Two powerful plays written hundreds of years apart share the same issues. Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters are forced to face their demons when truths of moral corruption, family secrets, domestic tragedy and shameful acts are brought to light
NEXT month, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is delighted to present Hamlet and Festen at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre in two powerful adult dramas from Thu 5 Jun – Sat 7 Jun.
Adapted for stage by David Eldridge from the hit Dogme film, Festen is a compelling and disturbing exploration of middle-class life and how quickly important family events fall apart and how hard it can be to get it all back again.
Says a spokesperson: “The play begins with Helge’s 60th birthday and this party is one that the family will never forget. The underlying devastation of the suicide of his daughter explodes when her twin brother raises a toast to their father. As the party descends into chaos, what follows is the family reaction to the father’s actions making Festen the ideal companion play to Shakespeare’s tale of family feuds and failures, Hamlet.
“In Hamlet, Denmark is in a state of unrest. The King is dead and his brother has taken the throne and married his widow. Ghosts, graveyards, pirates, politicians and domestic tragedy bring longing and loss and the failure of each generation to live up to the past.”
Featuring students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Drama degree programme, vice-principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Festen director, Maggie Kinloch, has said:
“Festen and Hamlet will once again showcase the raw and emerging talent of our Drama students. Exploring themes of moral corruption and the power of ‘truth’ in two contrasting plays, this is an opportunity to witness the visceral force of two masterly written works in one of Scotland’s leading producing theatres.”
Festen
Thu 5 Jun / 7.45pm
Fri 6 – Sat 7 Jun / 2.30pm + 7.45pm
£10 (£7.50)
Tron Changing House
Directed by Maggie Kinloch and John Kazek
Set and costume designed by Cara Roxburgh
Hamlet
Thu 5 Jun / 7.30pm
Fri 6 – Sat 7 Jun / 2.45pm + 7.30pm
£12 (£7)
Tron Main House
Directed by Hugh Hogart and Katya Kamotskaia
Set and costume designed by Gabriella Tsonkova
Tickets: Book via the Tron Box Office. Call 0141 552 4267, or book online www.tron.co.uk.
Ends
Editor’s Notes
For more information and to arrange individual interviews and photographs, contact RCS Press Office at Katie.Bell@rcs.ac.uk, direct line 0141 270 8387.
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Contact: Katie Bell
Phone: 01412708387
Email: k.bell@rcs.ac.uk
Website: http://www.rcs.ac.uk
