Focus on: Theatre Modo
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Theatre Modo is an award-winning Scottish-based company, that combines all the elements that make theatre a truly invigorating and exciting live artform.
As well as great texts, Theatre Modo applies a highly physical style that engages and includes its audience, a visually spectacular design flair and a fully integrated musical performance. |
Within the company policy are commitments to:
- explore new modes of presentation, breaking down the barriers between actor and spectator, and reaching out to new audiences.
- offer audiences the chance to see innovative and diverse theatre that addresses relevant issues with freshness and vitality.
- to establish a new, young and demanding audience for theatre through participatory work with youth and communities.
Theatre Modo was set up in 1995 to 'bring to life the magic of theatre'. Initially they produced mainly small-scale shows and tours. Their style was developed through touring Romeo and Juliet round festivals in France, in theatres, as outdoor shows and as street theatre. Following this it was toured round schools and theatres in Scotland as workshops as well as performances.
| They then presented a new version of The Last Supper of Doctor Faustus, which was accompanied by a four-course meal as Faustus shared with the audience his last supper and a cabaret retelling of his life. This was followed by several years of touring annually, gradually developing international contacts touring to Germany, Italy and France. |
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Theatre Modo took another big step and started to create its own community projects. This has lead to an ongoing relationship in Govan. To date they have been involved in three big projects, as well as Assipattle which brought together over 400 performers and 5000 audience members for a huge street extravaganza. As well as this they have been working on a number of smaller projects both in Scotland and abroad and hope to develop these further in the coming year.
Theatre Modo have created over 20 productions touring round Scotland and Europe. Recent productions include:
- Ubu (2004) - a reworking of Alfred Jarry's classic text, 'escaping the restrictions of realism and celebrating the live and diverse power of thatre at its most total and immediate'. A 'highly physical production, it combined grotesque clowning, atmospheric songs, and an eye opening visual narrative'. It opened to great success at the Arches Live! Festival in Glasgow, and is set to tour Scotland and Europe in Spring 2005 (see Theatre Modo's website for details).
- Dido (2002) toured Scotland, Italy and Germany between 2002 and 2004
- Etsi Ki Etsi premiered in Glasgow in 2000 and toured Italy in 2001
- Catanasia (1999) toured Scotland and France
- The Last Supper of Dr Faustus (1996) was winner of a Scotsman Fringe First and Guardian Critics' Choice
| Read about The Arches Theatre Festival 2005 in the Drama Project article |
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In addition, Theatre Modo were involved in community projects and productions such as:
- Govan Gathering Light (2003 and 2004)
- Assipattle (2003)
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Theatre Modo have been received well internationally as well as locally.
Ubu was described as an 'intelligent adaptation, performed with verve'. 'Perfect for our times' (Sunday Herald, 19 September 2004). |
'One of the shows of the year, Danziger’s heroic cast of three - led by a remarkable Robert Jack as Ubu - achieve exactly the right sense of savage, focused grotesquery. Top decibel savagery and satirical verbal brilliance guarantee theatrical success.' (The Scotsman, 15 September 2004)
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Etsi Ki Etsi
A highly original and unconventional journey through Greek mythology, using the highly atmospheric amphitheatre. By mixing and adapting music, tales, real and imaginary texts, the director and dramaturg Martin Danziger succeeds in investigating the eternal question of the difference between myth and truth... a very involving and exciting production transforms these ancient stories into something very modern, very dramatic and full of resonance for a contemporary audience.
Il Cittadino |
Catanasia was noted as 'A piece of astonishing quality which veritably astounded the audience, going as far as to draw tears of emotion' (Le Dauphine)
Theatre Modo's plans for 2005 include:
- A Spring/Summer tour of Ubu, visiting Scotland, Germany, Italy and France
- Utopia, a site-specific show for Andria, Italy
- Govan Gathering 2005
- A touring production of The Snow Queen as an interactive performance aimed at primary school children
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Looking further ahead, Theatre Modo are hopeful of a revival of Dido in Spring 2006. |