Welcome to our new site!

 


We are delighted to welcome you to our brand, spanking new website, designed by the mighty Paul Galbraith at Edinburgh’s 16K Design Works.  

Many of you will be aware of 16K’s work already.  In the past they have designed publicity images for us for Decky 2010, Bingo!, South Bend, The Brunch Club and most notably Fierce, when, as well as designing the publicity image and gorgeous comic-book programme, they also delivered the graffiti art that was so central to the whole production.

It has been a mammoth undertaking for Paul, given the fact that the site holds information on every production we’ve created over the past 25 years, so we are very grateful to him for all his incredible hard work and also for the beautiful site he has designed for us.  You’ll find more of 16K’s amazing work on their website 16kdesign.com.  We can’t recommend them highly enough.

Please take a good look around the site and, if you spot any typos or snags, please let us know (be gentle)!



Update on Doppler


As those of you who follow us on social media or who are on our mailing list will know, unfortunately we were unable to manage any live performances of Doppler at the end of August after all. 

We came tantalisingly close so, as you can imagine it was a great disappointment but, thanks to the tireless enthusiasm and dedication of our fantastic production team and cast, we changed tack (and venue) and headed down to the beautiful community woodland in Gifford to capture what we could of the show on film. We say ‘what we could’ as our arrival in Gifford coincided with the arrival of Storm Francis, which somewhat changed our plans once more!

You can read more about that on the Current Production page but we just want to let you know that we are currently in the middle of editing the Gifford footage as well as interviews with the cast, production team members and some exciting guest interviewees.  Once again, Covid-19 means that things are taking a little longer than they would ordinarily, but we will let you know here and via social media and our mailing list, how you will be able to watch the final piece once it is ready.

Supporters

Doppler

 
From the novel by Erlend Loe, translated by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw.
Adapted and directed by Ben Harrison.
End of August 2020.

 


We are cautiously excited to announce our hope to bring a new show to Edinburgh audiences in August.

If we are able to proceed, live outdoor performances will take place from 24th August at the earliest with exact dates and times and our venue still to be confirmed. While we can’t give you these details we are very happy to tell you a little bit about the production.

Doppler is based on the satirical novel of the same name by well-known Norwegian author Erlend Loe, in an English translation by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw. It tells the story of a man who, following the death of his father, eschews his consumer life-style and moves into the woods on the outskirts of Oslo. He adopts a baby elk and the play follows their adventures as Doppler attempts to live a life surrounded by nature, free from creature comforts, and where bartering, rather than cash, is king. His plans for isolation, however, are somewhat marred when his new existence attracts more attention that he would like.

Adapted and directed by Ben Harrison, the cast of Doppler are Keith Fleming (Barflies), Itxaso Moreno (Fermentation, Yarn, Once Upon a Dragon and Crude), Sean Hay (Huxley’s Lab and Jury Play) with live foley from composer David Pollock (South Bend). The design and production team are a combination of Grid Iron long-timers and new blood.

In order to be as prepared as we can, we started rehearsals via Zoom on the 6th July, moving to an outdoor location for physically distanced rehearsals on the 20th July. We’d like to assure you that we have been strictly following all safety measures and that the show has been re-conceived and designed to ensure that our team and our audiences will be safe in these difficult times.

We also, though, acknowledge that the situation is developing fast and that, as the 24th August is only an indicative date given by the Scottish Government for the resumption of live outdoor performances, our plans may be subject to change.

We will post more information here as soon as we have it but, in the meantime, we will keep working to bring Doppler to you towards the end of August.

Until then, please stay safe.

 


Image: Fergus Dunnet

 

Supporters

Lead by Design Bursaries

 
Presented in collaboration with The Envelope Room

 



Lead by Design
 is a 1 week intensive creative bursary available for theatre designers from all visual disciplines (set, costume, lighting and video).

We have a unique opportunity for designers!  We are offering 3 bursaries for designers to spend an intensive week developing an idea they have for a design led, site inspired piece of work.

Designers rarely get to lead the process, this is an opportunity for you to take and idea you have and use our bursary of £2000 to develop your idea into a seed. This intensive week is for you if:

  • You are interested in creating design led work.
  • Have a passion for creating work in non theatre spaces.
  • Are willing to commit to a full intensive week of developing your idea.

As the creative lead you will be given a budget and mentoring support.  Selected creatives will begin the work together in a short workshop and reconnect at the end of the week where we will share a snippet of what we have developed and support each other to consider the next steps.

Who is this for? 
This intensive week is for designers who have an idea they wish to develop as the lead artist.

Application process:
Please ensure you read the information below before applying. You must be available on the dates specified.

  • Please answer the following questions and email your application to [email protected]
  • Please tell us briefly about yourself and experience as a professional practitioner. (200 words max or alternatively submit a CV).
  • Please give an outline of the idea you would like to develop? (400-500 words max).
  • Do you have a space in mind for your project?
  • If you wish you can include up to 3 images, which represent your project (please submit them as jpegs and be mindful of the size!).
  • What excites you about this opportunity? (200 words approx).

Your final submission should be no more than 2 A4 pages.

Deadline for applications: Midnight on Sunday 15th March. Successful applicants will be informed by Friday 20th March.

 



Workshop dates:

April 20th – afternoon
Monday 4th May – 8th May (more detail below)

 



Further information/Supporting Questions:

Do I have to have a certain number of years experience to apply?
We are not asking for a certain number of years experience.  All we ask is that you are able to provide proof that you are working or have worked as a designer for performance.

 

Supporters

A visitor to the office!

Our Patron and graphic designer, Emma Quinn called in to see us.

Our graphic designer, Emma Quinn, has designed almost every poster, flyer and programme that Grid Iron have produced since our first show in 1996.  She is such a major part of our work and success that we asked her to become a Patron of the company several years ago.

We invited Emma and her colleague Andy down to see our newly decorated office but most importantly to see what we now call ‘Wall of Quinn’ – twenty five years of production in poster form.  That’s A LOT of proofing!

emmaquinndesign.co.uk

Strange Tales

 
World Premiere: A Grid Iron & Traverse Theatre Company Co-Production

Adapted from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling by Pauline Lockhart with Ben Harrison

 


When wind and snow fill the sky and the fire has grown cold, relight the coals, warm the wine and turn up the wick of the lamp. We enter these tales in the shadows of night, but hopefully emerge into daylight.


“Strange Tales offers us a vital glimpse of a different way of thinking about the relationship between the living and the dead… real balm for the soul”
★★★★
The Scotsman

“a dazzling thumb-through of a story-book to savour.”
★★★★
The Herald

“a wintry feast of the uncanny”
★★★★
The Guardian

“There’s a delightful playfulness to this production… the action is cleverly enhanced by puppetry, video and choreographed movement. The sound effects are spectacular, and there’s a little bit of magic or illusion too, with a couple of vanishing acts that genuinely bewilder me. How did they…? Huh?”
★★★★
Bouquets & Brickbats

 



Written in China centuries ago, Pu Songling’s Strange Tales are now adapted for the stage by the acclaimed immersive theatre company Grid Iron in co-production with the Traverse Theatre.

Filled with intrigue, mysticism, magic, sensuality, and a dash of terror, Strange Tales will draw you into a world full of mischievous fox spirits, yearning ghosts and enchanted swords where anything and everything is possible.

But be warned – unless you come to these tales with an open mind and brave heart, you may never be able to escape them…

This thrilling immersive production uses puppetry, movement and cutting edge digital technology to thrust you right into the pages of the tales themselves. Adapted by Pauline Lockhart and Ben Harrison from a selection of Pu Songling’s original tales, Strange Tales will wrap itself around you and make you shiver in delight and fright on Edinburgh’s dark winter nights.

 



Dates:
Sat 30 Nov – Sat 21 Dec

Venue: Traverse 1

Tickets and more information from: traverse.co.uk

 

Supporters


Supported by Creative Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Strange Tales is brought to you in partnership with the Confucius Institute for Scotland. Part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Chinese Classics Translation Project, funded by Arts Council England.

Development process supported by Puppet Animation Scotland’s Creative Fund.



The Brunch Club heads to Ayr

 
Following an award-winning run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Brunch Club is coming to the cafe of the Ayr Campus, University of the West of Scotland from the 2nd to the 4th September 2019.

Written & directed by Ben Harrison
Devised with The Network Ensemble

A co-production between Grid Iron, Scottish Drama Training Network & Pleasance Theatre Trust



Here’s all you need to know about the show:

Rebel, Geek, Emo, which were you? Or Popular, even if you didn’t want to be?

Scotland’s brightest new talents, The Network, take on the cliques in a homage to classic coming-of age movies. Eight young people gather in a university student union cafe where they form alliances, fall in and out of love, and learn from the friction and energy created between one clique and another.

With a sound-track that will take you right back to the tears and triumphs of finding your place in the world, The Brunch Club challenges expectations and exposes the limitations of judging a book by its cover.

Site-specific masters and seven times Fringe First winning Grid Iron, in co-production with SDTN and Pleasance Futures transform Levels cafe bar during Fringe 2019 before transferring to University of the West of Scotland Ayr for performances as part of their Fresher’s Week activities.

With a cast, design and stage management team drawn from recent theatre graduates from all over Scotland, The Brunch Club is a fanfare from the last years of adolescence and an exploration of the continuing need to categorise ourselves in a increasingly complicated world.



Dates:
Mon 2nd – Wed 4th Sept 2019

Time: 6.30pm (70 mins)

Venue: Ayr Campus, University of the West of Scotland, University Avenue, Ayr KA8 0SX

Tickets: £6.00

Available from: Eventbrite.co.uk / The Brunch Club

 

Please note:


Capacity is limited so prior booking is recommended.

Access Information:


The venue is fully accessible but, if you have access needs, please contact us in advance so we can be prepared for your arrival. Contact Jude on 07855 841 545 or [email protected] with ACCESS AYR in the subject line.

 

Supporters




Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe Bright Spark Winner!

 
Here’s all the information you need to see the show but you’ll need to be fast, we’ve only for a few shows left and they are selling out quick!

Written & directed by Ben Harrison
Devised with The Network Ensemble

A co-production between Grid Iron, Scottish Drama Training Network & Pleasance Theatre Trust



Rebel, Geek, Emo, which were you? Or Popular, even if you didn’t want to be?

Scotland’s brightest new talents, The Network, take on the cliques in a homage to classic coming-of age movies. Eight young people gather in a university student union cafe where they form alliances, fall in and out of love, and learn from the friction and energy created between one clique and another.

With a sound-track that will take you right back to the tears and triumphs of finding your place in the world, The Brunch Club challenges expectations and exposes the limitations of judging a book by its cover.

Site-specific masters and seven times Fringe First winning Grid Iron, in co-production with SDTN and Pleasance Futures transform Levels cafe bar during Fringe 2019 before transferring to University of the West of Scotland Ayr for performances as part of their Fresher’s Week activities.

With a cast, design and stage management team drawn from recent theatre graduates from all over Scotland, The Brunch Club is a fanfare from the last years of adolescence and an exploration of the continuing need to categorise ourselves in a increasingly complicated world.



Dates:
2 – 24 Aug (not Tues)

Time: 8.15pm (60 mins)

Venue: Venue 175: Pleasance Pop-Up: Levels
Levels Cafe and Lounge, 9c Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8FQ

Tickets: pleasance.co.uk (0131 556 6550) / edfringe.com (0131 226 0000)

Access booking: 0131 226 0002

Text Phone: +44 (0) 7860 018 299

 

Supporters




Access performances of The Brunch Club: Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019

We are delighted to be having FIVE access performances as part of our run at this year’s Fringe. There will be BSL performances on 9 & 21 Aug, an Audio Described performance on 22 Aug, and Captioned performances 19 & 23 Aug. Please help spread the word!

Written & directed by Ben Harrison
Devised with The Network Ensemble

A co-production between Grid Iron, Scottish Drama Training Network & Pleasance Theatre Trust


There will be BSL performances on 9 & 21 Aug, an Audio Described performance on 22 Aug, and Captioned performances 19 & 23 Aug.

Have a look at our BSL interpreted and captioned trailer or listen to our audio flyer and please do spread the word to any of your pals who might be interested in these performances.


Rebel, Geek, Emo, which were you? Or Popular, even if you didn’t want to be?

Scotland’s brightest new talents, The Network, take on the cliques in a homage to classic coming-of age movies. Eight young people gather in a university student union cafe where they form alliances, fall in and out of love, and learn from the friction and energy created between one clique and another.

With a sound-track that will take you right back to the tears and triumphs of finding your place in the world, The Brunch Club challenges expectations and exposes the limitations of judging a book by its cover.

Site-specific masters and seven times Fringe First winning Grid Iron, in co-production with SDTN and Pleasance Futures transform Levels cafe bar during Fringe 2019 before transferring to University of the West of Scotland Ayr for performances as part of their Fresher’s Week activities.

With a cast, design and stage management team drawn from recent theatre graduates from all over Scotland, The Brunch Club is a fanfare from the last years of adolescence and an exploration of the continuing need to categorise ourselves in a increasingly complicated world.



Dates:
2 – 24 Aug (not Tues)

Time: 8.15pm (60 mins)

Venue: Venue 175: Pleasance Pop-Up: Levels
Levels Cafe and Lounge, 9c Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8FQ

Tickets: pleasance.co.uk (0131 556 6550) / edfringe.com (0131 226 0000)

Access booking: 0131 226 0002

Text Phone: +44 (0) 7860 018 299

 

Supporters




Strange Tales

 
World Premiere: A Grid Iron & Traverse Theatre Company Co-Production

Adapted from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling by Pauline Lockhart with Ben Harrison

 


When wind and snow fill the sky and the fire has grown cold, relight the coals, warm the wine and turn up the wick of the lamp. We enter these tales in the shadows of night, but hopefully emerge into daylight.



Written in China centuries ago, Pu Songling’s Strange Tales are now adapted for the stage by the acclaimed immersive theatre company Grid Iron in co-production with the Traverse Theatre.

Filled with intrigue, mysticism, magic, sensuality, and a dash of terror, Strange Tales will draw you into a world full of mischievous fox spirits, yearning ghosts and enchanted swords where anything and everything is possible.

But be warned – unless you come to these tales with an open mind and brave heart, you may never be able to escape them…

This thrilling immersive production uses puppetry, movement and cutting edge digital technology to thrust you right into the pages of the tales themselves. Adapted by Pauline Lockhart and Ben Harrison from a selection of Pu Songling’s original tales, Strange Tales will wrap itself around you and make you shiver in delight and fright on Edinburgh’s dark winter nights.

 



Dates:
Sat 30 Nov – Sat 21 Dec

Venue: Traverse 1

Tickets and more information from: traverse.co.uk

 

Supporters


Supported by Creative Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Strange Tales is brought to you in partnership with the Confucius Institute for Scotland. Part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Chinese Classics Translation Project, funded by Arts Council England.

Development process supported by Puppet Animation Scotland’s Creative Fund.