Tianjin People’s Art Theatre (China)
World Premiere
Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin People’s Art Theatre (China)
present
DRAGON
Written by Oliver Emanuel
Conceived by Jamie Harrison, Oliver Emanuel and Candice Edmunds
Directed by Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison, designed by Jamie Harrison, puppet design by Jamie
Harrison and Guy Bishop, music composed by Tim Phillips, lighting design by Simon Wilkinson, sound design by
Mark Melville and assistant director Guo Yan.
Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotland, and Tianjin People’s Art Theatre (China) present the world premiere
of Dragon - a spectacular piece of theatre without words for adults, teenagers and children, marking the first
co-production between the three companies. Two Chinese physical artists from Tianjin People’s Art Theatre
(China) are joining the company, bringing a unique international dimension to this groundbreaking production.
There are plans for the play to be produced in China in 2014.
Dragon opens at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow from 11 October to 19 October and tours to Eden Court,
Inverness from 22 to 26 October; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from 30 October to 2 November and The Quays
Theatre, The Lowry, Salford on 8 and 9 November 2013 with a press performance at the Citizens Theatre on
Tuesday 15 October at 7pm.
Cast: Martin McCormick, Joanne McGuinness, Scott Miller, Adura Onashile, Gavin Jon Wright, Zhang Kai and
Tao Yan
Tommy can’t sleep. He hasn’t been able to since his mum died a year ago. Since then, life has gone from bad to
worse. His dad is grief-stricken, his big sister ignores him and he’s become the target for the school bully. Then
Tommy meets a Dragon who burns with the anger that Tommy feels. They go everywhere together and life is
looking up. But mysterious fires have started igniting across Glasgow.
Dragon is an extraordinary visual story, told without words, featuring puppetry, illusion and original music.
Dragon brings together the visual languages of cinema and graphic novels using puppetry, object manipulation,
staging and flying technologies to create a theatrical event for the whole family.
Vox Motus has been working with puppet engineer Guy Bishop to build Dragon puppet prototypes from Jamie
Harrison’s dragon designs. Harrison, Vox Motus’s co-artistic director, is the Puppet and Illusion Designer for the
highly successful West End production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes (Warner
Brothers/Neal Street Productions). Dragon’s unique staging and design is influenced by the history and culture
of Eastern dragons.
The story of Dragon is based on personal experiences and is written by Glasgow-based playwright Oliver
Emanuel, who wrote the acclaimed adaptation of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish for National
Theatre of Scotland and Titus (macrobert) which toured Scotland, Austria, Sweden and Northern Ireland and
was part of this year’s Made in Scotland showcase 2013 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Original music is composed by Tim Phillips, Co-Artistic Director of Filter Theatre. Tim has written music for a
range of film and television productions including six seasons of Channel 4's hit show, Shameless.
The production features leading Scottish actors and puppeteers as well as marking the professional stage debut
for Scott Miller.
DRAGON Tour Listings
Recommended for 9 years +
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
Friday 11 – Saturday 19 October, 7pm
Previews: Friday 11 & Saturday 12 October, 7pm; Matinee: Saturday 19 October, 2pm
Tickets: £14 Adults, £8.50 Child, £8 Previews
Family Discounts: £33 Family of 3 (1 child), £40 Family of 4 (2 child min), £48 Family of 5 (3 child min)
Box Office: 0141 429 0022
www.citz.co.uk
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 October, 7pm
Matinees: Thursday 24 October, 1.30pm Saturday 26 October, 2pm
Relaxed Performance: Wednesday 23 October, 7pm
Tickets: £10, £7 U18’s, £5 Schools, £5 Relaxed Performance
Box Office: 01463 234234
www.eden-court.co.uk
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Wednesday 30 October – 2 November, 7.30pm and Thursday 31 October, 7.30pm & 10.30am
Tickets: £15.50/£12.50/£8 Schools:£6
Box Office: 0131 228 1404
www.traverse.co.uk
The Lowry, Quays Theatre, Salford
Friday 8 & Saturday 9 November, 7pm
Tickets: £12 - £16 (includes £2 booking fee) Concession: £2 off
Box Office: 0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com
BIOGRAPHIES:
Oliver Emanuel is a playwright based in Glasgow. He has written plays for most of the major theatres in
Scotland as well as extensively for BBC Radio. Recent work includes: The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two
Goldfish (National Theatre of Scotland) and Titus (Macrobert). For more information visit:
www.oliveremanuel.com
Candice Edmunds graduated from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire with a BA (Acting) in 2002. In 2003 she
founded Vox Motus with Jamie Harrison with the aim of creating innovative, visual contemporary theatre that
would appeal to their non arts-based peers. For Vox Motus Candice has co-created and directed The Infamous
Brothers Davenport, The Not-So-Fatal Death of Grandpa Fredo, Bright Black, Slick, How to Steal a Diamond and
Interference with Jamie Harrison. Their productions have toured Scotland, England, Ireland and Germany and
been nominated for and won numerous awards, including a prestigious Fringe First. Candice worked as
Creative Consultant on Exhibition Road’s 2012 Olympic Festival in London. In 2011 she co-directed an intergenerational dance theatre production A Conversation With Carmel for Barrowland Ballet. Candice has also
worked on numerous theatre projects involving young people, including directing a youth production for the
National Theatre of Scotland’s Exchange program.
Jamie Harrison has co-directed, designed, illusion, costume and puppet designed all of the company’s work to
date, and co-written all the work up to 2011. Most recent projects include: The Infamous Brothers Davenport
(Royal Lyceum Theatre/Vox Motus), The Not-So-Fatal Death of Grandpa Fredo (ATT Fife/Vox Motus), Bright
Black (Platform/Vox Motus), Slick (Tron Theatre/Vox Motus) and How to Steal a Diamond (Vox Motus).
Jamie regularly works as an illusion/magic and puppet consultant for theatre productions across the UK. He is
currently on the creative team for the new west-end production Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical,
directed by Sam Mendes (Warner Brothers/Neal Street Productions). Other recent theatre credits include work
for the National Theatre of Scotland, NT Studio, Dundee Rep, EIF, Bristol Old Vic and the Traverse Theatre.
Jamie was a creative consultant for the Exhibition Road Show, London. As well as his work in theatre, Jamie
performed magic for 16 years, working in 22 countries across Europe, Asia and in the USA for clients such as
Motorola, Sony and Hilton. He has performed close-up magic on television, for royalty and most recently for
David Cameron.
Tim Phillips is a composer and songwriter based in Los Angeles and London. He has scored many screen
productions including 9 series of Channel 4's hit series Shameless, HBO's Entourage, and most recently Truckers
for the BBC. His many theatre credits include A Doll's House at the Donmar Warehouse, Juliet and Her Romeo
at Bristol Old Vic, David Hare's The Secret Rapture in the West End; Playing the Victim at the Royal Court. Tim
is Co-Artistic Director of Filter Theatre. Filter are currently developing Guns & Gold with director Sir Michael
Boyd for 2014. Tim is currently writing the music with Marc Teitler for a new musical The Grinning Man, with
book by Carl Grose, which is being directed by Tom Morris and opening early 2015.
CAST INFORMATION:
Martin McCormick’s stage work includes Bright Black for Vox Motus and Peer Gynt for National Theatre of
Scotland/Dundee Rep. Other recent performances include Takin’ Over The Asylum (Citizens/Lyceum); Biding
Time (Arches Live, Tromolo); I Tommy (Redaye Productions); Pass The Spoon (Magnetic North); The Seven Year
Itch (Random Accomplice); Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco (Tron) and Decky Does a Bronco (Grid Iron). Television
credits include Hollyoaks Later (Lime Pictures) and Taggart (SMG).
Joanne McGuinness appeared in Glasgow Girls for National Theatre of Scotland. Other recent work includes
Company, Broadway in the Bar, Elegy for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Inside Out Productions) and
Cinderella (Robert C Kelly Ltd). Joanne recently appeared in the film The Wee Man (Carnaby International) and
a short film Zombie Musical (Haphazard Media, Black Camel Pictures.
Scott Miller was a trainee performer with Scottish Youth Theatre and a Scottish Ballet Junior Associate.
Productions include Rou, Weegie Board, Jerusalem – Song of Deeds and Pinocchio (Scottish Youth Theatre);
Porridge in the Morning (West End Theatre Company); Harm (Glasgow University); The Pillowman (Aberdeen
Performing Arts Young Company); Glasgow Passion (Cutting Edge Theatre Company); Days of Wine and Roses
(Theatre Jezebel). Scott also performed in Human Boggle for National Theatre of Scotland 5 Minute Theatre.
Film appearances include Snapping Point (Redsnappa Productions); Great Western Road (My Street Films).
Dragon will be Scott’s first professional production.
Adura Onashile’s recent stage appearances include Arabian Nights (Tricycle Theatre); Skewered Snails (Ramesh
Maryappam/Iron-Oxide); Roadkill (Barbican/Theatre Royal/Traverse – Pachamama Productions/Richard Jordan
Productions/Traverse Theatre); David Leddy's Untitled Love Story, (Fire Exit); Arabian Nights (Royal
Shakespeare Company); The Rover (Southwark Playhouse). Radio credits include Red Enters The Eye, BBC Radio
4 and The Overwhelming, BBC Radio 3.
Gavin Jon Wright’s theatre work includes Black Watch for National Theatre of Scotland. Other credits include
The Last Dictator, The Woman from the North, Goldilocks and the Glasgow Fair, The Frock, Babes in the Wood
(Òran Mór), Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Life of Stuff, Whisky Galore! (A Musical), The Servant o’ Twa
Maisters (Pitlochry), Spring Awakening, Decky Does a Bronco (Grid Iron), Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella
(Macrobert), The Hall with it All (Peace Arts), Cinderella (Cumbernauld) and Sleeping Beauty (Hopscotch).
Television work includes Lip Service, Dear Green Place, Taggart, Still Game and Rebus – The Falls.
Zhang Kai is an actor, puppeteer and director from Tianjin People's Art Theatre in China. He is the Artistic
Director of Peter Pan Puppet Theatre Company. His acting and directing credits include Records of the Three
Kingdoms (a China-Japan co-production), Pinocchio and Aladdin & the Magic Lamp.
Tao Yan is an actor and director. Yan was trained in classical dance, and is Artistic Director of Naughty Baby
Theatre Studio. Her theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz, Three Little Pigs, Aladdin & the Magic Lamp and
Pinocchio.
Press contacts:
Jo Lennie – Freelance Publicist – jo.lennie@ntlworld.com
M: 07708 980 918
Emma Schad - Press Manager - emma.schad@nationaltheatrescotland.com
T: 0141 227 9016 M: 07930 308018
For press tickets please contact: Clare McCormack – Press Officer
clare.mccormack@nationaltheatrescotland.com/0141 227 9497
Press images:
There is a selection of images for current productions available for download from
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/press - please contact the press office for a password
You can follow the National Theatre of Scotland’s press office on Twitter @NTSpress
NOTES TO EDITORS

Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating 189
productions in 162 different locations. With no building of its own, the Company takes theatre all over
Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre
of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations,
airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and forests. The Company has
performed to over 930,000 people across four continents. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

VOX MOTUS Artistic Directors Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds conceive, direct and design all Vox
Motus’ productions. Often their work is inspired by unbelievable true tales that delve into the bizarre,
glorious, exhilarating and macabre. Previous productions include The Infamous Brothers Davenport, in
co-production with the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh (2012); The Not-So-Fatal Death of Grandpa Fredo
(2011); Bright Black (2010) and the award-winning Slick (2008 – 2009), which they are touring again in
Scotland in Spring 2013 due to popular demand. Vox Motus are also currently developing a new show
inspired by HG Wells’ The Time Machine for production in 2014.

Tianjin People’s Arts Theatre (China) was established in 1951. It is the company’s mission to sustain
artistic excellence and nurture emerging artists. Over the years, the company has produced more than
400 productions with a diverse range of shows including One Man, Two Governors; Sunrise; King Lear;
A Streetcar Named Desire; The True Story of Ah Q; Thunder Storm. Recent productions include new
adaptations of Chinese folklore Monkey King Conquers the White Bones Demon, The Laughing Buddha
and Story of Qixi. In 2011, TPAT (China) and Tianjin Children’s Arts Theatre became one company
under the leadership of currently artistic director Zhong Hai.
Further info: www.nationaltheatrescotland.com