2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
True crime tale of Glasgow poisoning turned into city play
Written by Tom Cooper and Jen McGregor, the musical is inspired by the scandalous tale of 19th century femme fatale Madeleine Smith, who was accused of poisoning her lover but given a rare Not Proven verdict. The truth as to what happened is still questioned to this day.
Also this season at the West End venue, award-winning poet and playwright Kevin P Gilday makes his PPP debut with Gravity, a drama about a man who refuses to vacate his flat in a condemned Glasgow high-rise, and the unconventional social worker determined to help him before tragedy unfolds.
Brian James O'Sullivan (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan)
Katy Nixon, writer of the David MacLennan Award-winning Jellyfish, returns with new drama Cheapo about two teenagers who play chess in their local KFC, while a fading starlet holding onto the hope of playing the role of a lifetime is the subject of Maybe Tomorrow by PPP favourite Brian James O'Sullivan and performer Hannah Jarrett-Scott in her playwriting debut.
The season also includes two spooky productions - Righ Isagair: The Fisher King, a folk thriller from writer and performer Kenny Boyle, about two best friends who discover they are not alone on the dark Outer Hebridean moors; and Hauns Aff Ma Haunted Bin! by Éimi Quinn, about an auntie and niece attempting to hide a murder.
Éimi Quinn (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan)
The autumn line-up, which runs from September 1 to November 22, also includes a contemporary hip hop musical exploring the legend of William Wallace.
Co-produced with Raw Material, Wallace is an exciting collaboration between playwright Rob Drummond and acclaimed rapper-songwriter Dave Hook, that explores Wallace's contested place on the spectrum between myth and history.
Brian Logan (Image: Calum O'Brien)
Brian Logan, PPP's artistic director, said: 'The nights may be drawing in but the lunchtimes will be brighter than ever at Òran Mór this autumn, with a scintillating line-up of pastry-assisted theatre.
'As usual at PPP, this season balances broad comedy with big-hitting drama, rookies with well-loved talents, shows about the past with shows thrillingly about the here and now.
'We couldn't be more excited to kick off with Wallace, the hip hop musical they're already calling (well, I am…) Scotland's Hamilton.
'Throw in some spine-chilling Gaelic folklore, a cracking Glasgow drama in a doomed high-rise, and a generational set-to between TikTok and the stage, and you've got twelve weeks of brand new theatre that you really wouldn't want to miss.'
Tickets are on sale now for all performances.
