Birds of Paradise Theatre Company

Scotland's touring theatre company promoting disabled artists and supporting the arts sector

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An older woman stands leaning on some railing. She has messy red brown hair and is smiling. She is wearing a white blouse with a camouflage waistcoat.

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Mother Courage and Her Children

by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Lee Hall

Set during the Thirty Years War, rolling conflict is not just the background for the action, it causes the action. Mother Courage and her three children travel through the warzones, making their living from buying and selling whatever comes to hand. But, with two strapping sons and a pretty daughter, foodstuff and uniforms aren’t the only commodities the war machine is interested in.

“Bertolt Brecht was not a simple man. His personality and his politics are fascinatingly complex… Mother Courage and her Children, in my opinion the greatest of his many works…”
Tony Kushner

In association with Paisley Arts Centre

Supported by: Truemark Trust, Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust, The Trusthouse, Charitable Foundation

Performed by a strong cast which includes Johnny Austin (DEAR GREEN PLACE), Garry Robson (RASPBERRY, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL), Paul Chaal (PLAYBACK), Karina Jones (LIAR), Keith Macpherson (4.48 PSYCHOSIS, MONSTER IN THE HALL), Ashley Smith (365, PEER GYNT), with the lead role of Mother Courage played by the award-winning actress and director, Alison Peebles.

“Alison Peebles is more than up to the task and gives one of the finest performances seen on this stage since her Lady Macbeth all those years ago. She owns the space with quite compelling physical presence.”
THE HERALD on Doubt.

CHECK OUT THE PROGRAMME

The Team

Alison Peebles – Mother Courage
Ashley Smith – Kattrin
Paul Chaal – Eililf, Quartermaster, Eye Patch, Sergeant, Young Farmer, Soldier
Johnny Austin – Swisscheese, General, Farmer, Regiment Clerk, Soldier
Karina Jones – Yvette, Farmer’s Wife
Keith Macpherson – Sergeant, Chaplain, Officer
Garry Robson – Recruiting Officer, Cook, Colonel, Soldier, Farmer
Morven Gregor – Director

Access

All performances were surtitled and audio description support provided at each venue. There was a British Sign Language Interpreted performance at the Tron Theatre (Glasgow) on Wednesday 30th March.

Listen to the Audio Programme

Tour Dates

Thu 10 March 2011 @ 7.30pm
Paisley Arts Centre
Sat 12 March 2011 @ 7.30pm
Brunton Theatre

Musselburgh

Wed 16 March 8pm / Thu 17 March 10.30am
Macrobert

University of Stirling

Fri 18 March 2011 @ 7.30pm
MacRobert Memorial Hall

Tarland

Wed 23 March 2011 @ 7.00pm
The Lemon Tree

Aberdeen

Thu 24 March 2011 @ 7.30pm
East Kilbride Arts Centre
Fri 25 March 2011 @ 7.45pm
Cumbernauld Theatre
Mon 28 March 2011 @ 8pm
Dornie Hall

Nr Eilean Donan

Wed 30 March – Sat 2 April 2011 @ 7.45pm
Tron Theatre

Glasgow

Photos & Videos

Three people in what looks like the ruins of a building. What remains of the walls is covered in graffiti. One woman sits in the background, she is wearing sunglasses and looking down. A man and a woman stand leaning on some old scaffolding. The woman is wearing a long, fluffy animal print coat and sunglasses, she is smiling broadly. Next to her, the man is wearing brown trousers and a pale green shirt, Over this he wears a dark brown leather jacket, as well as a fluffy hat and sunglasses, he looks off into the distance contented.
A young woman appears dead on the floor, an older woman covers her in a white sheet. Three other people look on sadly. They are all in front of the ruins of a building covered in graffiti
Three people crouch in front of a graffiti covered wall, all appear to be clasping their hands together in prayer. The woman in the middle has her eyes open and looks down hopelessly, while the man and woman either side of her have their eyes closed tight.
A man and woman both clasping a metal bar. They both lean forward as if in anticipation. The man is wearing a t shirt and the woman is wearing a brown blouse.
A close up of two women; one old and one young. They are wearing all brown and are both holding a metal bar, they appear to be pulling along a cart.
Three men in camo military costume. One stands at the front, talking with his arms out wide, the other two are sitting down and appear to be listening to him. Behind them we see fragments of walls covered in graffiti.
A close up of a young woman sitting on a older man's lap. The man is in a long, dark military jacket with a hat. The young woman has long blonde hair and is wearing a white dress.
An older woman stands leaning on some railing. She has messy red brown hair and is smiling. She is wearing a white blouse with a camouflage waistcoat.
A close up of a young man in a grey t shirt with a large tattoo on one arm. There is a noose around his neck and what appears to be a person in a military uniform standing behind him.
The lighting state is rather dark and a man a woman are beside a cart. The woman is wearing a hooded coat and looks sad. The man beside her is wearing a black jacket and crossing his arms across his chest.
A young man is pointing a gun at at older woman. He is tall with dark hair and is wearing a green shirt and brown trousers. The woman wears a white shirt, brown cargo trousers and looks uninterested in the gun being pointed at her.