Originally produced by Untitled Projects in 2006, Slope explores the love affair between the 19th century poets, Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud, and its impact on Verlaine’s young wife Mathilde. The verbal sparring is scabrous and hilarious, and the relationships as passionate and claustrophobic as they are cruel and ridiculous. Read more …
2014 sees Scotland in the final stages of ratifying the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. At a time when gay relationships are sanctioned by the state – and are often as bourgeois as their straight counterparts – it’s interesting to look back at a time when the stigma of gay lives ran counter to the prevailing power of middle-class value systems.
Not for the faint-hearted, Slope is a breathless two hour window into the ecstasy and agony of a forbidden relationship. Fearless and unmissable.
Laing and Carter’s experiments in multimedia theatre are always interesting and, more often than not, successful. This restaging of Slope – complete with a wonderfully sneering, punk performance from James Edwyn as the reckless 17-year-old Rimbaud – is another highly original, smartly wrought achievement.
There are moments of innovation and unique ideas in the performance, however these are surpassed by the nature of the piece itself. The main themes are of extreme importance to today and the company explore the stigma attached to homosexual rights in a thought-provoking way. However, almost too much is explored … sometimes less is more.
Interview: Slope creators Stewart Laing and Pamela Carter discuss 2014 revival
Pamela Carter--Slope
Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday November 12, 2014, until Saturday November 22, 2014. More info: www.citz.co.uk
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from Wednesday November 26, 2014, until Saturday November 29, 2014. More info: www.traverse.co.uk