Barrowland Ballet take over Scotland with two shows this year
Award-winning dance company Barrowland Ballet present world premiere of Wee Man and the revival of Chunky Jewellery, ahead of Edinburgh Festival Fringe transfers this year.
Article Source: Barrowland Ballet
Last Updated: 27 April 2025 10:50
World premiere of new production Wee Man by Natasha Gilmore opens at Studio Theatre from 16 - 17 May, as Barrowland Ballet are named the first associate company of Edinburgh’s Capital Theatres.
Following sold out success, Chunky Jewellery by Natasha Gilmore, Jude Williams and Ben Duke of Lost Dog returns to Tramway on 29 July, following revival at Cumbernauld Theatre on 2 May.
Barrowland Ballet transfers both productions to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Chunky Jewellery opens from 1 - 24 August at Assembly Rooms Music Hall, as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase Wee Man opens from 5 - 17 August at Assembly @ Dance Base.
Scotland’s leading contemporary dance theatre company Barrowland Ballet take over Scotland this year as they present two productions across Spring and Summer, ahead of their Edinburgh Festival Fringe debuts this August.
New work: Wee Man explores the tension within the toxic rulebook of accepted male behaviours
Barrowland Ballet is excited to present the world premiere of new production Wee Man by award-winning choreographer Natasha Gilmore.
A highly physical and dynamic dance-theatre performance by a cast of men and male teenagers, Wee Man explores the shifting, and unshifting, rules of masculinity across the different generations.
Inspired by Gilmore’s experience of being a mother of teenage boys, it uses candid humour to examine the tension that exists within the toxic rulebook of accepted male behaviour, from the seemingly benign to the dangerous.
Examining both the tenderness and tension of masculinity and male relationships, Wee Man is performed by an intergenerational cast that includes Davey Anderson, Kemono L. Riot, Parsifal James Hurst, and Vince Virr. Each tour venue features a local community cast, bringing new voices and stories to every performance.
The production is scored with an evocative sound design by Luke Sutherland and poetic text developed with Kevin P. Gilday.
Barrowland Ballet have been named as the first associate company of Edinburgh’s Capital Theatres, and Wee Man will have its world premiere at Studio Theatre from Friday 16 - Saturday 17 May at 7pm.
It will tour to Lanterhouse Cumbernauld on Saturday 31 May at 7pm and Johnstone Town Hall on Friday 13 June at 7pm, before transferring to Assembly @ Dance Base as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Tuesday 5 - Sunday 17 August at 7pm.
Returning Favourite: Chunky Jewellery is a moving celebration of friendship within the chaos of life, grief and motherhood.
Following sold-out success during its world premiere in 2024, Barrowland Ballet’s heartfelt and hilarious Chunky Jewellery returns with performances across Cumbernauld and Glasgow, ahead of its transfer to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Co-created by Jude Williams, Natasha Gilmore, and Ben Duke (Lost Dog), this deeply personal yet universally resonant work transforms a year of extremes into a moving celebration of friendship.
Focusing on two friends, one year, two births, a death, 18 bursts of laughter, 34,000 tears (each) and one piece of chunky jewellery, it was a year to forget but instead Natasha and Jude decided to make it into a show.
Brutally honest and open-hearted, Chunky Jewellery is a comedy that bites. Combining dance, song and text, it offers audiences an alternative love story; an achingly joyous celebration of sisterhood.
These uncompromising performers team up with Olivier Award nominated Ben Duke of Lost Dog to bring the work to life, with a creative team that includes Davey Anderson as Composer, with original songs by Jude Williams, Elle Taylor as Lighting Designer, Shizuka Hariu as Set Designer and Vicki Manderson as Associate Director.
Chunky Jewellery will open at Lanternhouse Cumbernauld on Friday 2 May at 7pm, before returning to partner organisation Tramway on Tuesday 29 July at 7pm. It will transfer to Assembly Rooms, Music Hall from Friday 1 August - Sunday 24 August at 1.30pm as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Talking about the works, Barrowland Ballet’s Artistic Director Natasha Gilmore said:
‘I'm excited for Barrowland Ballet to be presenting two shows this Spring and Summer, before transferring them to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As a company we believe in the power of using dance and theatre to connect with communities, and we are proud to present Chunky Jewellery and Wee Man to audiences across Scotland this year.
Wee Man is our dance theatre performed by a cast of men and male teenagers. Inspired by my own experience as the mother of teenage boys, it explores the shifting, and unshifting, rules of masculinity across the different generations.
I'm thrilled to have Chunky Jewellery returning after its sold-out success last year. It's deeply personal and incredibly moving, performing alongside Jude is a joy, and it speaks to the importance of having friends and laughter during the ups, downs and rollercoaster of life.'
Alongside the Scottish work on tour, Barrowland Ballet will tour to ASSITEJ in July 2025 - Korea’s prestigious festival for children and young people - with acclaimed production Tiger Tale by Natasha Gilmore and Robert Alan Evans. This will be presented alongside the sister production for children with complex needs, Playful Tiger by Natasha Gilmore in collaboration with Ellie Griffiths.
In Autumn/Winter, The Gift by Natasha Gilmore will receive its Glasgow premiere at the anticipated Citizen’s Theatre Studio Theatre in December 2025, following its Chinese premiere touring to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou with A.S.K, earlier in 2025.
To find out more about Barrowland Ballet and the company’s work:
barrowlandballet.co.uk
New work: Wee Man by Natasha Gilmore explores the tension within the toxic rulebook of accepted male behaviours
• World premiere at Studio Theatre from Friday 16 - Saturday 17 May at 7pm.
• Lanterhouse Cumbernauld on Saturday 31 May at 7pm
• Johnstone Town Hall on Friday 13 June at 7pm
• Assembly @ Dance Base, as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Tuesday 5 - Sunday 17 August at 7pm
Chunky Jewellery by Jude Williams and Natasha Gilmore with Ben Duke (Lost Dog)
• Lanternhouse Cumbernauld on Friday 2 May at 7pm
• Tramway on Tuesday 29 July at 7pm
• Assembly Rooms, Music Hall from Friday 1 August - Sunday 24 August at 1.30pm, as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Image: Wee Man
Image credit: Viktoria Begg
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Calling all runners... grab a FREE post race drink from Flight Club Glasgow
Flight Club is inviting Glasgow AJ Bell Great Scottish Run participants to celebrate their incredible effort with a complimentary drink on Sunday 5th October!
READ MORE
Flight Club is giving out hundreds of prizes on the streets of Glasgow in October
The team behind the home of Social Darts is embarking on a nationwide charity tour in celebration of its 10th birthday and dishing out treats to its fans along the way!
READ MORE
GlasGLOW adds extra week after 35,000 tickets snapped up in days
City's biggest Halloween show extended as nostalgia-fuelled 'Miles Better' theme takes Glasgow by storm, with new dates on sale on Wednesday 17th September at 7.30am!
READ MORE
Wedding venue Crossbasket Castle unveils exquisite new menu curated by Michelin starred chef Michel Roux
Scotland's premier five-star luxury wedding destination, Crossbasket Castle, has unveiled a new decadent wedding menu crafted exclusively by world-renowned Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.
READ MORE
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate joins full cast of Death on the Nile at the Theatre Royal
The full cast has been announced for Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile which comes to the Theatre Royal Glasgow in February.
READ MORE
Spooky season returns to town with the announcement of Paisley Halloween Festival 2025
Paisley Halloween Festival will return to town next month to celebrate the spooky season with a packed programme of frightful fun for all the family!
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Matilda the Musical comes to Glasgow for the first time
The Royal Shakespeare Company's smash hit production of Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl's beloved book, will come to Glasgow for the very first time in 2026!
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
A jewellery store in Glasgow Fort is doubling in size following investment
Family-owned national diamond, jewellery and watch retailer, Beaverbrooks, is doubling the size of its Glasgow Fort store with a £1.3m investment.
READ MORE
Forget a boring beige Christmas in Glasgow...
This festive season at SWG3, Bongo's Bingo is transporting everyone back to the time where coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme!
READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE
Popular Sunday BBQ returns to Glasgow favourite Sebbs
One of Glasgow's favourites is flipping the idea of a traditional roast on its head with the return of its Sunday BBQ later this month.
READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie
Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour
Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
SOAPYFEST raises thousands for Beatson Cancer Charity and Marie Curie
The Barrowland Ballroom was filled with love, laughter, and music as friends, family and supporters came together for SOAPYFEST, raising over £18K in support of Beatson Cancer Charity and Marie Curie
READ MORE
M&Ds teams up with Zombie Infection for a heart pounding, live action horror attraction
M&D's is set to transform into Scotland's Scream Park with the launch of Zombie Checkpoint, a live action immersive horror experience creating a heart racing adventure not for the faint hearted.
READ MORE
Topgolf Glasgow launches new field goal challenge game this autumn
Topgolf Glasgow is bringing a taste of the gridiron to Scotland this autumn with the launch of its brand-new Field Goal Challenge game.
READ MORE
GlasGLOW sells over 20,000 tickets in first hour as fans rush to relive 80s magic
GlasGLOW fever has gripped Glasgow once again, with more than 20,000 tickets for this year's GlasGLOW's Miles Better show snapped up within just 60 minutes of being released.
READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland
Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.
READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.
READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
Even more acts added to Tenement Trail 2025, set to take over the East End on Saturday 11th October
Multi-venue music festival taking over Glasgow's East End this October confirms Dead Pony and 14 new acts!
READ MORE
2025 Aye Write programme announced as tickets go on sale for annual book festival
Tickets will go on sale for Aye Write, Glasgow's long-established and much-loved book festival, at 11am today.
READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party
It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!
READ MORE
Birds Fried Chicken launches collaboration series with Corner Shop
Birds Fried Chicken is taking its signature Southern-style fried chicken out of its natural Shawlands habitat and into new, unexpected settings with the launch of Rare Birds!
READ MORE
Buchanan Galleries champions Zero Waste Week with retailer initiatives for conscious consumers
Buchanan Galleries is marking Zero Waste Week (1 – 5 September 2025) by showcasing the centre's wide range of sustainable retail initiatives!
READ MORE
Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month
Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.
READ MORE
Pop up play town brings big imaginations to little ones
A new role-play experience is popping up in community venues across Greater Glasgow this month bringing pint-sized professions and plenty of pretend fun to preschoolers and their families.
READ MORE
Local musicians to perform at outdoor charity concert at Nostrana restaurant
Summer may be over, but music festival season is still here, with an exciting outdoor concert in aid of Mary's Meals taking place in Glasgow's West End on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links