Media Release: The missing casting announcement

NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND

PRESENTS

THE MISSING

Adapted by Andrew O’Hagan from his book The Missing

Directed by John Tiffany

MISSING

A video installation by contemporary artist Graham Fagen

THIS autumn sees an unique partnership between the National Theatre of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery who are working together to produce The Missing a new stage production and an exhibition, entitled Missing.

Working together for the first time, and in association with Tramway, the two organisations have commissioned two world premieres.

On stage in Tramway 1 will be Andrew O’Hagan’s adaptation of his own book The Missing directed by John Tiffany, while the gallery space in Tramway 5 plays host to Missing, a new video installation by contemporary artist Graham Fagen.

Following the premiere, Graham Fagen’s work will be shown at the refurbished Scottish National Portrait Gallery when it reopens in November.

Both installation and performance will delve into the world of the missing.

Either piece of work can be experienced on its own, but they have been specially programmed to complement and interact with each other, giving audiences the opportunity to engage with powerful stories through multiple art forms.

In John Tiffany’s production of The Missing a young Scottish journalist finds himself standing outside 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, feeling that the media circus engulfing this now notorious address has overlooked the most important story.

Who were these murdered women and why were most of them never reported missing?

Compelled and troubled by this experience, he begins a pilgrimage that takes him from the south of England back to the bygone Glasgow of the late 1960s and from there out to Irvine and the haunting disappearance of a young boy in his childhood.

The new towns promised so much to so many. A fresh start and a different life away from the darkness and danger of the old city, all tied up with a red ribbon round bath taps that had never before been used.

Reuniting director John Tiffany (Black Watch) with author, Andrew O’Hagan (Be Near Me) The Missing, is a series of gripping encounters that retraces and reanimates the final journeys of sons, daughters, sisters and childhood friends; the missing.

Cast includes Brigit Forsyth, Joe McFadden, Brian Pettifer and Barbara Rafferty.

CAST

Brigit Forsyth has worked extensively in theatre and television. Most recently, she was on stage in

Carrie’s War, (Novel Theatre Ltd) and has also appeared in Calendar Girls. On television she has been in Midsomer Murders, Waterloo Road, Emmerdale, Casualty and The Bill.

Joe McFadden was most recently on television in Casualty and has also appeared in Heartbeat and Judge John Deed. He was last on stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Playhouse in Edinburgh.

Brian Pettifer has appeared in a number of stage productions including The Fairy Queen (Glyndebourne) and The Drawer Boy (Tron Theatre). Most recently, he was on television in Garrow’s Law on BBC1 and is also well known for his role in Rab C Nesbitt.

Barbara Rafferty
has worked extensively in theatre and television. She appeared in the feature film The Last King of Scotland and has appeared on stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mum’s the Word and Mother Goose (Kings Theatre).

Further cast to be announced

LISTINGS

The Missing (Production)

Venue: Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow, G41 2PE

Dates/times: 15 Sept – 1 Oct 2011 at 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee Sat 1 Oct)

Ticket prices: Previews:  £6, Evenings £16 / £12, Matinee £12/£10

Box office: 0845 330 3501 / www.tramway.org

Missing (Exhibition)

Venue: Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow, G41 2PE

Dates: Tue 13 Sept- Sun 2 Oct

Ticket prices: FREE

Post show talk – Tues 27th Sep at the Tramway, Glasgow with Director John Tiffany, writer Andrew O’Hagan and members of the cast.

Explore The Missing with the National Theatre of Scotland’s Learn Team

What does the word, ‘missing’, mean to you?

Beginning on Monday 29th August, groups and individuals have the opportunity to work over a three week period with drama, visual art and film specialists to creatively explore what the word, ‘missing’, means to them.

This exploration will culminate in an interactive installation that will be open to the public in Tramway 4 during the run of The Missing.

This free project is entirely flexible, so you or your group can commit as little, or as much time over the three week period as you wish.

For more information on how you or your group can get involved, please contact Gillian Gourlay, learning and outreach manager by email: gillian.gourlay@nationaltheatrescotland.com  or call 0141 227 9011

For further information contact:

Andrew Neilson, Press Officer

Tel: +44 (0) 141 227 9497 Mob: 07912 549 0139

E: andrew.neilson@nationaltheatrescotland.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government.  Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating over 137 productions in 125 different locations. With no building of its own, the company takes theatre all over Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations, airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and forests. The company has performed to almost 600,000 people, across three continents.

2. For box office information and updates, visit www.nationaltheatrescotland.com and / follow us on twitter.com/NTSonline; facebook.com National Theatre of Scotland and http://www.youtube.com/user/NTSonline

3. Bank of Scotland is a long-standing supporter of sports and the arts in Scotland.  Through their sponsorships they aim to support emerging talent across Scotland.  Bank of Scotland currently has partnerships with a wide range of Scottish sporting and cultural bodies including Imaginate, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Scottish Football Association and the Great Scottish Run.  As part of the Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland is a Proud Partner for Scotland for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their mission is to inspire and support young people, colleagues, communities and businesses across Scotland all the way to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond, through cultural and sporting activities.

4. We would like to make a request for your support: Corporate sponsorship of the National Theatre of Scotland is crucial to its future. As arts supporters yourselves we hope you will help us in maintaining this important portion of our income and healthy relationships with sponsors by mentioning them in your coverage. This makes a real difference to the National Theatre of Scotland. Mentions are counted and used as an evaluation of projects. Please credit our sponsors.

MEDIA RELEASE posted by the National Theatre of Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.

Contact: Andrew Neilson
Phone: 07912540139
Email: andrew.neilson@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Website: http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com