National Theatre of Scotland Autumn and Winter Season Release

new version by Rona Munro, directed by John Tiffany, is touring Scotland, visiting Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Dundee.  The production is set by Rona Munro in Glasgow’s ganglands with an all-female cast including Jo Freer, Louise Ludgate, Siobhan Redmond, Carmen Pierracini and Julie Wilson Nimmo. (15 September to 7 November 2009)

By Federico García Lorca

in a new version by Rona Munro

Directed by John Tiffany

Designed by Laura Hopkins

Lighting Designed by Natasha Chivers

Sound Designed by Paul Arditti

 This autumn the National Theatre of Scotland presents a major new version of Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba. Set in contemporary Scotland, Rona Munro’s edgy translation is directed by John Tiffany and features Siobhan Redmond in the title role.

 Following the gangland execution of her husband, the formidable matriarch Bernarda Alba will do anything to safeguard her family’s fortune and the future of her five daughters. A deal is struck - a marriage of convenience between her eldest girl and the son of a business rival. All Bernarda has to do is ensure that the wedding happens, and quickly. Five headstrong daughters cooped up in the family home in an emotionally charged atmosphere of rivalry and repressed sexuality make that an epic challenge.

One of the most celebrated European dramas of the 20th century, the play was finished by Lorca shortly before he was executed in Spain for his left-wing politics. He described it as a “drama of women in the villages of Spain” – a theme that is transposed in this version to the tough communities of Glasgow’s East End.

The full cast is Jo Freer, Vanessa Johnson, Anne Lacey, Louise Ludgate, Heather Nimmo, Julie Wilson Nimmo, Myra McFadyen, Mary McCusker, Una McLean, Carmen Pieraccini, Siobhan Redmond and Morag Stark.

Rona Munro is one of Scotland’s leading writers.  Her new play The Last Witch will premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.  Her other plays include The Indian Boy (Royal Shakespeare Company), Watership Down (Lyric Hammersmith), Strawberries in January (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Sloane Commission (Manhattan Theatre Club, NYC), Long Time Dead (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Mary Barton (Royal Exchange, Manchester), Gilt (7:84 Theatre Company), Iron (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Royal Court and Manhattan Theatre Club, NYC) and The House of Bernarda Alba (Shared Experience). Her films include Ladybird, Ladybird (directed by Ken Loach) and Aimée & Jaguar which was nominated for a Golden Globe.

 John Tiffany, Associate Director: New Work at the National Theatre of Scotland is directing. He recently won an Olivier Award for Best Director for Black Watch, which won a total of four awards at this year’s awards ceremony.  

This is Siobhan Redmond’s second role with the National Theatre of Scotland.  Previously Siobhan played Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Stuart. Siobhan has appeared in a number of television programmes including The Catherine Tate Show, The Smoking Room, Between the Lines and Sea of Souls.

Louise Ludgate has appeared in four productions for the National Theatre of Scotland, Little Otik, Project Macbeth, Realism and Home.

Jo Freer was recently on stage in the National Theatre of Scotland’s Our Teacher’s A Troll and Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off. Other stage credits include Mary Massacre for Random Accomplice, Liar at the Citizens Theatre and Trumpets and Raspberries at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. 

Julie Wilson Nimmo is well known for playing Miss Hoolie in the BBC television series Balamory. Other television credits include Rab C Nesbitt and Chewin’ The Fat. Last year Julie appeared in 365, The National Theatre of Scotland’s 2008 Edinburgh International Festival co-production. Also for the National Theatre of Scotland Julie has appeared in Tutti Frutti. 

Myra McFadyn’s recent theatre credits include Interiors for Vanishing Point and Eating Beauty for the Tron Theatre. Previously Myra has also appeared in Elizabeth Gordon Quinn and Home both for the National Theatre of Scotland. On television Myra has appeared in the BBC’s Monarch of The Glen and Jonathan Creek. Myra also played Elana in the movie Mamma Mia. 

Heather Nimmo made her professional theatre debut last year in Sunset Song at Her Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen.

Anne Lacey has worked in Scottish theatre for a number of years. Her most recent productions include Gods Are Fallen and All Safety Gone at Óran Mor, and The Pearl Fisher at the Traverse Theatre. Her film work includes playing the Ministery Witch in Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire.

Mary McCusker has had an extensive theatre career with recent highlights including Sleeping Beauty for the Lyceum Theatre and The People Next Door for Traverse Productions New York.

Una McLean was most recently in Six Acts of Love at the Tron and has previously worked with the National Theatre of Scotland when she appeared in Six Characters In Search Of An Author, a co-production with the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. Television work includes playing Pam in Still Game for BBC Television and later this year she will appear in Alan Cumming’s documentary Brilliant Britain.

 Carmen Pieraccini recently appeared in Peer Gynt, a National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep co-production. Other productions for the National Theatre of Scotland include Nobody Will Ever Forgive Us and Falling. Carmen is well known to television audiences for her role as Kelly Marie in River City and Tina in Dear Green Place.  

Touring to the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow (15 September to 3 October), Dundee Rep Theatre (6 to 10 October), the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline (15 to 17 October) and the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh (3 to 7 November).

Press Performance:  Thursday 17 September at the Citizens Theatre.

LEARN SUPPORT

Education Pack: There will be an Education Pack available for schools to accompany this production of The House of Bernarda Alba. The pack will be linked to the S5 and S6 drama curriculum.

School Workshops: Schools booking tickes to see The House of Bernarda Alba are entitled to a free workshop prior to the production.  The workshop will be two hours long and will explore themes arising from the play and contemporary adaptations.

For booking information please visit www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/learn 

Web Resources: In addition, there will be a number of web resources available that teachers may find useful including interviews, behind the scenes features and photographs. 

Visit www.nationaltheatrescotland.com