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Somersaults

Part of NTS's Reveal season

Cambridge graduate James (Tony Kearney) has it all: wealth, a beautiful wife Alison (Frances Grey), a swanky London flat. But when the creditors move in and his wife moves out, James suddenly finds he’s left with nothing. Nothing but words, and even they are starting to slip away. James’ father Sandy (Angus Peter Campbell) is dying – his last connection to his childhood, his upbringing and the language of his birth, Gaelic. With this link gone, James fears he will simply cease to exist. Read more …

Am I sad that my language is dying?
Yes I am
I feel the edges of the light move in and wonder if one day there will only be me, or someone like me, carrying words for the world which no-one else knows.

Forced to confront his past and the conflict of identity within him, James explores the importance of language and how it defines who we are. Questions of identity, belonging and a sense of self are universal, no matter what language you speak.

The production originated following discussion between writer Iain Finlay Macleod and Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, on the decline of the Gaelic language. Iain was then given a Writers Attachment with the Company in 2009 and was subsequently awarded a play-writing commission which sees this presentation of Somersaults as a platform performance during Reveal.

More information on this production is available at www.nationaltheatrescotland.com.

The critical consensus

It nevertheless looks more complete and appears to have had more resources lavished on it than most small-scale touring shows can muster.

***(*)(*)Neil Cooper, The Herald, 15/03/2011

As a play that promises to explore the grief of losing a dying language, the plot is a little too inwardly-focussed on James and his situation rather than relating particularly to the audience.

***(*)(*)Alexandra, TV Bomb, 13/03/2011

Somersaults seems more like a series of sketches for a play about these issues than the play itself.

***(*)(*)Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman, 18/03/2011

This poignant and playful drama.

****(*)Mark Fisher, The Guardian, 22/03/2011

Overall, this is a good production which gracefully alters perspectives on such a politicised, personal issue.

***(*)(*)Caroline Bottger, The Journal, 04/05/2011

Where and when?

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from Thursday March 10, 2011, until Saturday March 19, 2011. More info: www.traverse.co.uk

Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday March 23, 2011, until Saturday March 26, 2011. More info: www.citz.co.uk

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