The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and the National Theatre of Scotland present
THE GUID SISTERS
from the original French Québécois Les Belles-Soeurs
by Michel Tremblay
translated by Bill Findlay and Martin Bowman
A co-production between the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh and the National Theatre of Scotland
Supported by Bank of Scotland Pioneering Partnership
Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh 21 September – 13 October 2012
and
Kings’ Theatre, Glasgow: 23 – 27 October 2012
A big win and a night in, when the girls get together nothing’s left to chance!
Germaine Lauzon wins a million Green Shield stamps. Germaine is in for a windfall but the only way she can
collect the money is to stick each stamp into a book. Calling upon her family, friends and neighbours to
help, the play listens in as this formidable group of women talk about life, the world and the men in their
lives.
This “rich, raucous and gritty” Scots version by Bill Findlay and Martin Bowman of Québécois writer Michel
Tremblay's play Les Belles -Soeurs was premiered at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow in 1989. Findlay went on to
trans-create eight Tremblay plays, with co-translator, Martin Bowman. This successful partnership has
made Tremblay one of the most performed international playwrights in Scotland.
The Guid Sisters is not only regarded as a classic contemporary Scot’s play but it is also timely theatrical
portrayal of women grappling with economic survival.
Following recent successes with 27 and Dunsinane, two major Scottish producing companies join forces to
present The Guid Sisters, directed by Serge Denoncourt who is one of Canada’s leading directors with over
80 productions to his credit including his work with Cirque du Soleil. The Guid Sisters is Serge Denoncourt’s
favourite play and Serge is Michel Tremblay’s director of choice.
Serge Denoncourt says: For me it was the first play I have ever read, when I was 9 years old. One year later
I knew the play by heart and was doing a one man show "Guid Sisters" in the street for my friends and
neighbours. 20 years later I directed the play for the first time and subsequently many, many times. It
became a fetish play, a lucky charm for me. 40 years later Mark Thomson offered me the chance to direct a
production of "Guid Sisters" in Scotland.”
The production features a stellar cast of female Scottish acting talent including Kathryn Howden and Karen
Dunbar. This will be Karen’s first appearance with both the Lyceum Theatre and the National Theatre of
Scotland. Kathryn and Karen are joined by Romana Abercromby, Sally Armstrong, Jo Cameron Brown,
Maureen Carr, Hannah Donaldson, Lisa Gardner, Molly Innes, Jayne McCarry, Sally Reid, Anne Louise Ross,
Gayle Runciman, Marianne Tees and Gail Watson.
The full creative team is Director Serge Denoncourt,; Set Designer Francis O’Connor; Costume Designer
Megan Baker; Lighting Designer Charles Balfour; Composer Philip Pinsky and Assistant Director Amanda
Gaughan.
PERFORMANCES AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE
Performances: 21 September – 13 October 2012
Previews : 21, 22 and 24 September All tickets £7.50
Evenings: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.45pm Matinees: 26, 29 Sept and 3, 6, 10 and 13 October at 2.30pm
Booking: 0131 248 4848/www.lyceum.org.uk/guidsisters
Mobile: m.lyceum.org.uk
TICKETS: £14.50-£29
EVENTS AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE
Theatre Class: Wednesday 26 September at 10.30am
Post-show Discussion with members of the cast : Tuesday 2 October, after performance
Matinee Discussion Group: Wednesday 3 October, after matinee
Touch Tours for the visually impaired: Thursday 4 October at 6.15pm and Saturday 6 October at 1pm
Audio-described Performances: Thursday 4 October at 7.45pm and Saturday 6 October at 2.30pm
BSL Interpreted Performance: Friday 12 October at 7.45pm
Captioned Performance: Saturday 13 October at 2.30pm
PERFORMANCES AT THE KINGS THEATRE, GLASGOW
King’s Theatre, Glasgow: Tuesday 23 – Sat 27 October at 7.30pm and Sat matinee 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £25 (with premiums at £29.50)
Booking: www.atgtickets.com/ 0844 871 7627
Creative biogs
Serge Denoncourt has more than 80 theatre productions to his credit. Co-founder of Montreal’s Théâtre de
l'Opsis in 1984, he has explored the great classics and the modern repertoire. He was the Artistic Director of
Théâtre du Trident in Quebec City from 1994 to 1997. Serge also stages operas and delves into the world of
variety shows. Amongst his latest creations are Ana (Stellar Quines/Imago Theatre) which played both in
Montreal and at The Traverse, Edinburgh in 2011 and 2012 respectively, the Serbian Roma show GRUBB,
CRISS ANGEL’s Believe for the Cirque du Soleil, Beau Dommage’s musical Le blues de la métropole, Michel
Tremblay’s Thérèse et Pierrette à l’école des Saints-Anges and Fragments de mensonges inutiles, and Le
Projet Andromaque at l’Espace GO. Serge is Michel Tremblay’s director of choice and has directed
numerous of his fellow countryman’s plays.
Cast Biogs:
Kathryn Howden has appeared in numerous productions at the Lyceum Theatre including Educating
Agnes, A View From The Bridge, Every One, Trumpets and Raspberries, All My Sons, Six Black Candles, The
Breathing House, and Victory. Most recently she was seen in the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow’s King Lear,
Kath was also in Be Near Me a National Theatre of Scotland and Donmar co-production. Her other theatre
work includes That Face, Shining Souls and A Slow Air (Tron), The Last Witch (Traverse/EIF) for which she
was awarded the Herald Angel Award, Any Given Day ,The Ballad of Crazy Paola , Bondagers and The Hope
Slide (Traverse) and The Government Inspector (Almedia).
One of Scotland’s best loved comedy actresses Karen Dunbar is a mainstay of the King's Glasgow panto and
her other theatre work includes Men Should Weep (National Theatre), A Drunk Woman Looks at the Thistle
and The Vagina Monologues. Karen is best known for her television work not only from being a regular on
Chewin' the Fat but also through four series of her own TV show The Karen Dunbar Show.
Lyceum Theatre new-comer Jane McCarry is probably known best for her TV character of Isa in Still Game
(BBC/Comedy Unit). Her stage work includes the 25th Anniversary Tour of The Steamie (Tony Roper), The
Corstophine Road Nativity (Festival Theatre), Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Rapture) Rumpelstiltskin ( Òran
Mór) and King’s Glasgow pantos Cinderella and Aladdin. Her other TV work includes Me Too!, Rab C Nesbitt
and Freshly Squeezed (BBC /Comedy Unit)and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson as well as a radio
stint on The Fred Macaulay Show.
Sally Reid has most recently appeared in the National Theatre of Scotland’s Appointment With The Wicker
Man at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her other theatre work includes Mikey and Addie (Macrobert) Mister
Merlin, Valhalla and Snow White(Tron) Smalltown(Random Accomplice) and The Wall ,The Ducky and The
Chooky Brae (Borderline).She has also worked with the National Theatre of Scotland in The Miracle Man.
Jo Cameron Brown has appeared in numerous theatrical , television and film roles and is also known for
her voice work on films such as Hallam Foe, The Wicker Tree and Elizabeth: the Golden Age and as a dialect
coach for TV shows such as Walking and Talking, The Borgias and Great Expectations and films including
Filth, Easy Virtue and 28 Days Later. Her stage work includes Medea (Theatre Babel), Sauchie Hall Street
(Traverse/Tron). Jo was in the original Michael Boyd production of The Guid Sisters and will also be the
dialect coach on this production. On TV she has appeared in River City, Judge John Deed, Inspector Lynley
Mysteries, The Bill, Psychos and Coronation Street amongst others.
For the Lyceum Gail Watson has been in Three Sisters, Dead Funny, Experienced Woman Gives Advice, The
Anatomist and Stranger Came Ashore. Her recent theatre work includes Patsy Cline and A Bottle of Wine
(Oran Mor), Spring Awakening (Grid Iron/Traverse), Huxley’s Lab and Barflies (Grid Iron).She was also in
Corstophine Road Nativity (Festival Theatre),and Sunshine on Leith, Peer Gynt and Gypsy for Dundee Rep.
Her TV work includes Gary:Tank Commander and Irving Welsh’s Wedding Belles
Maureen Carr was last seen at the Lyceum in Tartuffe and was in the National Theatre of Scotland’s recent
production of Men Should Weep. Her other stage work includes Six Black Candles(Goldfish Theatre
Company), The Steamie (Perth Theatre), The Educating of Agnes(Theatre Babel)and No Mean
City(Citizens).Her copious TV work includes Case Histories, Merlin, River City, Still Game , Taggart and Sea of
Souls.
Gaylie Runciman has worked with many theatre companies including Joint Stock, The Tron, Royal Court
Upstairs, 7:84, Hampstead Theatre Club, Leicester Haymarket and Belfast Lyric. Since being in the original
Tron production of The Guid Sisters Gaylie has worked directors such as Danny Boyle, David Hayman and
John Dove. Her TV work includes When Eve Set the Balls of Corruption Rolling(BBC), The Gentle Touch
(ITV)and the film Ursula and Glenys(Channel 4).
Molly Innes was last seen on the Lyceum stage in DC Jackson’s The Marriage of Figaro. She was also in Abi
Morgan’s 27 , a Lyceum and National Theatre of Scotland co-production. Molly is known for her other many
Lyceum appearances such as Wondrous Flitting, Age of Arousal and Faust Parts 1 and 2.
Romana Abercromby returns to the Lyceum after her roles in Six Characters in Search of an Author and
Pinnochio. Her recent theatre work includes The Track of The Cat (Bearplate), The Girls of Slender Means
(Stellar Quines) and Hannah and Harvey (Reeling and Writhing). Romana was also seen in River City, Lip
Service (BBC) and Taggart (STV).
Ann Louise Ross was in The Lyceum’s last season opener Mary Queen Of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off a
co-production with Dundee Rep with whom she has appeared in copious productions including Further
Than The Furthest Thing, She was also in Peer Gynt, a National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep coproduction. Ann Louise has also worked with most theatres in Scotland during her career. Her film and TV
credits include Trainspotting, Acid House Trilogy, Split Second, Life Support and Rebus.
Sally Armstrong has a wealth of stage and screen experience and has performed in amongst others Men
Should Weep (National Theatre),Whisky Galore(Nottingham Playhouse), Bad Girls (Polka/Watershed),The
Front Page(Chichester Festival Theatre) and Big Maggie and Moll Flanders ( New Vic, Stoke).For TV she has
been in Holby City, The League of Gentleman, Wycliffe and Eastenders to name but a few.
Hannah Donaldson returns to The Lyceum after appearing in both The Age of Arousal (a co-production with
Stellar Quines)and The Cherry Orchard. Her other theatre credits include That Face (Tron); The Last Witch
(Traverse/Edinburgh International Festival); The Ducky (Borderline); Baby, Baby (Stellar Quines); Molly
Whuppie (Ucketyspit); Washed Up (Òran Mór); Sunset Song (HMT); Yarn (Grid Iron); Romeo & Juliet
(Dundee Rep); Antigone (Tron); Jack & The Beanstalk (Dundee Rep).On screen Hannah has been seen in
Rab C. Nesbit (Comedy Unit/ BBC); Day of the Flowers (Rogue Elephant); Storyville (BBC); Disconnected (BBC
3/ Shine); Rebus (STV); and Mashed (Channel 4).
Marianne Tees recently graduated from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she appeared in
many productions including Richard III, The Blue Room, The House of Atreus, Kiss mE Kate, Cabaret, Oedipus
and Uncle Vanya.
Lisa Gardner has recently worked with Serge Denoncourt in Ana for Stellar Quines/Imago Theatre. Her
other theatre work includes Company Policy,Targets,Velvet Love and Drawing Bored (Oran Mor), Hoors
(Traverse), The Last of The Red Hot Lovers and Othello and Midsummer Night’s Dream for Glasgow Rep
Company. For TV Lisa has played Joanne Rossi in River City.
PRESS PERFORMANCE ON TUESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER AT 7.45PM
For further information please contact Michelle Mangan on 0131 248 4822/mmangan@lyceum.org.uk
or Clare McCormack on 0141 227 949/clare.mccormack@nationaltheatrescotland.com.
Tickets
Evening performances (full price): £14.50- £29/Matinee Performances: Wednesday and Saturday
Matinees £16/Concessions: £2 off full price for all Tuesday – Friday shows
Under 18s: Sat Evenings £15/Tuesday – Friday evenings and Sat Matinees £10/Wednesday matinees £5
School Groups: £8 (stalls & grand circle) £7(upper circle) Sat Matinees – all seats £7/ Wed Matinees £5
One teacher FREE with every ten pupils.
Registered unemployed: Tuesday - Friday evenings all seats £10 Wednesday Matinees all seats £5
Tuesday - Thursday £1 Stalls tickets available on the day (max 20 per show, stalls only). ID required
Students/people with disabilities : Sat evenings £15 / Tues-Fri eve and Sat matinees £10 /Wed matinees £5
Groups and Schools – Call 0131 248 4949
School Discounts: Wednesday matinees £5/Tuesday – Thursday evenings £8.50 (Stalls),£7.50 (Upper
Circle)/Friday/Saturday evenings £15 and Saturday matinees £10/One teacher FREE with every 10 pupils
Groups’ discounts for 8 or more people: Evenings: Stalls/Grand Circle £5 off and Upper Circle £3 off full
price tickets plus one FREE ticket for every 20 paid for/Matinees: £3 off full price tickets plus one FREE
ticket for every 20 paid for.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government. Since its launch in
February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating 181 productions in
156 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 770,000 people, across three continents.
2. The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, or the Lyceum as it is fondly known, is one of Scotland’s
leading producing drama companies. Established in 1965 it has gained a reputation for excellence
in both classical and contemporary work. It is committed to developing the country’s considerable
indigenous talents while presenting the best of international drama to the public. The Lyceum aims
to reach a wide audience, whatever their age or experience of theatre going, and to enable them to
access the richly imaginative world of drama. The Lyceum Theatre Company has worked with coproducers across the country including The Bush, London, the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, National
Theatre of Scotland, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Nottingham Playhouse, Horsecross Arts, Vanishing
Point Theatre Company, Stellar Quines, Dundee Rep Theatre and Vox Motus.
3. Bank of Scotland is a long-standing supporter of sports and the arts in Scotland. Through their
sponsorships they aim to support emerging talent across Scotland. Bank of Scotland currently has
partnerships with a wide range of Scottish sporting and cultural bodies including Imaginate, the
Edinburgh International Festival, the Scottish Football Association and the Great Scottish Run. As part
of the Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland is a Proud Partner for Scotland for the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their mission is to inspire and support young people, colleagues,
communities and businesses across Scotland all the way to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic
Games and beyond, through cultural and sporting activities.
4. We would like to make a request for your support: Corporate sponsorship of both the National
Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company is crucial to their future. As arts
supporters yourselves we hope you will help us in maintaining this important portion of our income
and healthy relationships with sponsors by mentioning them in your coverage. This makes a real
difference to the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Lyceum Theatre. Mentions are
counted and used as an evaluation of projects. Please credit our sponsors.