Two National Theatres Play London in the Spring

The new National Theatre of Scotland, which produced its first production in February 2006, will be heading in to England for the staging of two of its productions in London - Anthony Neilson's The Wonderful World Of Dissocia and Pol Heyvaert's Aalst (a new version by Duncan McLean). This means that there will be a total of two National Theatre companies playing London in Spring 2007, with England's own National Theatre already well-established on the South Bank.

The Wonderful World Of Dissocia will play the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 28th March through to 21st April. This production will see the original cast and crew reunited for the first revival since its 2004 Edinburgh Festival premiere. According to notes, "The plot follows Lisa Jones on a colourful and bizarre journey to find a lost hour that has tipped the balance of her life. The trip takes her to Dissocia, a place inhabited by funny, friendly and brutal people." Anthony Neilson, the writer, will direct and there will be designs from Miriam Beuther, lighting by Chahine Yavroyan and sound from Nick Powell. The cast is to include James Cunningham, Christine Entwisle, Alan Francis, Amanda Hadingue, Jack James, Clair Little, Matthew Pidgeon and Barnaby Power.

Aalst will play the Soho Theatre from 17th April through to 28th April. Aalst is based on true events that took place in the Belgian town of Aalst in 1999, where two parents, Jeroen Perceval and Lies Pauwels, murdered their children. The original Belgian production in 2005 used statements, interviews, television footage of the trial and a documentary on the investigation to create the dramatisation of events. This new production was adapted by novelist Duncan McLean, but is directed by original creator Pol Heyvaert. The small cast will include Kate Dickie, David McKay and Gary Lewis.

The National Theatre of Scotland, or NTS, according to their website, "...is Scotland's first ever National Theatre working with the best Scottish actors, directors and theatre companies, we will produce unmissable nights out. Because Scotland has the talent and the audience to have a world-class National Theatre."

In October 2006, the Arts Council of Wales made renewed calls to the Welsh Assembly Government to fund an English-language Welsh National Theatre. A Welsh-language National Theatre already exists, but the Arts Council wants a touring English-language company to be created. If the latest appeals are successful, all of the countries comprising Great Britain will have their own English-language National Theatres.

For more information on The National Theatre of Scotland, visit www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

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