Michael Donnelly ~Sweet Silver Song of the Lark 

This is a play of one half but like all good games it flew like Dalglish down the wing. Three powerful performances take us on a journey through the “museum of childhood”.

We are searching for the source of football songs but find much more. We follow an emotional path via Hillsborough, Tommy Smith’s arse, Sindy dolls, The Park Bar to the heights of Istanbul.

The writing is pacey and direct – ‘like a permanent Hajj’ is a great simile. For an Evertonian, Michael’s diehard Red is impressive and at the end you are left with ‘hope in your heart’.

Bill Crawford ~ Secrets

Visited Oran Mor for the first time. Very impressed with both the play “Secrets” and the whole theatrical set up. To be able to sit next to the performers whilst drinking a pint was brilliant. Being so close, gave the feeling of being involved in the action. The last time I experienced this was on a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London. Although this was naturally on a smaller scale, the scenario was similar. The play was so well performed that the audience could feel part of the action and emphathise with the characters portrayed.

Òran Mór welcomes you to ‘A bit of a Dick Whittington’, our  third Summer Panto by Dave Anderson and David MacLennan.

Will Dick go to London and are the streets there paved with gold?  Will Dick travel the world to make his fortune, marry the InSultan’ of Taxhaven’s daughter and return filthy rich to unseat Boris, become the Mayor and live happily ever after?  Oh, yes he will!

Due to popular demand, we have added in some extra performances for you this year – please see below a full list of dates and timings (please note that days which have 2 performances, timings are different from our usual 1pm show).

Mon 8th July ~ Doors 12.30 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Tues 9th July ~ Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Wed 10th July ~ Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Thur 11th July - Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Fri 12th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Fri 12th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Sat 13th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Sat 13th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

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Mon 15th July ~ Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Tues 16th July ~ Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Wed 17th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Wed 17th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Thur 18th July - Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Fri 19th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Fri 19th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Sat 20th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Sat 20th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

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Mon 22nd July ~ Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Tues 23rd July ~ Doors 12 pm, show starts at 1 pm.

Wed 24th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Wed 24th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Thurs 25th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Thurs 25th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Fri 26th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Fri 26th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Sat 27th July - 1st show: Doors 11 am, show starts at 12 pm.

Sat 27th July - 2nd show: Doors 1.30 pm, show starts at 2 pm.

Here is Allan’s winning review:

If it wisnae fur nostalgia where would we be? Dave Anderson comes up with another little gem of a play which would appeal mainly to those in the audience of a particular age but still manages to have the youngsters in the audience, of which there were fortunately many, hooting with laughter. Well crafted songs and a few gentle west coast digs at religion and politics provided a fun packed hour, even allowing for the technical mishap that Dave and the excellent cast managed to seamlessly incorporate into the action. If you missed it you missed a treat!

Three world premieres by contemporary Chinese playwrights, specially commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland and Oran Mór in partnership with the National Theatre of China.

As cities grow at an astonishing rate and power shifts from one generation to the next, we take a glimpse into the lives of a handful of individuals whose stories paint a portrait of a society in flux.

Inspired by real events, both intimate and political, each play dramatises the tension between public and private lives, the gap between rich and poor, and the dangers of telling lies to ourselves and others.

Secrets
By Lin Weiran
Adapted by Rona Munro
Directed by Graeme Maley

Thieves and Boy
By Hao Jingfang
Adapted and directed by Davey Anderson

Fox Attack
by Xu Nuo
Adapted by Catherine Grosvenor
Directed by Amanda Gaughan

Here are the winning reviews:

Steven Smart ~ Margaret and Ken and the End of the World: A fire cracker of Armageddon proportions sees God visit her shrink suffering depression and having decided to end it “all”. What follows is a well written and executed dialogue of the good & the bad god has created, particularly enjoyed the reference to Gods liking of Albania “a country of unshaven gangsters sitting in the rain watching Norman Wisdom films” with a James Bond count down thriller ending this wee Jem is not to be missed. Wonderful performances from both actors left the audience wishing to remain for his next appointment, guess who?

Isobel McFarlane ~ Old Blood: The main area of terminal decline here is in the script…..vampires or not they is little here which would frighten an ailing script back to life. Serious surgery is given to the piece by Jemima Levick while Scotland’s superb acting duo of Barbara Rafferty and Sean Scanlan deliver excellent performances getting up and under the script and making a valiant attempt to ensure that we have deeper feelings for those with this horrendous illness. There concept in itself could have been moulded into a much tighter, more interesting and equally challenging piece. All involved did their very best but sorry new life still required

Check out the What’s On section of the website for more information.

Monday 10th – Saturday 15th June VOLPONE by Ben Jonson ~Adapted by Andy Clark

‘What a rare punishment is avarice to itself’

The old magnifico Volpone, wealthy and heirless, feigns illness and, with the help of his parasite Mosca, dupes three greedy sycophants to his house who lavish him with gifts, each hoping to become the beneficiary of his huge fortune. But as his scheming become more and more elaborate, Volpone’s web of deceit leads to a darkly comic chain of events appearing as farcical as it is shocking.

A merciless satire of greed and lust, Volpone is considered one of the finest Jacobean comedies and remains one of Jonson’s best-loved and frequently performed plays.

Monday 17th –  Saturday 22nd June THE CHANGELING by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley ~ Adapted by Alan McKendrick

One of the most linguistically elegant bloodbaths ever penned, The Changeling follows young Spanish noblewoman Beatrice-Joanna, who suffers the misfortune of first meeting the love of her life, Alsemero, mere days after having become betrothed to another.

Beatrice-Joanna’s subsequent wild recourse to dark tactics in pursuit of breaking this engagement – in the form of a heated, opportunistic alliance with aristocrat-turned-servant and general man of violence De Flores – are the meat and drink of this Jacobean film noir. Suffice to say that trouble, desire, sex and death ensue heavily.

Monday 24th – Saturday 29th June THE TAMING OF THE SHREW by William Shakespeare ~ Adapted by Sandy Nelson

Writer Sandy Nelson and Director Rosie Kellagher transpose Shakespeare’s sharpest comedy to the 1950s: a time of teddy boys and tea dresses, beat poets and Sunday best, when the sexes readied themselves for revolution and lines were drawn on both sides of the sexual revolution.  On the cusp of this time of change we find Petruchio and Katherina: the kind of couple who thrive on conflict.  Will Petruchio pull his punches or can he tame his shrew? “If I be waspish, best beware my sting…”

Monday 1st – Saturday 6th July THREE SISTERS by Anton Chekhov ~ Adapted by Vivien Adam  “Comedy or tragedy? Or absurdist theatre? Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” has divided critics and audiences ever since its first production.  In an absurdist setting, using Chekov’s original words, the sisters are still trapped 15 years later, but now in a waiting room surrounded by the ghosts and memories of characters who have brought them to this point. Remember Claire Knight, Julie Duncan and Joyce Falconer as River City’s  three sisters Roisin, Shona and Iona? Now they play Chekhov’s Olga, Masha and Irina  and the city they long for is Moscow. ”

Here is Jim’s review of In the Heart of Darby Park:

They say that “guid gear goes intae sma’ bulk”, don’t they? Well,”The Heart of Darby Park”, this week’s offering from a Play, a Pie and a Pint, certainly was proof of this. Suzie Miller’s beautifully written one hour play, cleverly and sparsely designed, well directed and superbly acted was a real gem. Stephanie McGregor’s character change, done without moving from her chair, was chillingly convincing and the plot twist, involving Lewis Howden and William Ruane was wonderfully portrayed. Sma’ bulk perhaps, but very, very guid gear! Theatre, and PPP in particular, at its best.

If you are coming along to see this weeks play, Old Blood, don’t forget to leave a review for the Critics’ Circle. Bottle of Malt Whisky up for grabs.