Traverse Theatre Announces Autumn 2015 Season, to Close with TRACKS OF THE WINTER BEAR

As the Traverse Theatre enjoys an acclaimed Festival programme it launches its Autumn season today (17 August), featuring a programme of world-class productions, festivals and engagement events. Traverse Theatre Company production, Tracks of the Winter Bear by Rona Munro and Stephen Greenhorn, premieres on 9 December, bringing to a close a season of work that reinforces the Traverse's position as one of the UK's foremost new writing theatres.

Now heralded internationally, Rona Munro (Iron, The James Plays, The Last Witch) and Stephen Greenhorn (Passing Places, Sunshine on Leith) are both alumni of the Traverse, having enjoyed early success at the theatre. The double bill Tracks of the Winter Bear, offering a seasonal tale of lovers, loners and carnivores, is directed by Traverse Artistic Director Orla O'Loughlin and Traverse Associate Director Zinnie Harris, and features an ensemble cast and evocative musical score (9 - 24 December).

Tales on a range of themes are explored, exploded and shared over a beverage and a pie in the Autumn season of A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór at the Traverse (29 September - 31 October). The lunchtime theatre series offers five plays across five weeks, with works by Nalina Chetty, Adam Peck, Cathy Forde, Linda Duncan McLaughlin and James Runcie.

Since the Traverse's foundation in 1963, it has been a hothouse for new talent, nurturing new and emerging artists. This Autumn, there are a number of events which particularly demonstrate this continuing commitment:

In September, aspiring playwrights, directors and actors are invited to work with the Traverse's Artistic Team and Associate Artists to explore the processes of playwriting and directing new work in a series of Traverse Masterclasses, including workshops with Orla O'Loughlin, Zinnie Harris, Tim Price and Stef Smith (19 - 24 September).

In November, the Traverse welcomes the first ever Chrysalis festival. Produced by Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, Chrysalis showcases original, provocative work by the next generation of theatremakers. Across two days, the festival presents work from 20 Stories High, Citizens Theatre Young Co., Contact Youth Company and Junction 25/Tramway (6 - 7 November).

The Traverse's commitment to new talent is further demonstrated in Traverse Hothouse - four selected companies are invited to share their newest creations in various stages of development. Theatre companies or artists interested in participating should contact the Traverse by 7 September (10 - 13 November).

Alongside emergent theatremakers, the Traverse continues to present work by some of today's most influential theatre companies, artists, dance companies, writers and musicians.

From September to November, David Greig and Sarah Beattie-Smith present a monthly fix of Two Minute Manifesto. In this deceptively short time span, guests pitch their idea for change in Scotland and lay the fate of their manifesto at the feet of the audience. From compulsory naked sea swimming to a ban of Scottish football, all ideas are welcome, explored, rejected or accepted in this theatre of ideas, which also features poetry, music and storytelling. Taking place on 10 September, 1 October and 17 November at 7pm these gatherings will provoke and entertain in equal measure.

Pioneers of Performance, a one-day festival on 12 September, sees an explosion of dance and thought-provoking, lively and fun performance. We Are The Monsters by Collette Sadler, Chalk About by Curious Seed, Douglas by Robbie Synge and Face On by Anna Krzystek will run over eight hours on 12 September.

Based on the novel of the same name by Ágota Kristóf, The Notebook examines the lives of twin brothers evacuated to their grandmother's farm during World War II. Conceived and devised by Forced Entertainment, this piece examines the union of two voices in one narrative and studies the brothers coming to terms with their impoverished surroundings (17 - 19 September).

Frida Kahlo is one of the 20th century's most iconoclastic and identifiable artists. In Falling in Love With Frida, Caroline Bowditch intuits, explores and inhabits Kahlo's life in this reclaiming of a disabled artist. Affinities and parallels are drawn, and the tale of 'the great concealer' is skilfully revealed through powerful yet fragile bodies (18 - 19 September).

The initial assumptions of the media in the aftermath of a child's disappearance can often colour a story in a very different light from that of truth. So it was in 2006 when Gaby disappeared from her home in Scotland, and it emerged that 'Gaby/Ghazala' had not been kidnapped by her Pakistani father but seemed rather to have turned her back on the West. Tamasha presents Sudha Bhuchar's gripping My Name Is... (24 - 26 September).

Ensemble is a new script from playwright Peter Arnott which is brought to life in a free (ticketed) rehearsed reading by Rebecca Elise, Paul Cunningham and George Docherty on 24 September.

What Goes Around by Liz Lochhead, presented by Cumbernauld Theatre, is a contemporary sex-comedy. It's the first day of rehearsals of La Ronde, the one-hundred-year-old classic, and two actors meet for the first time - modern mores and manners are laid bare through the seven characters played by the two actors on stage (25 - 26 September).

On 6 October, Jeanette Winterson launches her new book The Gap of Time, which marks next year's 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, with an evening discussing what Shakespeare means to her. The following day (7 October), Luminate Poetry Slam comes to the Traverse Bar Café. Part of Luminate, Scotland's creative ageing festival; the Slam is presented by Rally & Broad, Scotland's cabaret of music, words and lyrical delight.

Early October sees a welcome return to the Traverse by Cora Bissett who directs In Her Shadows, written and performed by Debbie Robbins and Rachel Macintyre. A visual performance, featuring aerial and physical theatre, projections and haunting music, In Her Shadows explores a young woman's relationship with the complexity of her depression whilst challenging the stigmas that surround it (8 October).

Curioso Residency is a new playwrights' residency and exchange between Scotland and Brazil. A partnership between Playwrights' Studio Scotland, the Traverse Theatre, A Play, A Pie and A Pint and the National Theatre of Scotland, the October event features readings from Brazil and Scotland.

The poet Siegfried Sassoon was admitted to Craiglockhart War Hospital in 1917 and there forged a friendship with the shell-shocked Wilfred Owen, who was making his first tentative steps as a poet. Stephen McDonald's moving play Not About Heroes (9 - 10 October), examines the friendship that helped unlock Owen's genius in the year before his death on the battlefield.

Actors Touring Company, whose The Events was a hit at the 2013 Traverse Festival, and the Unicorn Theatre Company bring Martyr to the Traverse stage. Through the story of schoolboy Benjamin, it examines the clash of fundamentalism and tolerance, as playwright Marius von Mayenburg asks us how far we should go in accommodating another's faith and when we should stand in defence of our own beliefs (15 - 17 October).

Iconic site-specific theatre company Grid Iron revives one of its best-loved shows, The Devil's Larder based on the novel by Jim Crace. Taking place at the Customs House in Leith, this narrative weaves a sinuous and treacherous path through narrative episode, story-telling, live music and song (20 - 24 October).

Thingummy Bob is Linda McLean's exploration of the loss of memory, of difficulty engaging with the world and all its attendant concerns. Bob has lost something important. The daughter of an old friend will have to move quickly to help him before he forgets even her. Presented by the award-winning Lung Ha Theatre Company in association with Luminate (30 - 31 October).

Hector by David Gooderson runs 11 - 12 November and is based on the true story of a crofter's son who became a knight of the realm and Queen Victoria's favourite general. The journey from humble beginnings to a life lived at court then utterly destroyed by allegations of scandalous liaisons is wonderfully wrought in this thought-provoking piece, a co-production by Eden Court, Comar and Ed Littlewood Productions (11 - 12 November).

Stellar Quines presents its 26th Rehearsal Room in November, presenting new scripts and writers to a live audience for the first time. Creative teams will work on plays by Lynda Radley, Molly Innes and Pauline Lockhart throughout the day and the rehearsal room will be thrown open to audiences in the evening (13 - 14 November).

A celebration of dance that connects Scotland and the Nordic nations, Norddance Festival is curated and programmed by Dance Base and runs at the Traverse from 20 - 21 November. The very best in street, contemporary urban and hip-hop from the most exciting dance artists from Scotland, Sweden and Norway. A full programme explores modern and ancient themes through the mesmerising manipulation and use of the human form (20 - 21 November).

What's the magic word? Shona Reppe knows and once again weaves her spell on Traverse audiences with Magic Sho. While harming no rabbits she saws one in half, levitates him under a silk handkerchief, puts him in a velvet bag and smashes him to smithereens before magically making him whole again. A brand new show for 5 - 8 year olds from Scotland's iconic theatremaker for children (19 - 21 November).

Staying in the world of childish wonder, the Traverse welcomes the return of award-winning children's theatre company Catherine Wheels with White by Andy Manley. This beautiful piece presents a world of birdsong and birdhouses full of strangeness and rich in whimsy. Loved by audiences all over the world, this piece is the perfect introduction to theatre for young children (12 - 24 December).

Soundhouse continues its Monday night residency in the Traverse Café Bar throughout Autumn, with Old Blind Dogs getting things underway on 7 September and performances by artists including Chris Wood, The Bevvy Sisters, Kosmos Ensemble and Tim Kliphuis Trio. For more details visit www.traverse.co.uk or www.soundhouse.or.uk.

Across the Autumn season, the Traverse continues to engage with audiences and artists alike. The Traverse Engagement programme offers a mix of projects, workshops, events and resources led by professional theatre-makers with the aim of enhancing the artistic programme for all audiences. These include Traverse Young Writers; Scribble; Words, Words, Words; Playgroup and a programme of post-show discussions.

Booking for all shows on www.traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404.

The Traverse is Scotland's foremost theatre company dedicated to new writing. Founded by a group of passionate arts enthusiasts seeking to extend the spirit of the Festival throughout the year, the Traverse Theatre Club opened in a former brothel in Edinburgh's Lawnmarket in 1963. Now, a half century on, the Traverse is an established part of Scotland's arts infrastructure, yet retains that essence of innovation and excitement. It remains committed to the original spirit of its founders, and to presenting audiences with a good story, well told. Under Artistic Director Orla O'Loughlin it continues to produce vibrant theatre for, and of, our time, further building its reputation with award-winning productions such as The Artist Man and the Mother Woman, Quiz Show, Ciara and Spoiling.

Internationally acclaimed as a powerhouse of new writing, the Traverse has launched the careers of some of Scotland's most celebrated writers - John Byrne, David Greig, Gregory Burke, David Harrower, Liz Lochhead and Zinnie Harris. Many of today's finest actors have appeared on its stages, including Tilda Swinton, Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Bill Nighy and Alan Cumming.

The Traverse's impact is truly international: it frequently tours overseas, engages in artistic exchanges and partnerships - most recently in Québec, Turkey and South Korea - and, every August, it holds an iconic status as the theatrical heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Traverse Festival 2014 programme overall took 16 awards. It is also the home of the manipulate Visual Theatre Festival, the Imaginate Festival and the Traverse's own New Writing and Dance Festivals.

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