A Spark of interest as Dame Muriel comes to the Fringe

Published on Sunday 7 June 2009 22:07

SHE is widely considered to be one of Scotland's greatest-ever novelists.

Now one of Dame Muriel Spark's books is to take centre stage at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – after the writer gave permission for its first stage adaptation, shortly before her death.

The biggest Fringe promoter, the Assembly Rooms, will host the world premiere of The Girls of Slender Means, the Edinburgh author's book about a group of young women taking refuge in bomb-damaged London in 1945.

Assembly has also revealed that it will stage a major production of Dame Muriel's most celebrated book, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, about a 1930s Edinburgh teacher and her proteges.

The two shows, billed by Assembly as major productions marking Dame Muriel's Fringe "Homecoming", are expected to be highlights of the Fringe programme, which is unveiled on Wednesday.

Muriel Romanes, artistic director of Stellar Quines, the Edinburgh-based theatre company staging The Girls of Slender Means, said: "I wanted to revisit other Muriel Spark works to see if it was possible to recreate on stage the same theatrical and nostalgic impact of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in a way that would thrill audiences with the unexpected."

"The Girls of Slender Means seemed to fit perfectly."

In a letter to Judith Adams, who has adapted the book for the stage, Dame Muriel, who died in 2006, described the script as a "very impressive work, technically ambitious and original".

"I can only send my very sincere good wishes for its success," she added.

This year's Fringe also includes a musical based on real-life testimonies of children "left behind" in the Malawi orphanage favoured by pop icon Madonna; a play inspired by Beachy Head, Britain's most notorious suicide spot; and a show charting the story of Belfast's infamous Maze prison and its role at the heart of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

A former roadie of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, Tappy Wright, will star in an Assembly Rooms show claiming that the rock icon was murdered. And a musical at the Pleasance is inspired by the Stonewall riots by gay rights activists in New York in 1969.

The Traverse Theatre's programme includes stand-up Daniel Kitson's new show, The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church, and Orphans, a major new play by Dennis Kelly, the writer behind Osama the Hero and After the End.

New comedy highlights include the UK debut of US stand-up star Greg Behrendt, writer of the film He's Just Not That Into You and a scriptwriter on Sex in the City.

Venues combine to launch 5 offer for more than 70 shows

AMONG the leading comics appearing at this year's Fringe include Never Mind The Buzzcocks star Simon Amstell, who is appearing at the Bongo Club, Jimmy Carr, who is staging a run of major shows at the EICC, Clive James, who is in Gilded Balloon's programme and Andy Hamilton, the veteran TV star, who created Drop the Dead Donkey.

Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, who is appearing at the Playhouse, will be one of the biggest musical stars of the Fringe, while the music and dance troupe Creole Choir of Cuba are tipped to be one of the stars of The World venue, which is returning for a second year at St George's West Church.

Other musical highlights include Bert Jansch, Eric Bogle, Barb Jungr, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Peatbog Faeries, Salsa Celtica, Capercaillie, Blazin' Fiddles, The Hot Seats, Michael Marra and Old Blind Dogs.

This year's Fringe programme is expected to see its greatest number of free shows as promoters and venues battle to lure in audiences.

A brand new venture, the Five Pound Fringe, which will see more than 70 shows with tickets priced at just 5, has been backed by major venues like the Assembly Rooms, Pleasance and Gilded Balloon.

Acts include Mark Watson, Trevor Lock, Robin Ince, and Holly Burn, who will be staging her show in her Edinburgh flat. The Underbelly will cut prices on Mondays and Tuesdays.