Eggplant.place

Nicola Meighan visits the Alasdair Gray Archive & talks to Scottish writers Rory Watson & Alan Bissett about the wonder of words, the magic of old photographs, & the power of listening to women’s voices

https://www.akickupthearts.org/blog-3-1/rory-watson-amp-alan-bissett

#Scottish #literature #poetry #fiction #drama #podcast

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

228d

“The general assumption in the past has tended to be that an overview of Scottish drama would not take very long. Between Sir David Lyndsay & James Bridie, what was there of any lasting importance?”

Edwin Morgan, “Scottish Drama: an overview” (1999)

Today, 27 March, is World Theatre Day

1/7

https://asls.org.uk/scottish-drama-an-overview/

#Scottish #literature #drama #theatre #theater #plays #WorldTheatreDay #theatrehistory

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

215d

‘When the knife came up through the pool table, audiences gasped’

Within six months of its launch in 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) produced a globe-conquering hit. Inspired by tragic events at Camp Dogwood in Iraq, Black Watch was a humane portrayal of young squaddies on the frontline.

In this article, the makers of the devastating drama recall how it grew and grew.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/apr/08/iraq-war-black-watch-national-theatre-of-scotland-fife-pub

#Scottish #literature #drama #theatre #theater #Iraq #IraqWar #BlackWatch

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

184d

The Long Drop
5–20 June, Citizens Theatre Glasgow

Equal parts psychological thriller & pitch-black comedy… a darkly stylish descent into the heart of a city – & the haunted minds of the men who shape it.

Adapted by Linda McLean from the novel by Denise Mina

https://citz.co.uk/whats-on/the-long-drop/

#Scottish #literature #drama #theatre #DeniseMina #crimefiction #thriller #Glasgow

A horizontal image, split into two square sections. The left section shows a puddle on a dark, wet, cracked piece of tarmac. In the puddle we can see a range of reflected neon signs, and the silhouette of a man, upside-down. The right section is yellow with black text, reading

The Long Drop
Citizens Theatre – Main Theatre
06–20 Jun 2026

ALT

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

141d

It is a land of wee
hard men and all I
am wanted for is to
stand and cheer…

Prof Alan Riach considers the life & work of the poet & playwright Joan Ure (1918–1978) – born #OTD, 22 June

1/6

https://www.thenational.scot/news/17455955.joan-ure-the-scots-poet-and-playwright-who-set-a-precedent/

#Scottish #literature #poetry #poet #drama #playwright #20thcentury #womenwriters

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

130d

Creativity, Community & Class with Kevin P. Gilday

The Creative Resistance Podcast talks to Glasgow poet, performer, & playwright Kevin P. Gilday about gatekeeping of working-class stories, the role of art as a tool for survival rather than a luxury, & Kevin’s groundbreaking community projects like The Bank of Springburn & the Care in Scotland installation

https://thecreativeresistancepodcast.substack.com/p/creativity-community-and-class-with?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv0

#Scottish #literature #poetry #drama #art #culture #workingclass #workingclasswriters #podcast

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

117d

Come to Where I Am
11 Aug, Edinburgh. £15 / pay what you can

A special one-off new writing showcase presented by Paines Plough in association with Playwrights’ Studio Scotland

Three Scottish playwrights – Uma Nada-Rajah, Hannah Lavery, & Linda McLean – present monologues about the places & people that shape them

https://bookings.shedinburgh.com/event/9854:106/9854:143/

#Scottish #literature #drama #theatre #playwright

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

90d

What Aeschylus’s “Prometheus Bound” Teaches About Defying Tyranny

Aeschylus’s "Prometheus Bound" explores themes of knowledge, power, and tyranny, and in doing so raised compelling questions about Athenian imperial authority.

https://www.thecollector.com/prometheus-bound/

"Four Plays of Aeschylus" at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8714

#books #literature #drama

In Thomas Cole's, "Prometheus Bound", "the landscape is appropriately desolate; above Prometheus are imposing, snowy mountains and a cold sky. The figure himself blends in with the rocks, a conscious decision of the artist that adds an element of surprise for the viewer when the figure is finally seen; the viewer's surprise emphasizes Prometheus's desperate and desolate situation.[1] Upon further inspection a vulture is seen lower in the painting, swooping up toward Prometheus. The raptor comes at dawn, when the planet Jupiter (the "morning star") is seen in the sky.[2] As the Roman god Jupiter is the equivalent of Zeus, Prometheus's antagonist symbolically watches over him." - Wikipedia

ALT

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

105d

Widening the Horizon – Scotland’s translators for the stage
27 August, Summerhall, Edinburgh. £2.50–£5

A panel event celebrating Scotland’s translators of international plays for UK stages. Chaired by Joyce McMillan, & featuring writer-translators Jo Clifford, Liz Lochhead, Alan McKendrick, Katherine Mendelsohn & Mariem Omari, the event will explore the importance of this vibrant aspect of Scottish theatre.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/widening-the-horizon-scotlands-translators-for-the-stage-tickets-1994150609153

#Scottish #literature #theatre #drama #translation

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

104d

Nairn Book & Arts Festival
29 Aug–6 Sep

Tickets are on sale for the 2026 Nairn Book & Arts Festival, an annual celebration of literature, art, music, and drama in the Scottish Highlands.

https://www.nairnfestival.co.uk

#Scottish #literature #arts #drama #music #Nairn #Highlands #festival #bookfestival

Nairn Book and Arts Festival

An annual celebration of literature, art, music, and drama in the Scottish Highlands

Image: an illustration of three children dancing among swirls of pink and purple colours

ALT

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

104d

Getting Ready (Love and Hex #154)

Hey, the changeling is still here! It's her wedding! Don't let the other characters' shenanigans distract you from her story. (This is more a message to myself than to you.)

#comics #webcomic #art #drama #dnd #ttrpg #monstergirl #loveandhex #mastoart

1. Changeling Kayra, dressed for her wedding and still looking like a human, sits in front of a mirror while her mother fusses with her hair.

Changeling: "Mother, you've been fussing over me for hours."

Mother: "It's just these few stubborn strands..."

2. Mother and daughter look at each other affectionately.

Mother: "You long beautiful, dear. Even more than usual."

Changeling: "Thank you."

Mother: "And you've become such a wonderful, talented, lovely woman... You have always made me so proud."

3. Mother claps her hands. "now - *sniff* let's get you married!"

Changeling interjects: "Just a moment, mother-"

4. Changeling Kayra takes her mother's hands to plead with her.

Changeling: "I know I breaks tradition, but I REALLY need to speak to Jonathan-"

Mother: "Dear, Johnny loves you. There's nothing you can tell him that will change his mind."

5. Mother leaves the room and shuts the door behind her. Changeling Kayra looks on, alone.

Mother: "And the ceremony is about to start! You can talk so you like after the views are exchanged. It would be terribly bad luck if Johnny saw you in HERE - you'll see each other very soon!"

Changeling: "Sigh... Jonathan has NEVER really SEEN me..."`

6. Changeling Kayra looks at herself in the mirror and Reaves to touch her reflection. The reflection shows her true self: a construct of mud, sucks, and buttons.

Changeling: "...But he will."

ALT

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

103d

Twenty years ago this week, Black Watch first shocked, thrilled & moved audiences in its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

To celebrate, BBC Scotland will air a special filmed performance of the play on 1 August.

“Black Watch: A Soldier’s Story”, the documentary exploring the journey of the landmark production, will also be aired on 1 August.

The play is currently available on the iPlayer (UK only):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b007xrqx/artworks-scotland-the-black-watch

#Scottish #literature #drama #theatre #BlackWatch

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

57d

Glasgow Theatre Seminar: Queer Plays Volume One – An Anthology of Scottish LGBTQ+ Drama
6 October, University of Glasgow & online: free

𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦 – 𝘈𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘓𝘎𝘉𝘛𝘘+ 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢 spans 50 years of queer theatre in Scotland. Celebrate the book’s launch & hear from its contributors about the history, present & futures of LGBTQ+ drama in Scotland
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/listings/index.html/event/14845

#Scottish #literature #theatre #drama #plays #queer #queerliterature #LGBTQ #LGBTQdrama

Book cover

Beneath a rucked-up rainbow flag on a white background, the text reads:

An Anthology of Scottish LGBTQ+ Drama

QUEER PLAYS
Volume One

John Binnie
lan Brown
Jo Clifford
Christopher Deans
Hannah McGregor
Kathy McKean
Laila Noble
Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh

Foreword by Alan Cumming

Curated by JD Stewart

SSP
Scottish Society of Playwrights

ALT

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

69d

📚 Life of Pi by: Yann Martel

After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors stranded on a lifeboat - a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a Royal Bengal tiger, and a sixteen year-old boy named Pi. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

Based on one of the most extraordinar...

https://bookblabla.com/book/life-of-pi

@bookstodon

#books #reading #libraries #performingarts #theater #playwritingdrama #european #drama

After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors stranded on a lifeboat - a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a Royal Bengal tiger, and a sixteen year-old boy named Pi. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

Based on one of the most extraordinary and best-loved works of fiction - winner of the Man Booker Prize, selling over fifteen million copies worldwide - and featuring breath-taking puppetry and state-of-the-art visuals, Life of Pi is a universally acclaimed, smash hit adaptation of an epic journey of endurance and hope.

Adapted by acclaimed playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, this edition was published to coincide with the West End premiere in November 2021.

Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Play

"Life of Pi will make you believe in the power of theatre" (Times).

ALT

0 0 1 View Post & Replies See Original

42d

Joanna Baillie’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 (1810): A Virtual Public Reading
21 November, online. Free

The Baillie Working Group presents a virtual public reading & discussion of Baillie’s “Highland play”, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 – an early example of the Scottish “National Drama”, exploring themes of identity, vengeance, & the politics of peace.

@litstudies

Zoom link: https://essex-university.zoom.us/j/93091876464

#Scottish #literature #theatre #theatrestudies #theatrehistory #drama #18thcentury #womenwriters #JoannaBaillie

JOANNA BAILLIE'S THE FAMILY LEGEND (1810): A VIRTUAL PUBLIC READING
DATE AND TIME: SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2026, 6:00 - 9:00 PM (GMT)
LOCATION: ONLINE

Please join members of the Baillie Working Group for a virtual public reading of Baillie's The Family Legend, organised by Sarah Burdett and Diane Piccitto. Attendance is free.
Meeting link: https://essex-university.zoom.us/j/93091876464

With thanks to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Literary Studies, University of Essex.

ALT

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

41d

“Somehow hearing the play in Scots gave Anglophone audiences an insight into Tremblay that had hitherto eluded them”

—Mark Fisher on MICHEL TREMBLAY: PLAYS IN SCOTS – 8 Scots translations of the Québécois playwright’s work

1/4

https://www.critical-stages.org/29/michel-tremblay-plays-in-scots-two-vols/

#Scottish #literature #Scots #Scotslanguage #drama #theatre #Quebec #Tremblay #translation #InternationalTranslationDay

1 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

41d

Professor John Corbett discusses Edwin Morgan’s translation of Rostand’s CYRANO DE BERGERAC – from our 2021 Schools Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0lp5t85x2g

#Scottish #literature #EdwinMorgan #InternationalTranslationDay #drama #theatre #translation #Rostand #EdmondRostand #Cyrano

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

6d

Liz Lochhead’s MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS GOT HER HEAD CHOPPED OFF
13 Feb–6 Mar 2027
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

Heaving with theatricality & gallus wit, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off weaves political relevance with fairytale storytelling. 40 years since it first premiered, this major new production brings the Scottish classic to a new generation of audiences.

https://citz.co.uk/whats-on/mary-queen-of-scots-got-her-head-chopped-off/

#Scottish #literature #drama #theatre #CitizensTheatre #Glasgow #WomenWriters #Scots #Scotslanguage

The opening page of Liz Lochhead's play, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS GOT HER HEAD CHOPPED OFF

ACT ONE
SCENE ONE – SCOTLAND, WHIT LIKE?

(Alone, FIDDLER charges up the space with eldritch tune, wild and sad, then goes. Enter into the ring, whip in hand, our 'chorus', LA CORBIE. An interesting, ragged ambiguous creature in her cold spotlight)

LA CORBIE: Country: Scotland. Whit like is it?
It's a peatbog, it's a daurk forest.
It's a cauldron o' lye, a saltpan or a coal mine.
If you're gey lucky it's a bricht bere meadow or a park o' kye.
Or mibbe ... it's a field o' stanes.
It's a tenement or a merchant's ha'.
It's a hure hoose or a humble cot. Princes Street or Paddy's Merkit.
It's a fistfu' o' fish or a pickle o' oatmeal.
It's a queen's banquet o' roast meats and junkets.
It depends. It depends ... Ah dinna ken whit like your Scotland is. Here's mines.
National flower: the thistle.
National pastime: nostalgia.
National weather: smirr, haar, drizzle, snow.
National bird: the crow, the corbie, le corbeau, moi!
How me? Eh? Eh? Eh? Voice like a choked laugh. Ragbag o' a burd in ma black duds, a' angles and elbows and broken oxter feathers, black beady een in ma executioner's hood. No braw, but Ah think Ah ha'e a sort of black glamour.
Do I no put ye in mind of a skating minister, or, on the other fit, the parish priest, the dirty beast?
My nest's a rickle o' sticks.
I live on lamb's eyes and road accidents.
Oh, see, after the battle, after the battle, man, it's a pure feast – ma eyes are ower big even for my belly, in lean years o' peace, my belly thinks my throat's been cut.

(Laughing, LA CORBIE cracks whip for THE ENTRANCE OF THE ANIMALS. In a strange circus our characters, gorgeous or pathetic, parade: MARY, ELIZABETH, HEPBURN, DANCER/RICCIO, KNOX, DARNLEY all dirty and down on his luck. They circle, snarling, smiling, posing. And halt. Drumbeat ceases. With both Queens by the hand, parading them)

Once upon a time there were twa queens on the wan green island, and the wan green island was split inty twa kingdoms ...

ALT

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original

26d

Allan Ramsay (1684–1758) – poet, playwright, founder of modern #Scots writing, & with a fair claim to be the father of Romanticism – was born #OTD, 15 October. A 🎂 🧵 …

1/6

🖼️ Allan Ramsay, 1684–1758, by William Aikman – Scottish National Portrait Gallery

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/3526

#Scottish #literature #18thcentury #romanticism #Scots #Scotslanguage #poetry #drama #theatre #theatrehistory