CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TRAVERSE THEATRE, EDINBURGH/LES SUBSISTANCES, LYON
CONTEMPORARY PLAYWRIGHTS EXCHANGE PROJECT – AUTUMN 2004

traverse

The Entente Cordiale Centenary has seen the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh – Scotland’s new writing theatre, and Les Subsistances in Lyon – a creation centre for the performing and visual arts -collaborating for the first time on a contemporary playwrights exchange project. This innovative project has brought together young playwrights from both countries to work together, on dynamic new translations of French and Scottish contemporary plays, creating opportunities for residencies in both countries, while generating debate and discussion around contemporary theatre. This new partnership between two major performing arts institutions aims to celebrate the best new stage writing from France and Scotland, and encourage further partnerships between French and Scottish artists and institutions. The project is intended to lay the foundations for longer-term collaborations between the Traverse Theatre and Les Subsistances, such as the presentation of full-scale productions, residencies and workshops for writers, actors, directors and companies.

Since its beginnings in 1963, the Traverse Theatre has had a long history of staging the best international new writing alongside writing from the UK. The partnership with Les Subsistances builds on the international collaborations that the Traverse Theatre has developed over the last four years with artists and companies in Quebec, Portugal, Sweden and Germany. In particular, it links in with the international commissioning scheme, Playwrights in Partnership, which aims to achieve exciting translations of contemporary texts, capturing the writer’s original spirit, flair and style and living language. 

Under its new director, Guy Walter, Les Subsistances’ artistic policy focuses on experimentation, creative research and development of the artform. The project with the Traverse Theatre forms part of its aim to create national and international networks and partnerships, with like-minded organisations, artists and companies. With research and preparation for the contemporary playwrights exchange project having begun early in 2004, it will culminate in a public programme of play readings, presentations and seminars during the autumn.

SAN DIEGO by David Greig and MR PLACEBO by Isabel Wright will receive readings in new translations in Lyon on Mon 18th October. SAN DIEGO will take place at 4pm at L'Institution des Chartreux, and MR PLACEBO will be at La Villa Gillet at 6.30pm. Raphaele Fillon (raphaele.fillon@les-subs.com) at Les Subsistances will be able to give you directions to both venues if you are able to come along. Readings of new translations of LES EFFRACTEURS by José Pliya and UN HOMME EN FAILLITE by David Lescot will then take place here at the Traverse in Edinburgh on Weds 27th and Thurs 28th October respectively at 7.30pm.

We are also hosting another event at the Traverse to celebrate the Entente Cordiale. In association with AFAA and L'Institut Française d'Edimbourg, we present an evening celebrating the work of French playwright and novelist, Laurent Gaudé. Esteemed French actor, Robin Renucci joins leading Scottish actor, Jimmy Chisholm for an evening of readings and short excerpts from Laurent's play Combats de Possédés. This is happening on Saturday 23rd October at 7.30pm.

CONTACTS

Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge Street
Edinburgh
EH1 2ED
Tel: +44 (0)131 228 3223
www.traverse.co.uk

Les Subsistances
8 bis, quai Saint-Vincent
69001
Lyon
Tel : +33 (0) 4 78 39 10 02
Fax : +33 (0) 4 78 30 46 35
info@les-subs.com
www.les-subs.com