The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fro m Septem ber28
WHAT A difference a year makes! Perth Theatre’s creative director Rachel O’Riordan is preparing for her second season following a debut season crowned by three Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland – including best director.
In August 2011, rehearsals for Rachel’s first play at Perth Theatre were getting under way – an opulent production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Back then she told The Courier about her visions and ambitions for the theatre, speaking ofreaffirming its position at the heart ofthe town, which has since become Scotland’s seventh city.
Rachel spoke passionately about “amplifying” the theatre’s presence, bringing its work to more people and of“opening the door”, not only to new audiences but to new performers and partnerships.
Safe to say, she has done this – and next season builds on things once more, with the return ofA Play, A Pie and A Pint (which proved successful earlier this year) and also a co-production with Belfast’s Lyric Theatre.
Rachel said:“It feels like I really belong here now and I have really got my feet under the table. Last season eas successful – especially with three CATS award nominations – we couldn’t have asked for better.
“I am feeling very at home in Perth and I am also doing a lot ofwork in Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is a lovely place to live and people have been very welcoming.”
The first production is a trip back to the 1980s:“We are starting with the female version ofThe Odd Couple. This is a title that will be familiar to audiences through the film starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
“It is just as funny and it’s not just the same play with women. It is set in the 1980s so there will be lots of80s music and costume. Neil Simon is a brilliant writer and it will be a great night out:slick, sharp, clever American comedy.”
Rachel added there are six hilarious, strong parts for women as well as two male parts and one is played by Joseph Thompson who is currently starring in Hollyoaks playing the hunky doctor.
From October 30 to November 10, The Cone Gatherers comes to the theatre as a guest production from Aberdeen Performing Arts. Peter Arnott has adapted Robin Jenkins’s classic novel and the performance is directed by Kenny Ireland.
In December, Rachel directs Mother Goose – her very first pantomime! She said:“It’s going to be a fantastic, traditional panto. I love the fact that at Christmas everybody in Perth turns out, comes to the building, has a great night out and we are able to provide that Christmas cheer for them.”
In the New Year, Rachel describes The Seafarer by Conor Mcpherson as “the jewel in the crown”.
“We are doing this as a co-production with the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and the really exciting thing about that – aside from the fact we are working with some new colleagues and taking our work outside Scotland – is that it is the Scottish premiere ofthe play as well as the Northern Irish premiere.
“It was quite a coup to get the rights to the two countries at the same time and we were really excited to be trusted with them. This is a Tony award-winning, Oliviernominated play and one ofthe best plays in modern drama, without a doubt.
“It is extraordinarily good. It is spooky, supernatural, atmospheric and it’s about humanity, redemption, forgiveness and alcoholism.
“It is a black comedy and also very frightening. Audiences who liked Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me will really start connecting with that strand ofmy programming.”
The final play in the season is April in Paris, a straight-talking, snappy comedy peppered with dry Northern wit.
Rachel explained:“It is a comedy, but it also has a lot ofheart and is quite moving. For the two central characters their trip to Paris isn’t what they thought it would be and it doesn’t quite have the consequences they expected. It’s simple, popular, funny and moving. It then goes to Glasgow to play at the Tron Theatre afterwards.
“One of the themes in this season is extraordinarily good writing and this play by John Godber was also Olivier-nominated.”
Other highlights include A Play, A Pie and A Pint:a brand new play that will be directed by a local emerging talent as part ofa Federation ofScottish Theatre (FST) bursary awarded to Perth Theatre.
There is also Lesley Mackie starring in Judy from August 29 to September 1 and Guy Masterton starring in Hamlet in The Half on September 15, fresh from Edinburgh’s Fringe – a play written by Rachel’s husband Richard Dormer.
Other visiting productions include Arthur Miller’s The Man who had all the Luck, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Vagina Monologues.
The Odd Couple runs from September 28 to October 13
Mother Goose runs from December 7 to January 5
The Seafarer runs from February 8 - 23
April in Paris runs from March 15 - 30
Tickets are on sale now from Horsecross Arts Box Office. Tel: (01738) 621031 or visit: