Tron Theatre and touring news

This news round-up starts with Glasgow's Tron Theatre, currently mid–way through the month long Mayfesto.

This year themed on the anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916, Mayfesto is comprised of a number of works looking at both historic and contemporary events in Ireland.

Still to come up in the main house is a Tron Theatre commission from playwright Peter Arnott, Shall Roger Casement Hang?, which looks at British Colonial diplomat Roger Casement who exposed genocide and slavery in the rubber trade.

Whilst opening shortly in the studio space is Sunday's Child Theatre's award-winning play, My Name is Saoirse. Set in 1980s rural, conservative, Catholic Ireland, this one-woman show is written and performed by Eva O'Connor.

Made up of alumni from Tron's Participation & Community Company (Tony Byrne, Grant McDonald, Jacqueline Thain and Catherine Ward-Stoddart), theatre company Spilt Milk next month presents its second show.

A new devised piece, Adulting, concerns Tony reaching the age of 25 and having a quarter life crisis.

Turning to the National Theatre of Scotland and touring work, on the heels of the recent news that the company's artistic director and chief executive, Laurie Sansom, is leaving is the opening of the world première of music theatre piece The 306: Dawn, which he has directed.

Written by Oliver Emanuel with a score composed by Gareth Williams, the cast is made up of Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea, Emily Byrt, Josef Davies, Steffan Evans, Scott Gilmour, Peter Hannah, Joshua Manning, Josh Miles and Jimmy Walker and the musicians are Jonathan Gill (piano, performing MD), Robert Irvine (cello), Jackie Shave (violin) and Donald Grant (violin).

A co-commission with 14-18 NOW, the UK’s First World War centenary cultural programme, the show is the first in a trilogy and concerns the real events surrounding the three soldiers executed for cowardice and desertion during World War I.

Also news that National Theatre of Scotland’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart will tour again.

Since its 2011 début, David Greig and Wils Wilson’s show has enjoyed success touring nationally and overseas including the USA where it was seen this year in New York as part of Tartan Day.

The cast is made up of Annie Grace, Jessica Hardwick, Alasdair Macrae, David McKay and Paul McCole. The director is David Greig and the composer is Alasdair Macrae.

The tour of Our Ladies Of Perpetual Succour is already underway (adapted by Lee Hall from the novel The Sopranos by Alan Warner). The show is directed by Vicky Featherstone with a cast comprising Melissa Allan, Caroline Deyga, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty MacLaren, Frances Mayli McCann and Dawn Sievewright with musicians Amy Shackcloth, Laura Bangay, Becky Brass and Emily Linden.

The show visits the Brighton Festival, SECC, Glasgow, Liverpool Playhouse, International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, Connecticut, Dundee Rep Theatre, The Palace Theatrein Kilmarnock, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Galway International Arts Festival and London's National Theatre.

Another tour comes from Sell A Door Theatre Company in association with Perth Theatre: The Broons.

Based on DC Thomson comic strips in The Sunday Post, this stage play is by award-winning Scottish playwright Rob Drummond and features a Scottish soundtrack.

The Broons opens at Perth Concert Hall on 27 September and tours until November. Casting is to be announced.