New season launches at The Brunton
The
Brunton has launched its new season, which is full to the brim with an exciting
range of productions, and tickets are on sale now.
Highlights include an afternoon piano
recital with Llyr Williams, a star of the music world and a regular
performer at the Edinburgh International Festival and London’s Wigmore Hall. A
treat is in store as he performs Beethoven’s extraordinary and witty Diabellivariations,
a challenge for every pianist. The Brunton also welcomes back Ryedale
Festival Opera with Handel’s Alcina, one of
his greatest masterpieces, as part of the Lammermuir Festival.
The
Brunton is delighted to welcome back Scotland’s national symphony orchestra,
the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, with a thrilling programme
of classical music including the colourful Mendelssohn’s Italian
Symphony and Ravel’s exquisite Le Tombeau de Couperin. Scottish
Ensemble, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Scottish
Opera also return.
The
popular series of lunchtime and afternoon classical concerts continues, where
audiences can enjoy lunch in the upstairs lounge followed by an hour of
classical music in the informal and intimate surroundings of venue 2, or enjoy
High Tea and an afternoon recital. Performers this season include pianist Martin
James Bartlett, winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014; pianist Richard
Uttleywith Mark Simpson, clarinet, another previous winner of
the BBC Young Musician of the Year; violinist Benjamin Baker; and
tenorNicholas Mulroy and pianist Alisdair Hogarth return
after their sensational performance of Winterreise in April.
Now in its
fifth year, The Brunton presents Hogmanay in the Honest Toun, part
of Scotland’s Winter Festivals 2016-2017. A packed day full of lantern making,
drumming workshops, performances and family ceilidhs culminates in a parade led
by Edinburgh Samba Band and illuminated walkabout characters, with a
spectacular free fireworks display on Fisherrow Links.
The
Saltire Festival is
also back for 2016, celebrating St Andrew’s Day and East Lothian as the Home of
the Flag, with events at The Brunton including a screening of Trainspotting,
performances by Trecherous Orchestra and Simple Minded, and
historical re-enactors telling the tale of Scotland’s history in Scotland
Through The Ages.
The
Brunton continues to present the best of the West End with its National
Theatre Live and Royal Opera House Live screenings.
Audiences can enjoy Terence Rattigan’s devastating masterpiece The
Deep Blue Sea and a vivid and darkly comic new adaptation of The
Threepenny Opera; with The Royal Ballet’s Anastasia,
and The Royal Opera’s Les Contes d’Hoffman and Il
Trovatore, all live from the Royal Opera House. There are also plenty
of midweek movies planned, opening with Love and Friendship,
in which Kate Beckinsale inhabits the irresistibly devious lead role in this
adaptation of Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan.
Loved all
over the world for their hits including When Will I See You Again, The
Three Degrees - well known for their soulful voices, beautiful gowns
and fabulous stage shows – return to Musselburgh with another sensational stage
show; while The Rubettes, on their first solo tour since the ‘70s,
play all their hits including Sugar Baby Love, Tonight and Juke
Box Jive. Music lovers will also enjoy fantastic tributes to Roy
Orbison, Neil Diamond, Eagles and Phil Collins, to name only a few; while David
Alacey is joined by Anita Harris in Frank – Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back,
a lavish production that captures the music and personality of the legend Frank
Sinatra.
Fresh from runs at this year’s
Edinburgh Festival Fringe are Theatre Alba with Shepherd
Beguiled, a magical modern Scots classic; andDogstar Theatre Company with Mungo
Park, Travels in the Interior of Africa, rip roaring entertainment and
a salutary story. There’s a fresh take on the classics with Blackeyed
Theatre’s Frankenstein, a brand new adaptation fusing
ensemble storytelling, live music and stunning theatricality; and Richard
Darbourne’s Pride and Prejudice, in which the world of
Austen is brought to life by just two actors.
Commemorating the centenary of the
Great War are Immersion Theatre and Journey’s End,
a compelling and harrowing insight into life in the trenches; and for younger
audiences, Wee Stories and Fife Cultural Trust present The
Man Who Followed His Legs (and kept on walking), a funny, entertaining
and moving production using video images, puppetry, music and performance to
bring alive the enormity of this first global conflict for a new generation of
young people. Sleeping Warrior Theatre Company, Fire Exit and Kathryn
Barker Productions are also on the bill.
Company
Chordelia’s Lady Macbeth: unsex me
here is an exciting and unique piece of dance theatre by Kally
Lloyd-Jones; Rosie Kay Dance Company makes their Brunton debut with a double bill; and it’s
time to put some funk in your trunk when Breakin’ Rules returns
with a day of hot hip hop dance theatre, hosted by resident dance company Room
2 Manoeuvre’s Tony Thrills.
There is a
wealth of entertainment for younger audiences too, with two productions from
The Brunton’s resident theatre companyCatherine Wheels Theatre Company, as
well as fun filled musical productions from The People’s Theatre
Company and Funbox.
Comedy
comes from Craig Hill, Scotland’s kilted comedy treasure; Jenny
Eclair extends her hit tour into the autumn, and Daniel Sloss,
Scotland’s internationally acclaimed and award winning comedian, brings his
latest show So?. There are inspiring events too, with Hugh
McIlvanney in conversation with Graham Spiers, offering a fascinating
insight into his remarkable career; and Steve Leonard, TV vet and
wildlife presenter, shares his close encounters with spectacular and exotic
species in an illustrated talk, in association with East Lothian Library
Service.
