TRAINSPOTTING Leads Citizens Theatre's Autumn Season

Today the Citizens Theatre announces its Autumn 2016 Season, featuring a major new Main Stage production of Harry Gibson's adaptation of Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh's controversial depiction of the drug culture of 1980s Edinburgh, directed by Citizens Theatre's Main Stage Director in Residence Gareth Nicholls; a large-scale community production written by Johnny McKnight based on the famous Glasgow urban myth of 'The Gorbals Vampire'; smash-hit musical Glasgow Girls' return to the Citizens Theatre following a fresh run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; riotous comedy of manners The Rivals directed by Dominic Hill in a co-production with Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman &Playhouse; Dundee Rep's hugely successful 2015 production of John McGrath's The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil; and a new festive production for all the family of Hansel and Gretel directed by Dominic Hill.

Announcing the new season, Artistic Director Dominic Hill commented: "Irvine Welsh's raw, uncompromising work still packs a punch today and all of the buzz surrounding Danny Boyle's long-anticipated sequel to the film adaptation is testament to its continued relevance. It's also rooted in the history of our theatre with the first stage adaptation performed in our Circle Studio 22 years ago, just two years after the book was published. Now seems to be the perfect time to revisit it. Gareth Nicholls' thoughtful and considered productions of Into That Darkness, Vanya and Blackbird have resonated with Citz audiences and I'm looking forward to seeing his take on this infamous work.

"Looking ahead to my production of The Rivals I want to capture that wonderful theatrical exuberance that was synonymous with Citizens Theatre Company shows in the past and this witty comedy will be a really entertaining night out for audiences. We are opening at Bristol Old Vic as part of their 250th anniversary programme and touring to Liverpool Everyman before arriving in Glasgow, taking the name of the Citizens to all parts of the UK and building on important partnerships with co-producers.

"In October, our Citizens Learning team will be staging a major new community production on our main stage inspired by the local legend of The Gorbals Vampire. With a busy programme of workshops and events for school children and the public complementing the performance project, it reflects on the unique social heritage of our local area and the people that make it such a vibrant community, which is immensely important to us here at the Citizens. Rounding off the season, I will be directing Stuart Paterson's Hansel and Gretel. A firm family favourite, it offers a traditional storytelling experience with a few twists to offer a festive alternative to pantomime for Glasgow families this Christmas."

Judith Kilvington, Executive Director, added: "Dominic has once again programmed a season which is both bold and exciting and which we believe will reach out to the widest of audiences. Our Autumn season offers a vibrant mix of productions that celebrate our city and heritage. Alongside our own productions, we welcome the return of Glasgow Girls from Pachamama, National Theatre of Scotland, Theatre Royal Stratford East and Regular Music and seminal Scottish work The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil from Dundee Rep. Our co-productions with Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse build on vital relationships that allow us to make ambitious new work of scale that can also tour to other parts of the UK. We are delighted to be part of Bristol Old Vic's 250th anniversary programme. As they enter the final phase of a building redevelopment we continue to plan and fundraise for the beginning of our own, having recently been granted planning permission for the bold new vision for our home in the Gorbals."

GLASGOW GIRLS (30 AUG - 3 SEP)
A Pachamama, National Theatre of Scotland, Regular Music and Theatre Royal Stratford East production in association with Richard Jordan Productions and Citizens Theatre

Kicking off the autumn season is the uplifting musical Glasgow Girls by Cora Bissett and David Greig. Following two previous sell-out runs at the Citizens, the hit musical play returns to the Gorbals. Glasgow Girls will be presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before its run at the Citizens Theatre.

The life-affirming, song-filled Scottish drama is based on the true story of seven feisty teenagers whose lives change forever when their school friend and her asylum-seeking family are forcibly taken from their home to be deported. The young women are galvanised to take a stand and fight for the life of their friend and, ultimately, for the rights of all children of asylum-seekers. The real Glasgow Girls' story became one of the most powerful asylum campaigns in recent history - challenging the government, capturing the imagination of the media and inspiring a whole community to unite behind its residents.

TRAINSPOTTING (14 SEP - 8 OCT)

A Citizens Theatre Production

Main Stage Director in Residence, Gareth Nicholls will direct Harry Gibson's adaptation of Irvine Welsh's iconic work, Trainspotting. As part of Nicholls' two-year residency, he has directed highly acclaimed productions including Into That Darkness in 2015 and Blackbirdearlier this year.

Welsh's novel quickly amassed a cult following for its unflinchingly raw yet darkly comic and humane view of the lives and relationships of five addicts, shining a light on the heroin subculture scene of Thatcher-era Leith.

Trainspotting was first performed in the Citizens Theatre's Circle Studio 22 years ago, just two years after the novel was originally released. This autumn it will be revived for a major new production on Citizens Theatre's Main Stage. The production coincides with the current filming of the long-anticipated sequel to Danny Boyle's globally successful film adaptation of Welsh's work.

THE CHEVIOT, THE STAG AND THE BLACK, BLACK OIL (18 - 22 OCT)

A Dundee Rep production

Dundee Rep's 5-star, sell out-production of John McGrath's politically charged work, The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oildirected by Joe Douglas plays at the Citizens Theatre for one week only this Octoberas part of its Scottish tour.

The landmark piece of 20th-century drama changed Scottish theatre when 7:84 first toured the play around Scotland and at the Citizens Theatre over 40 years ago. Exploring Scotland'shistory through Highland ceilidh, song, humour and drama, the work is a unique theatrical event that remains as vital and relevant today as it was when it was first presented.

THE GORBALS VAMPIRE (28 - 29 OCT)

A Citizens Theatre Production

The Citizens Theatre will stage a large-scale community performance inspired by the local legend of the Gorbals Vampire. The project involves participants from local schools, community groups and families working alongside professional artists and members of Citizens long-term outreach projects to create a series of workshops, exhibitions and sharings looking at various aspects of this legendary and influential tale. The project will culminate in a large-scale outdoor performance written by Johnny McKnight and led by a community cast

The remarkable true life story centres on a series of events which took place at Glasgow's Southern Necropolis in 1954. Hundreds of children armed themselves and descended on the graveyard to hunt down and kill the 'Man with the Iron Teeth' who they believed had abducted and eaten two local boys. This entirely fictitious story had started as a playground rumour but rapidly spread across the city leading to widespread moral panic about the dangerous influence of American horror comics. A cast of non-professionals brought together by Citizens Learning will recreate the events that took place that night.

THE RIVALS (1 - 19 NOV)

A Citizens Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Production

Artistic Director Dominic Hill will direct eighteenth-century riotous comedy of manners The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in a co-production between Citizens Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.

The Rivals offers a glimpse into the high society of eighteenth-century Bath bubbling with scandal, wit and intrigue. A whirlwind plot full of deception and conspiracy, partly inspired by Sheridan's own life, finds full articulation under the direction of Dominic Hill.

The production opens at Bristol Old Vic before touring to Liverpool and then Glasgow.

HANSEL & GRETEL (6 DEC 2016 - 7 JAN 2017)

A Citizens Theatre Production

Dominic Hill directs Stuart Paterson's version of the classic fairytale, Hansel & Gretel drawing the autumn season to a festive close.

Abandoned by their parents in a deep scary wood with no way of finding their way home, Hansel and Gretel stumble upon an extraordinary house made from gingerbread. Tired and hungry the unsuspecting siblings are lured into the house by a sinister witch who plots to devour them. Working together Hansel and Gretel must use their combined wits to foil the witch's evil plan and find their way home.

Retaining all the suspense and splendour of the original tale combined with a modern sprinkling of theatrical magic, Hansel & Gretel offers a festive treat for all the family to enjoy in the intimate surroundings of the Citizens' auditorium. Directed by Dominic Hill, whose five-star production of A Christmas Carol captivated audiences in 2014. The Citizens will be presenting its first relaxed performance at this production, welcoming those with additional needs including those on the autism spectrum condition or with a learning disability to enjoy its Christmas show.

Tickets for all the above shows are available now through citz.co.uk and Box Office 0141 429 0022

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