Curtain raiser will give culture vultures their fix

THE Citizens Theatre will be bringing the stage to homes across Glasgow in a new production starring Jonathan Watson and Maureen Carr.

Fibres, originally premiered on the Citizens’ stage in 2019, will be reprised in a special filmed version, with the Only and Excuse and Still Game actors taking up their roles again.

The play, written by awardwinning playwright Frances Poet, tells the story of Beanie and her husband Jack, an ex- shipworker at the Clyde Shipyards, as they battle with mesothelioma and is a witty yet heartbreaking look at the impact of asbestos on workers and their families.

Director Jemima Levick said: “As with so many theatre projects, the Covid- 19 pandemic has prevented our planned UK tour of Fibres.

“This feels like an opportunity for us to approach the piece in a new way, blending the two art forms of theatre and film to tell this story with all the humour and heart that the original contained.

“I’m particularly pleased that audiences right across the UK can see it, especially those living with Mesothelioma who, with lockdown restrictions, might not be able to attend if it were in their local theatre.

Jonathan, who plays Jack, said: “I think people use humour to cope in difficult times, humour helps them get through that.

“I don’t think that’s exclusive to the West of Scotland, I think that that is a general thing.

“Mesothelioma is extremely prevalent in this area and I think has the highest rate for mesothelioma in the world for quite some time.”

The film, which was created with funding from the Performing Art Relief Fund, is set to premiere next month.