So here we are half way through the year already and how many of those New Year’s resolutions have lasted this long? That many? Well done you. However there’s only one resolution that counts and that’s to go and see as much theatre in and around the Glasgow area as possible and if you’re still keeping up with that one then we’re here to help you.

The Tron, as per usual, is full to bursting with theatrical treats and this month they’re giving an opportunity to the students of RSAMD with What I Meant To Say an evening of short plays from some of America’s finest playwrights alongside Chris Thorpe’s tale of homecoming, Touched. Glasgow based Poorboy Lab open the doors on their latest work-in-progress and NL Studios bring a celebration of stories with Oak Tree Tales.

Two faces familiar to TV viewers, Barbara Rafferty and Sean Scanlan, appear in writer Daniel Boyle’s Larry, Clark and the Puppet Handy – a story of faded stars and broken relationships.

To celebrate Refugee Week, the Tron has a season of pieces including Some Words for Home – a touching tale based upon interviews with the Jewish refugees who came to Scotland to flee the Nazis.

Also part of Refugee Week is Articulate’s Vox Asylum: like Some Words for Home it’s based around interviews, this time with Scotland’s present day migrants. The theme of the ‘The New Scots’ is also taken up by Ignite Theatre Co in True Colours – a comedy looking at the conflict between society and background.

Barrowland Ballet are heavily involved in the week with A Conversation With Carmel; and with Maryhill & Central West Integration Networks, Clan Macondo and Albscott they’re producing a double bill of dance, music and poetry: Here I Am and Colours of Life.

Over at the Arches there’s a production of Pulitzer Prize nominee Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone – a surreal and sharp 21st Century Alice in Wonderland look at our tech-dependent culture; whilst Physical Theatre Scotland presents Entre Nous – a literal leap into a parallel reality.

Finishing off the month in fine style is something for the kids with Belle Jones using masks, puppetry, songs and poetry to bring to life the tortoises, hares, grasshoppers of Aesop’s Fables.

A little bit of Yorkshire Gothic starts the month at the Citizens with Bronte from Shared Experience and Watermill Theatre where the sisters are haunted by their characters whilst their brother descends into madness and alcoholism. And talking of madness, The National Theatre of Scotland brings the production of Dunsinane, already a hit in Edinburgh, to Glasgow.

The theatre’s own community company Fair Friday take a nostalgic and wry look at the traditions of the Glasgow Fair holiday with stories and songs, as students of the Dance School of Scotland bring the Broadway hit musical Once On This Island.

Squeezed in between the musical highlights at the newly refurbished Cottier Theatre, Goldfish Theatre Co present Des Dillon’s classic two-hander on sectarianism I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim

Eastwood Park continue to show just what a community venue should be all about, starting with their own youth theatre Harlequin shying away from familiar musical fayre and taking on the world of Bar Mitzvahs with Tony award winning Jason Robert Green’s 13. East Renfrewshire Youth Theatre give their younger members a chance to shine with the workshopped show Playtime.

Youth is also on the agenda at the Tramway with Glas(s) Theatre, a company that works with everyday people to tell their own stories, presenting Generation which lets four 18 year olds take stock of their lives and question what the future might hold in these tough times.

Apart from the god that is Dodd (Ken that is) and the flipside of the comedy coin Dylan Moran, the Pavillion’s main offering this month is a production of Elton John’s Billy Elliot The Musical.

Musicals dominate over at the King’s with the final few days of The Sound of Music being replaced by Evita and almost before the last note fades on that show up pops Marti Pellow with an all-singing, all-dancing take on Robert Louis Stephenson’s Jekyll and Hyde. But wait that’s not all: in addition there’s Tell Me on a Sunday and the quirky (and definitely adults only) puppet musical Avenue Q.

With Scottish Opera on hiatus their home venue the Theatre Royal opens its doors to a variety of shows including dance in the form of Dance Republic and The Dance School of Scotland with Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell and music with One Night In Vegas and Motown’s Greatest Hits. Comedy comes from the legend that is John Cleese and to end the month there’s something for the kids in the fuzzy shape of Shaun The Sheep.

Finally over at Strathclyde University’s Ramshorn there are two productions as part of their New Playwrights Initiative. Firstly Tom Brogan and Fraser Campbell’s mix of football friendship and buried secrets Cinderella Boys and Kenny Boyle and secondly Clare Sheppard’s No Time Has Passed In Hippoland – a tale of death, obligation and the ties that bind.

So as usual it’s – to quote The Two Ronnies – a packed programme and as diverse a choice on offer as you could want. So if you’ve been a regular attender then keep up the good work, and if not then what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy.

LISTINGS:

What I Meant To Say: Wed 2nd – Sat 4th June @ 19:30

Touched: Wed 2nd – 4th June @ 20:00

Poorboy Lab: Sun 12th June @ 19:00  

Oak Tree Tales: Sun 12th June @ 19:30

Larry, Clark & The Puppet Handy: Tues 14th – Sat 18th June @ 19:45

Some Words for Home: Tues 21st June @ 19:45

Vox Asylum: Fri 24th June @ 19:30

True Colours: Thurs 23rd June @ 14:00 & 19:45

A Conversation With Carmel: Wed 22nd June @ 19:45

Here I Am/Colours of Life: Sat 25th June @20:00

Dead Man’s Cell Phone: Wed 8th – Fri 11th June @ 19:00

Entre Nous: Wed 15th – Fri 17th June @ 19:00

Aesop’s Fables: Thurs 30th June – Sat 2nd July @ 12:30 & 15:00

Bronte: Wed 1st – Fri 3rd June @ 19:30 Sat 4th June @ 14:30 & 19:30

Dunsinane: Tues 7th – Fri 10th June @ 19:30 Sat 11th June @ 14:30 & 19:30

Fair Friday: Wed 8th – Sat 11th June @ 19:30

Once On This Island: Mon 20th – Thur 23rd June @ 19:30

I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim: Thur 9th June – Wed 29th @ 20:00

13: Wed 8th – Fri 10th June @ 19:30 Sat 11th @ 14:30 & 19:30

Playtime: Sat 18th June @ 14:00

Generation: Wed 15th – Sat 18th June @ 19:30

Ken Dodd: Sat 4th – Sun 5th June @ 19:00

Dylan Moran: Sat 18th – Sun 19th June 19:30

Billy Elliot The Musical: Wed 8th – Fri 10th June @ 19:30 Sat 11th @ 14:00 & 19:30

Sound of Music: Fri 3rd @ 19:30 Sat 4th @ 14:30 & 19:30

Evita: Mon 6th – Sat 11th @ 19:30 Wed 8th & Sat 11th @ 14:30 Sat

Jekyll & Hyde: Mon 13th – Fri 17th June Sat 18th @ 14:30 & 19:30

Tell Me On A Sunday: Tues 21st – Fri 24th June @ 19:30 Sat 25th @ 14:30 & 19:30

Avenue Q: Tues 28th – Thur 30th & Sat 2nd July @ 19:30 Fri 1st @ 14:30 & 20:30 Wed 29th @ 14:30 Sat 2nd @ 16:00

Dance Republic: Sun 12th June @ 19:00

Dance School of Scotland: Fri 17th & Sat 18th @ 13:30 & 19:30

Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell: Fri 3rd & Sat 4th @ 19:30 Sat 4th @ 14:30

One Night In Vegas: Mon 27th June @ 19:30

Motown’s Greatest Hits: Wed 29th June @ 19:30

John Cleese: Mon 6th June @ 19:30

Shaun The Sheep: Thur 30th June @ 19:00 Fri 1st July @ 11:00, 14:00 & 17:00.  Sat 13:00, 16:00 & 19:00. Sun 11:00, 14:00 & 17:00

Cinderella Boys: Wed 15th – Sat 18th June @ 19:30

No Time Has Passed In Hippoland: Wed 22nd – Sat 25th @ 19:30