The 2011 Arches LIVE programme runs from the 20 Sept – 1 October and is an annual festival showcasing new work from some of Scotland’s most innovative emerging performers, offering them the opportunity to try out fresh ideas and take risks with their work.

This year's programme is a diverse as ever...

Emerging Scottish playwright Stef Smith, writer of the multi award winning Roadkill, will preview her latest script Jamais Vu at Arches LIVE. Taking the format of a rehearsed reading and inspired by real events, the play will follow one woman’s journey as she attempts to halt the future and wrestles with the prospect of motherhood.

Glasgow School of Art graduate Euan Ogilvie – the winner of this year’s anCnoc Blackbox Graduate Visual Art Award – has just finished a residency at the Arches and will be showcasing his new work, The Bystander Effect. Spread over four performances and described as part art object and part psychological experiment, The Bystander Effect promises to “test the individuals sense of free will against a desire to fit in with those around them.” Audience members are invited to join in and may find themselves doing something they wouldn’t want to...

Peformer, writer and theatre-maker Kieran Hurley presents the very early stages of a new piece titled Beats. Taking its inspiration from the 1994 Criminal Justice Act – which outlawed raves and placed restrictions on public gatherings – the work will explore hedonism and activism by combing aspects of traditional storytelling with audio experiments. 

And for video game fans, Thom Scullion’s Play(Station) aims to explore the positive aspects of gaming in the face of the negative press that it often receives. Part museum, part chill out space, the installation features classic gaming consoles and members of the audience are invited to join Scullion in the gaming experience.

Other performances to look out for at the festival include the challenging political interventions of Rosana Cade & Laurie Brown and Gary Gardiner, physical and visual storytelling from Ross MacKay and Room2Manouvre and the musical comedy of John and Gerry Kielty.

View the full 2011 programme.

Discussion & Debate

Site specific artist collectives Wright & Sites and Pointed Arrow will be leading an afternoon of talks, presentations and discussions titled Making Routes that will examine the relationship between performers and journeys - Making Routes is a new network of artists and researchers and this launch event is intended to open up the project to new contributors and possibilities. 

And finally, the Arches together with the University of Glasgow, will present a live panel discussion debating how the current economic climate is affecting artistic output in the UK and discussing the role of artists in challenging the political choices that are currently being made.

Tickets for individual events, day passes and festival passes can all be purchased in person from Arches Box Office (Tel: 0141 565 1000) and online via their tickets page.

More About The Arches

Established in 1991 the Arches is a not-for-profit organisation situated in Glasgow city centre under the brick arches of the viaduct that lead into Glasgow Central. It’s a multi arts venue that hosts theatre, live music, club nights and visual art.

The Arches is a Creative Scotland Foundation Organisation.

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