the performances at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 24 April - 3 May. Keep an eye out for interviews and video clues where they reveal which artwork they've given voice to.

    More info and tickets for Dear Scotland are available via http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/content/default.asp?page=home_DearScotland

    ReplyDelete
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