By TheatreVillage 
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The illustrious Dundee Rep and the Scottish Dance Theatre are set to grace the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe once again this August. Their resounding return will feature three unrivaled productions as they take part in the esteemed 2024 Made in Scotland Showcase. While both Dundee Rep Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre have had the honour of showcasing their work in previous years, 2024 marks a momentous occasion as they both participate in the same year.
Following the success of last year’s TravFest smash hit No Love Songs (which soon transfers to London at Southwark Playhouse from 05 to 15 June), Dundee Rep Theatre returns in co-production with the Traverse with the World Premiere of A History of Paper, a new musical by Oliver Emanuel and Gareth Williams, directed by Dundee Rep’s Artistic Director Andrew Panton.
Initially created as a highly acclaimed audio production for BBC Radio 4, this magnificent new musical recounts the tale of a mundane yet remarkable romance through the minute fragments of paper that shape a lifetime; the postcard she slips through his mailbox, his folded paper rose in penance, and the missive that alters their world and fate irrevocably.
Emma Mullen (Mamma Mia! – West End, Sunshine on Leith – Leeds Playhouse, Shetland- BBC) and Christopher Jordan-Marshall (9 to 5 The Musical – West End, Mamma Mia! – West End) will star in the production.
A History of Paper will preview at Dundee Rep Theatre from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 July before its World Premiere on the Traverse 2 stage from Thursday 1 to Sunday 25 August. The production will then return to Dundee from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 Aug.
Scottish Dance Theatre will return to the Fringe with its first full-company programme since 2019. The company will present a dynamic double-bill of physically driven productions: The Flock & Moving Cloud, created by two of the most exciting female choreographers on the European dance scene: Sofia Nappi and Roser López Espinosa.
First performed at Celtic Connections in 2023, where it earned rave reviews, Moving Cloud offers a unique fusion of contemporary dance and traditional Scottish folk music, highlighting both the company’s local roots and its outward looking profile. The work features a score composed by Glasgow-based band TRIP and Celtic Connections’ Artistic Director Donald Shaw. Roser López Espinosa’s The Flock draws on the fascinating patterns found in the migration of birds. As dancers create murmurations that unfold across the stage, an imaginary world of birds and humankind unravels, full of light and vitality.
The double-bill programme takes to the stage at Dundee Rep Theatre this month, and head to the Fringe in August with a run of performances at Zoo Southside from Tues 13 to Sun 25 Aug. Folk band TRIP will join the dancers onstage for three special performances on 24 May and 16-17 August.
Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep and Director of A History of Paper, said: “I’m honoured to be directing this celebration of Olly Emanuel’s work. He and Gareth have created a beautiful piece of new music theatre that tells the story of two people, two countries and how a moment of chance can change our lives forever. I’m thrilled that we’re bringing this world premiere to TravFest24, building on Dundee Rep and the Traverse’s ongoing festival collaboration, and that it will also be recognised as part of the Made in Scotland programme for this year.”
Joan Clevillé, Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre said “Scottish Dance Theatre has a long tradition of performing at the Fringe, and after the hiatus of the pandemic, we are thrilled to return with the full company to Edinburgh with this dynamic and physically driven double bill. The programme speaks to the company’s and Scotland’s identity as rooted in a rich cultural tradition that is also open to international dialogue and innovation. I am immensely proud that the works have been selected for this year’s Made in Scotland Showcase”.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
A HISTORY OF PAPER
Dundee Rep Theatre (Previews) Thu 27 – Sat 29 July
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
Thu 1 – Sun 25 Aug
Dundee Rep Theatre Thu 29 – Sat 31 Aug
Cast
Emma Mullen
Christopher Jordan-Marshall
Creative Team
Written by Oliver Emanuel & Gareth Williams
Directed by Andrew Panton
Dramaturg Lu Kemp
Musical Director Gavin Whitworth
Set Designer Leila Kalbassi
Costume Designer Cate Mackie
Lighting Designer Emma Jones
THE FLOCK & MOVING CLOUD
Zoo Southside
Zoo Programme Launch Event – Mon 1 Aug
Tues 13 – Sun 25 Aug (Preview 13 Aug)
Performed by Alethia Antonia, Molly Danter, Ben McEwen, Massimo Monticelli, Kassichana Okene-Jameson, Luigi Nardone, Paulina Porwollik, Kai Tomioka, Pauline Torzuoli
Creative Team – The Flock
Choreographer Roser López Espinosa
Original Music Illia Mayer, Mark Drillich
Lighting Design Jou Serra
Lighting Collaboration Katinka Marac
Costume Design Lluna Albert
Choreographic Assistant Nora Baylach
Creative Team – Moving Cloud
Choreographer Sofia Nappi
Composition Donald Shaw & TRIP
Costume Designer Alison Brown
Lighting Design Gary Ebdy
Choreographic Assistant Glenda Gheller
Live Music (6-17 August) TRIP
