Cargo, Lights... Action!!!!

85A's work is marked as much by their restless ambition as the collective's distinctive aesthetic style. Detached from their familiar surroundings - until a year ago, they defined The Glue Factory's performance programme - they emerged into the sunlight, presenting Cargo, Lights... Action, a show fit for all of the family and managing to make some sly asides at the commercialisation and compromises of the Commonwealth Games' cultural side-shows.

Essentially a cabaret with a story guided by MC and film director Rudolph Haagen-Dazs, Cargo, Lights... Action uses 85A's scenographic skills to build a set that became part of the show. A huge ship, built in the industrial style that is recognisable from their Chernozem immersive film set, is the backdrop to various acrobatic and dramatic routines. Meanwhile, the cast obstruct the audience with the apparatus of filming (cameras, lighting kit), deconstructing the process of both making a film and making a live performance.

Slowly unfurling its intelligent design - it only gradually becomes clear that the show has subverted a cabaret format - a twin narrative drives the action. Rudolph Haagen-Dazs is trying to make an epic film, which warns of the dangers of messing with the environment, while fighting his cast. Then there is the story of the film itself: a mad, poor sea captain wakes the Kraken by trying to steal his ink.

The political commentary is blunt and slipped in cheekily - the captain pays for his sins against nature, and a BP slogan is craftily added to his earth-rending machine to draw attention to the company's oil grabbing antic. Meanwhile, the director's speech against the evils of mankind talks of the exploitation of sport for profit.

But this is appropriate: Cargo, Lights... Action is a big, impressionistic show, suitable for the kids and with enough asides for adults without being patronising or compromising 85A's credibility. The DIY touches - waves worked by a cycling cast, the hand-made camera podiums moving in awkward ballet and the encouragement to the audience to act like a soundscape- are all reminders of how the collective excels when it makes art out of rubbish. 

Hulk and Ka-Zar on the Commonwealth games

Five things better than the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Another blast of click-baiting negativity from the VileArts this morning. Please put it down to the fact that I wet myself laughing three times at the Opening Ceremony and have been forced to go commando this morning.

While the world of twitter kicked up a storm of hilarity during the games, I was watching Butoh at the CCA  - a reminder that performance can have the intensity of a short LSD trip, taking my mind for a wander through questions of spirituality and suffering, gender identity, aspirations and despair. And so, here are five things that would have given the Opening Ceremony a edge.

Franz Ferdinand
Admittedly, The Ferds have spent the latter part of their career being more experimental, shaking off the cheerful dynamism of their first album for more brooding and challenging tunes. But at their commercial heights, they could do a chorus like a boy band, while retaining a rough, rocking edge. Certainly, they would have trumped Susan Boyle singing a sentimental dirge written by a man from Liverpool (not that Paul 'Thumbs Up' McCartney ought to be excluded on grounds of nationality, just taste).

Claire Cunningham
Again, Claire's recent work has been less spectacular than intimate - Guide Gods grappled with her relationship to religion - but her grandstanding Mobile/Evolution wowed the Fringe as she swung through the air with the greatest of ease. Intelligent, technically impressive and based on Claire's personal responses to great art, balance and identity: it would have had more depth than a dancing tea-cake, anyway.

Glasgow Girls
Cora Bissett and David Greig rocked the house with this smart musical. A condemnation of the attitudes of the state towards refugees, GG had a swagger and wit that suggested musical theatre was about more than stringing together a bunch of chart hits with an excuse for a story. The tunes were sharply multicultural, too, fusing melodies and beats from the various communities found in Glasgow, from Bollywood to traditional folk.

Iona Kewney
Kewney's dance on massive screens, and Quimby's guitar through a huge sound system?

Scottish Ballet
I hear that they are adapting some of Dylan Thomas' poems for their next production. I would take one of these over Barrowman shouting the names of random locations in Glasgow, thank you.

(It has been pointed out that SB did have a bit in the Ceremony... could we have had a bit more?)



Bonus comment: I'll admit, Barrowman's cheeky kiss was a nice touch.

Art and Sport News with Triathlon

Meanwhile, in another dimension, another Captain Britain has another perspective...

Captain Britain ponders the Commonwealth Games

The Big Song Relay: Here's To All Our Common Wealth

I've been rather enjoying the Independence Debate lately - mostly because of the accusations being flung about that certain actions performed by MSPs or local councils are 'political.' In the words of Skunk Anansie...

So - all this stuff about the Commonwealth: is that political? Does it suggest that countries are able to go it alone without being part of a British Empire? Or does it reaffirm the unity of the British nation state.

And what about the name of the organisation behind this event: Hands Up for Trad? Does it imply a conservative agenda, or are they just big fans of Acker Bilk?

Press Release Begins...

It is part of the Big Big Sing, and they have a specially commissioned song to accompany the Queen's Baton Relay as it travels across Scotland ahead of the Commonwealth Games. 

The Big Song Relay will bring together singers from all over Scotland to form choirs, lining the route of the Queen's Baton Relay as part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural programme.

Here's to All Our Common Wealth will be passed from choir to choir along the route, uniting communities and celebrating the excitement of the day.

Here's to All Our Common Wealth was written by Phil Cunningham, Karine Polwart, Alison Burns and Findlay Napier. The song captures the idea of Scotland's distinct common wealth: its land, communities and people.

Simon Thoumire, Creative Director of Hands Up for Trad says: "We are really excited to announce this song. It is all about the Scots looking outward to the Commonwealth community and sharing our talents and culture with the world"

Svend Brown, Director of Big Big Sing says: “Big Big Sing is all about taking the world stage of the Commonwealth Games as an opportunity to inspire as many people as possible to join in singing and enjoying the benefits that brings. 'Here's to All Our Common Wealth' gives us another great tune in the Big Big Commonwealth Songbook, one that we can all share and enjoy.”

If you are in a choir and would like to take part in The Big Song Relay, please visit: and click on Big Song Relay. You can get in touch with Hands up for Trad from there.

Anyone can sing 'Here's to All Our Common Wealth': it is available to download in Scots, Gaelic and English.  Backing tracks and learning materials suitable for all abilities will be available soon.

Big Big Sing, which is set to be one of the highlights of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, aims to get thousands of people across the UK singing in celebration of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and to enjoy the social, physical and mental health benefits of singing. Big Big Sing is a nationwide project providing singers, choirs and anyone interested in trying singing with a wealth of resources, training and performance opportunities up and down the country, throughout the year.

A choir, yesterday