A new 5-star critically acclaimed production of David Harrower’s adaptation of Muriel Spark’s classic novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is coming to His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen from Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31.
The production is directed by Vicky Featherstone and features Gayle Rankin (House of the Dragon, GLOW and The Incomer) as Jean Brodie.
As part of a new pilot project inviting young people to create and present their own original performances on the set of major NTS productions, pupils from Aberdeen Grammar School will devise bold new performance pieces inspired by The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, to be shared with an invited audience on Chloe Lamford's set.
Aberdeen Performing Arts CEO/ Creative Director, Sharon Burgess, said: “It’s always exciting to feature new work on our stages, and this new adaptation is truly outstanding, bringing one of Scotland’s favourite literary characters to life with a fresh, engaging and rejuvenated production featuring a wonderful cast and creative team.
“What makes this one even more special is the incredible opportunity for school pupils here in Aberdeen to tread the boards with their very own special performance at His Majesty’s Theatre to an invited audience.”
“These opportunities are what continues to make theatre in Scotland so exciting and dynamic. We’re thrilled that Aberdeen was chosen for this pilot, and we can’t wait to see what the pupils have in store.”
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Gayle Rankin - Photographer credit Rankin
Making up the Brodie cast are Liberty Black as Mary Macgregor, Sophie Fortune as Joyce Emily, Tallulah Greive as Monica Douglas, Shreya Khaund Marshall as Jenny Gray, and Bobby Rainsbury as Sandy Stranger. They are joined by Maureen Beattie as Miss Mackay, Brian Ferguson as Gordon Lowther and Dyfan Dwyfor as Teddy Lloyd.
The production from the National Theatre of Scotland, in partnership with The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and in association with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, is bringing one of Scotland’s most iconic and enduring literary characters to the stage, marking 60 years since the premiere of the original stage version.
At the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, junior-school teacher Miss Jean Brodie is, famously, in her prime.
Each year, Brodie selects her ‘set’. The crème de la crème of girls whom she will shape through art and politics, stories of sexual liberation and titillating glimpses of the women they could become. In return, she demands utter loyalty from them all.
Witty, seductive and swirling in contradictions, Brodie’s mythical ability to invent her own truths and manipulate her girls ultimately leads her to risk everything.