SIMON CROWTHER'S THE USHERS COMES TO TRON
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Tue 18 – Sat 22 January 2011, 8pm
The Tron Theatre announces the first Changing House production of the spring season as The Ushers, presented by Raindog. Written by Simon Crowther and directed by Stuart Davids, the play is the latest addition to the acclaimed production company’s impressive back catalogue of work, which includes The House of Bernarda Alba, Love Lies Bleeding and A.D, as well as television and film productions Wasted and the award-winning Tinsel Town.
Springtime, 1996. Jed's fled the bright lights of Paisley for a contract in Sheffield building roofs. He's got his own flat, his girlfriend's six foot one, he's twenty years old and life is looking up. But the night before his sister's wedding, Jed's oldest pal Skarloey pays an unexpected visit.
Why's he made the trip? Especially when they're due on the seven thirty-eight back to Glasgow in the morning. Two more visitors drop by. Chubby's convinced Bruno's going to beat Mike Tyson. Zoe's grandma lies dying in a hospice. There are high hopes for the future and yearnings for the past. Something is coming to an end. But will friendship conquer all?
Designed by Kenny Miller, in his seventh collaboration with the company, and featuring performances from Vicky Binns, James Kirk, Neil Leiper and Craig Porter, The Ushers takes a light-hearted (but meticulously accurate) look at ordinary things; at friendship and its unwanted familiarity; and the politics of fancying your best mate’s sister!
Raindog is the award-winning production company responsible for 13 major theatre productions including One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Wasted, Still Life, Ecstasy, The House of Bernarda Alba and A.D. For television they have produced Tinsel Town for BBC2 and JCN 16 for BBC Scotland. In 2009 the company produced their first feature film Wasted which was recently screened on BBC2.
The Writer – Simon Crowther
Simon Crowther is an experienced television writer best known for his work on Coronation Street, which he has written for since 2006. He first worked with Stuart Davids on a Christmas Day episode of the ITV soap four years ago. The Ushers is his first play. A rehearsed reading of his second, The Get Together, took place at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff in 2010. He is currently writing Fourteen Percent, a play about a husband who admits to his wife that he’s ‘fourteen percent’ in love with her best friend.
The Director – Stuart Davids
Stuart trained as an actor at RSAMD. He has appeared at the Traverse, Lyceum and Citizens’ Theatres, and on television in Hamish Macbeth. He is a co-founder of the production company Raindog. With them he directed for the stage Conquest of the South Pole, Wasted, The House of Bernarda Alba, Love Lies Bleeding and A.D. He also directed The Apprentice by Martin McCardie at the Oran Mor. With Raindog he has also co-created and directed for television Tinsel Town, JCN 16 and co-directed the feature film Wasted. He has also directed Heartbeat, River City and Coronation Street.
The Cast:
Vicky Binns - Zoe
Vicky Binns is best known for her two roles, Ollie and Molly in the ITV soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street. She has also appeared in Children’s Ward playing a character named Tash and in 1999 played the role of Anne-Marie in the television drama series Nature Boy. She also played Anna in the BBC’s King Matt and Tammy-Jade in Granada Television’s Von Trapped.
Her theatre credits include Teechers and Perfect Pitch for Hull Truck Theatre Company. She made her pantomime debut in 2005 at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Wiltshire playing opposite Liam Dolan in Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
James Kirk - Chubby
James Kirk’s previous acting credits in television include Hedz, KNTV, Rab C Nesbit and the new series of Gary:Tank Commander. James is also a stand-up comedian. In 2010 he became the first Scottish winner in over 20 years of the prestigious So You Think You Are Funny award. He is also a founding member of the critically acclaimed Glasgow sketch troupe How do I Get Up There?, who will be appearing on STV’s brand new comedy sketch show in 2011. He has also written for successful BBC Radio Scotland shows such as All the Milkman’s Children and The Ellis and Clarke Show. James makes his theatrical debut in The Ushers and is delighted to be working with Raindog Theatre Company.
Neil Leiper - Skarloey
Neil Leiper is from Paisley. He recently performed in Wee Andy at Oran Mor, a play about knife culture by Paddy Cuneen. Earlier in the year he appeared in a new horror/comedy feature film called Inbred due out later in the year. He played Connor in the tough Glasgow feature film Wasted, directed by Stuart Davids and Caroline Paterson, a Raindog and Scottish Screen collaboration.
Craig Porter - Jed
Craig started acting at PACE Youth Theatre in Paisley at the age of five. He has appeared in a variety of television productions including Taggart and Stacey Stone. His last theatre production was Untidy Endings at the RSAMD. Since then, Craig has developed a strong working relationship with Raindog and was involved in JCN 16 and Wasted.
Tron Theatre
63 Trongate
Glasgow
G1 5HB
Box Office & Public Entry- on Chisholm Street
Phone: 0141 552 4267 (Box Office)
0141 552 8587 (Bar/Restaurant)
0141 552 3748 (Administration)
