Subway
A dystopian musical adventure.
The future. Scruggs wakes up one day in a world he doesn’t recognise. It’s the same world, but different. Maybe he just begins to notice things more. For a start there are boys downstairs with strange exotic music. There’s his non-existent relationship with his father and an uncanny accumulation of cars parked on the pavements and there’s the phantom menace terrorising the wealthy commuters who drive to town from out of town. The neighbourhood is changing but not for the better. Today Scruggs decides he will no longer be the victim and begins a journey to reconcile himself with his father, righting the wrongs along the way.
Travelling through a futuristic landscape, Subway is a dark and comical dystopian musical adventure about small acts of rebellion and where they might lead. Part storytelling, part gig, part theatre, the main character, Scruggs tells his story in monologue form. In the present tense, his day begins to unfold, physically evoking the world around him from his bedroom to the streets of the city. Meanwhile the on-stage musicians and performers weave music and text to create characters as well as sound, tune and atmosphere.
A major international collaboration between Vanishing Point and an extraordinary Kosovan Band, Subway is a dystopian musical adventure; it is is a journey through a landscape a few years from now, a show about small acts of rebellion and where they might lead.
Press
“★★★★★ In director Matthew Lenton’s hands the drama is electric enough, but by setting its bleakly funny wanderings to a magnificent live soundtrack by a seven-piece Kosovan band whose keening mix of heart-breaking string-led laments and frenetic chase… are woven into the action, the results are jaw-dropping… A world-class piece of artistry and craft. Every tin-pot councillor and empire-building numpty squatting in Holyrood should be dragged along to see this show. As should everyone else.”
“★★★★ Blissfully funny and well-observed. Matthew Lenton brings his usual barrage of theatrical brilliance to the telling of the tale… a brilliant central performance from Sandy Grierson… Subway has barrowloads of style, haunting futuristic imagery and a fine anarchic spirit; if it fails to continue Vanishing Point’s huge success in making theatre to attract younger audiences, then my name’s Irvine Welsh.”
“★★★★★ Here and there, now and then, absolute joy can be found on the fringe. It is rare, to be savoured and treasured, carefully wrapped up in the mind… Subway is one such gem… almost impossible to describe but also impossible to forget”
“A fast-paced, imaginatively conceived slice of modern urban angst… a seven-piece Kosovan band who deliver a quite breathtaking musical commentary on the action… not to be missed.”
“★★★★ This smart and stylish production from Vanishing Point…uses its seven piece band to splendid effect in producing a driving and intriguing narrative… Grierson’s bewildered narrator is outstanding. His movement, as technically precise as it is smartly observed, is a wonder of itself”
Credits
A Vanishing Point and Tron Theatre co-producition, commissioned by the Lyric Hammersmith and supported by NTS Workshop.
Directed by Matthew Lenton
Set, Lighting & Costume Designer Kai Fischer
Musical Director Alasdair Macrae
Text by The company
Dramaturg Nicola McCartney
Performers
Sandy Grierson and Rosalind Sydney
Musicians
Mohamed Al-Khazali, Ferdi Fanaj, Festim Fanaj, Adorel Haxhia, Flamur Lokaj, Artan Rexhepi and Astrit Stafai.
Production Manager Fraser Thompson-Noble
Sound Engineer Matthew Padden
Marketing & PR Manager Elaine McChesney
Creative Associate Sandy Grierson
Photography by Tim Morozzo
Publicity Material by Greenlight Creative
Performance history
14 - 26 August, 2007
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (Fringe Festival)
03 September, 2007
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
04 - 08 September, 2007
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
13 - 27 September, 2007
Lyric Hammersmith, London
