Live and loud: image from the show Pony Pie - How Keanu Reeves Saved the World
Arches Live makes a welcome return to Glasgow this September, with more exciting and innovative work from local artists
Staged at The Arches venue in the city, over 28 performances, installations and discussions will take place from September 16-25.
The theme for this year’s festival, which is held in association with Ancnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is very much focused around asking in-depth, personal questions about human interaction and relationships.
Highlights this year include Ugly Pup’s Brandy and Summer Gloves, a celebration of life as well as a look at the process of ageing, using stories based on real-life experiences of contributors.
Nick Anderson’s Who Man 2 explores masculine relationships and their complexities, while Ben Dunn’s A Booming Voice examines the death of Ben’s father – who is in fact alive, and even takes part in the performance – with the pair exploring the distance that has been forming between them, which they are fighting to narrow.
Another one to look out for, especially if you're a movie fan, is Pony Pie - How Keanu Reeves Saved the World, an examination of the parallels between the fictional worlds of Reeves' movies and real events.
Musical performances also play a big part in this year’s festival, with Jer Reid’s piece Burghead featuring an impressive array of Glaswegian musicians including Jodi Cave, Kenneth Wilson and RM Hubbert.
Jackie Wylie, artistic director, the Arches, said of this year’s festival: “There is no doubt that we are living in uncertain times and many of the artists at this year’s Arches Live are determined to ask difficult questions.
“For me, what is exciting is their refusal to provide definitive answers. Rather, the festival opens up a space for conversation, ignites new debate and creates sparks of dynamic dialogue. The vast Arches building allows us to provide a home for this incredible community of theatre makers, musicians and visual artists who have created these pieces from scratch within our cavernous depths.
“More so than ever we need to take the opportunity to come together to celebrate the vitality and determination of these artists.”
Find out more about Arches Live, which runs from September 16-25, by visiting The Arches website www.thearches.co.uk
