Contemporary Drama
Al Seed Productions and Vanishing Point in partnership with Beacon Arts Centre and Tramway
A statue stands upon a plinth – a lightning rod for collective memory. Shocked into life, the statue descends into the war zone which surrounds it. Tormented by images of conflict, the statue battles to comprehend the world into which it has been thrust. As awareness grows, a monstrous transformation ensues.
Abstract, unearthly, and powerfully visceral, Plinth is a poetic exploration of statues as artefacts of war, particularly with reference to the contentious archetype of the ‘hero’. The images within the performance are inspired by the myth of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur; perhaps the ultimate tale of ‘hero’ vs. ‘other’.
Plinth is the latest in a series of performances Al Seed has created around the theme of conflict and the politics of its remembrance, the last of these being Oog which won the Total Theatre Award for Best Visual / Physical Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – In telling this story, or evoking these images, Seed deploys an extraordinary range of wordless movement and performance… At every moment, though, this wordless journey through human ways and history, and through our deep relationship with the animal in ourselves, is delivered with a precision, artistry, and intensity that is often breathtaking.
THE SCOTSMAN
Written and Performed by Al Seed
Dramaturg Niloo-Far Khan
Production Management Niall Black
Costume & Prop Design Zephyr Liddell
Lighting Design and Show Operation Alberto Santos Bellido
Set Design Kai Fischer
Sound Design Guy Veale
Stage Management Zephyr Liddell
Costume Maker Emily Smit-Dicks
Prop Painter Jen Kilgour
Metalwork Technician Emma Hyslop
Produced by Al Seed Productions and Vanishing Point
ASP is very grateful for the producing support provided by Claricia Parinussa during development, and for consultancy from Charlene Boyd, Judith Milligan and Hilary Westlake.
Supported by Creative Scotland.
Access: accessible for non-English speaking and D/deaf audience members.
Recommended for ages 14+ (features implied violence)
Running time – 50mins (no interval)
