Our award-winning professional Scottish company has been bringing innovative drama to the Edinburgh Festival and beyond since 1981.

 

Its focus was initially on the Scots tongue, with the play list including The Burning, The Wallace, The Shepherd Beguiled, The Bruce, The Lass Wi’ The Muckle Mou, The Death of Arthur and the famous The Puddok an the Princess. The Thrie Sisters and Macbeth were also “rendered intae Scots”.

 

More recently, however, Shakespeare has been left as originally written in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and The Tempest, and audiences have enjoyed other English classics such as St Joan and A Man for All Seasons.

 

The gardens of Duddingston Kirk Manse have provided the picturesque backdrop to our performances, and indeed were described by The Scotsman as “probably the most beautiful venue in Edinburgh”.

 

Chekhov is one of director Charles Nowosielski’s literary heroes, and last year the company performed an adaptation (by Scots playwright Jo Clifford) of The Seagull. With a real loch shimmering behind the “stage”, seldom can an audience have sensed the play’s ever-present but non-speaking character more strongly.

It is hardly surprising, therefore, that Chekhov is the focus of our 2011 ambitious Fringe programme:
From 2 to 6 August, five lunchtime performances of The Good Doctor, Neil Simon’s series of tragicomedic vignettes based on a number of the short stories that first brought Chekhov to prominence;
From 9 to 13 and 16 to 20 August, two one-act plays - The Bear and Smoking is Bad For You - for the late afternoon; and
From 10 to 14, 17 to 21 and 24 to 28 August, Chekhov’s famous last play, The Cherry Orchard, once again adapted by Jo Clifford and with original music. The production will last two hours with one interval.The Russian theme continues with the children’s show that, thanks to the writing and directing talent of Clunie Mackenzie, is now as essential a part of the summer programme as the evening plays. Baba Yaga is coming to get you – each and every day between 1 and 14 August!
Live music has always featured in Alba’s productions. More often than not composed by Richard Cherns, sometime keyboard player with Runrig, haunting melodies capture the intensity of many a dramatic moment.

 

For more information contact Charles Nowosielski on 07940 498311, email chanalba@hotmail.co.uk   or visit www.theatrealba.com <http://www.theatrealba.com>
For tickets, contact the Fringe Box Office on 0131 226 0000. Admission to all plays is also available at the door – Duddingston Kirk Manse Gardens, Old Church Lane, Duddingston Village (Venue 121).
 
David Ellis
Treasurer/Administrator
M - 07777 626634
E - david@colinblaikie.co.uk