Praise for Ghosts keeps pouring in...

We're delighted to have received another 4* review for Ghosts in today's The List, as well as a highly complimentary review in the Sunday Herald. See below what they had to say:

'Jason Southgate's picture-perfect drawing room set, naturalistic lighting and period costumes lure us into a false sense of security, but we are quickly jolted out of our complacency by the intensity of the play, whose bleak conclusions still have the power to unsettle.

...the energy with which the cast attack their roles is infectious. There's a strong turn from Billy Mack as Engstrand... but it is from the intense central relationship between Mrs Alving and her son Oswald that this production derives its power. Maureen Beattie and Steven Robertson are compelling in those roles, the partnership deelivering a conclusion that is as moving as it is harrowing.' THE LIST ****

'In the opening stages of Raison's production (which enjoys a splendid, lively translation by Amelia Bullmore and a beautifully naturalistic set by Jason Southgate), the sense of lethargy is almost irritating. It is, however, entirely in keeping with Ibsen's intent, all the better for the cataclysm to come.

'Maureen Beattie is magnificent. Her Mrs Alving turns from respectable stoic to awesome truth teller, pulling down the entire Alving family myth as if she were some great, female Samson. Her nuanced, emotionally explosive playing never overshadows the other actors. Rather, Beattie's acting enhances the contributions of a universally fine cast; Kevin McMonagle is perfect as the appalled and outraged priest, whilst Elspeth Brodie impresses as the coquettish and indignant Regine.' SUNDAY HERALD ****

Ghosts - 4 stars in today's Scotsman

Joyce McMillan gave Ghosts a 4 star review in today's The Scotsman:

'Jeremy Raison's production of Ghosts for the Citizens Theatre... treats the play not as a sombre slide into tragedy but as a fierce comic satire against the prudery, misogyny and hyposcrisy of provincial Norwegian life.

'Raison's irreverant approach to the play... generates a fierce and questioning energy, not least through Maureen Beattie's towering performance as Mrs Alving, a woman still bursting with inconvenient sensual life and intellectual restlessness. Jason Southgate's set... beautifully lit by Charles Balfour to conjure up fierce Nordic alrterations between radiant sunlight and rain-drenched gloom; Elspeth Brodie and Steven Roertson light up the stage, as the young people so closely bound together.'

Also:
The Guardian **** Metro *** The Herald ***

Ghosts audience reaction

Here are some of the comments we received from audience members post show (N.B. We don't think any of these are from Kim Cattrall, who was apparently here seeing the show on Saturday!!):

"An interesting production - Very gripping - well acted."
"Powerful story. Very well acted by everyone."
"Well worth coming out in the rain for."
"Amazing set and costumes."
"A superb production of a great play."

Hx

Ghosts - Production Images

Here are some shots of Ghosts, which previewed Wednesday/ Thursday this week and opens officially tonight! You can also see them on Flickr.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

The show runs until 30th May! Cx

Clydeside Adventure

Our great “My Clydeside Valentine Adventure” “Gone Like the Wind” and our dear sisters and brothers went back home. But we still have the warm feeling that they left in our hearts. It was more than a theatre production that two countries have been involved... It was more than a cooperation and Braw Partnership. 20 people from Glasgow and Örebro did an amazing work in 3 days. Yes in just 3 days! It is hard to believe.

They all did it with love, with theatre love. Love was in the air during the rehearsal time. The group felt like they had been working together for a long time. Dear Neil, Elly and I were surprised. Are you Dancin'? and The Rollerettes scenes were the first ones to try in front of the journalists under the flash lights. These people had never met and rehearsed before but they played those scenes perfectly at their first try. I remember the night when my inspiration angels woke me up and came with this idea. How could it be to play in the same production with Glaswegian and Swedish actors on the same stage? I told my crazy idea to Tomas and Neil. They are crazy like me and said yes! Different languages, different countries… The actors will rehearse away from eachother and then will meet and do all the work just in 3 days. Thanks Dear Neil, Elly and all friends in Citizens Theatre and 14* Teater Projekt of Länsteatern!

All of us have had the most exciting theatre experience in our life. We did a great performance that I still get feedbacks and compliments. We saw and showed how “Theatre Love” can connect the people in the world. We are looking forward to meet you for our second adventure in Glasgow at Citizens Theatre soon. Thanks for being here and sharing this adventure with us, see you very soon …

Nurten Eriksson

A Fond Farewell to Sweden

Our Swedish adventures are over. Seven tired but exhilarated people returned to the Gorbals late Sunday evening. It's only Wednesday but it already seems along time ago that we waved farewell to our new artistic collaborators and friends in the sunshine of Örebro. Of course five of them will be heading our way come June 7th and I only hope we can give them as good a time in Glasgow and the weather is better than it is now!

My last blog, I wrote during the final throws of rehearsal and at that point we had no idea what the response would be to the show. However at 4pm on a baking hot afternoon, around 70 people packed into Länsteatern's small studio space and begged for more, after a wonderful show that completely captured everything we had achieved.

Kathleen Harrison's 'Reer Fleer' set the show up nicely and the Swedish cast found their way around the Glasgow dialect. Marianne was charming in our Rena's 'Looking Back', referring to the Dennistoun Palais as if she'd danced there herself . Fran sang her heart out for the loss of her wee Shuggie McGlone. 'On the Spot' came has a big surprise when a young African man got up out of the audience and proposed to another audience member in Swedish. 'Elvis in Ladies' was a triumph...as always. The totally Swedish creation was hysterical...even to us, who only grasped a couple of words! Theresa's poem had more 'Shadowy Depths' than ever before and we all raised our tarten scarves 'as we sang shang a lang with the gang'...then we had some party and bid our fond farewells.

It was a privilege to be part of this collaboration between the two community companies, rehearsing independently, thousands of miles apart and somehow coming together to create this unique performance in three and a half days. Certainly an experience I'll never forget and I don't think the others will either.

If you didn't manage to catch 'My Clydeside Valentine' back in February at the Citizens or indeed weren't part of our international audience, or have yet to see the illustrious Community Company in action, ...never fear, just make sure you get your tickets booked early for 'Wicked Christmas - Cinders Revenge' to avoid even more disappointment!! (Ed. This show goes on sale in late June)

We can't wait for our international friends to arrive for even more adventures...

Neil

News from Sweden

Hi from Örebro, Sweden

We are right in the middle of our final day of rehearsals in Länsteatern, working on It Must Be Love, an accordion is being played in the background by Alena, along with Björn and Anna Körin on guitar. There is a wonderful spirit of friendship and collaboration in the room. The Community Company from the Citizens are totally embracing the opportunity, there have been so many adventures and now we are building to our ultimate moment of this marvellous experience with the sold out performance tomorrow at 4pm. Let's hope there will be fireworks like we saw last night in front of the castle to celebrate spring.



It was Patricia's birthday yesterday and she was overwhelmed by the group singing, flowers and cake, it was an amazing moment, one I'm sure she will never forget along with the rest.



We have now moved onto to rehearsing Looking Back, a scene written by the senior member of our company Rena Hood, if only she could be here to see Marianne perform it, but then I also want Catherine Chan and Theresa to see their pieces performed in Swedish!



It will be so sad when our journey comes to an end here in Örebro, we have all been treated so well...Oh I have to go and organise lunch, it is a public holiday celebrating May Day and everything is closed but the sun is out so who cares.

Neil and Elly