Article Source: National Theatre of Scotland
First Published: 16 December 2020 9:44
Updated: 16 December 2020 9:44
Filmed in and around the stunning landmark of Stirling Castle, and packed with brilliant songs, Rapunzel has been created by a Xmas cracker writing and creative team, led by Scottish Panto King Johnny McKnight. Rapunzel is a celebration of theatricality, music and storytelling and a chance to hear from every character in this well-known hairy fairy tale, untangled and re-braided for this day and age.
Rapunzel is set to be released in selected independent cinemas and arts centres across Scotland from 22 December, before being released for audiences to stream at home from 23 December to 04 January. Tickets to view the film are available at a sliding scale, from £0 to £25.
Cinemas and art centres set to screen the film over the festive period include Eden Court, Inverness; An Lanntair, Stornoway; Highland Cinema, Fort William; The Barn, Banchory; Hippodrome Bo'ness; Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre, Dumfries; CatStrand, New Galloway; Driftwood Community Cinema – Waterbeck and Wigtown; Phoenix Cinema, Oban; Phoenix Cinema, Kirkwall.
Rapunzel is also being made available for free to schools across Scotland, with 57 schools registered to date, where it will reach more than 8000 pupils. Hospitals, care homes, and prisons will also have free access to screen the film.
The stream will be available from the National Theatre of Scotland’s website and will be accompanied by a free, fun, festive activity pack for families to enjoy over the holiday period. Tickets will also be made available to buy from selected Scottish theatre venues websites.
Paige Ootabook (The Narrator) says: “You all know the story of Rapunzel, right? That lassie with the long hair who’s been trapped in her lockdown tower for what feels like forever. The lassie who’s sitting there like a loon waiting for some Prince will come along and save her. Well, think again.
Cos I bet nobody mentioned the hairdresser who made it her life’s mission to track Rapunzel down? Or Rapunzel’s twin brother who’s terrified he’s going to have to take the throne if his sister isn’t found? And they certainly didn’t mention that six foot all singing all dancing rose in the garden whose psychic visions are going to save the day?
Because you see to truly know a story, you must know all deets. And let me tell you chookies, the story you know of Rapunzel is incomplete.
But finally, at long last, you get to hear from all the characters, all six sides, all six chapters, and despite what you might have thought, they don’t all end in happily ever after.
A chance to sit with the family and finally piece together the story of one lassie and her journey from isolation to taking her rightful place at the... Hey come on, I’m not going to give away the ending now, am I.”
Audiences are invited to a festive digital experience set against the backdrop of one of Scotland’s most impressive historic buildings featuring show tunes from Nova Sound (Audrey Tait and Lauren Gilmour) and in collaboration with an all-female writing team of Apphia Campbell, Uma Nada-Raja, Morna Pearson, Stef Smith, Meghan Tyler, and Anita Vettesse.
Rapunzel is directed by Johnny McKnight, who also co-writes and appears as the story’s narrator, Paige Ootabook. Johnny McKnight is a Scottish writer and director, and co-Artistic Director of Random Accomplice Theatre Company. He is one of Scotland’s most celebrated contemporary panto artists, and his critically acclaimed play Wendy Hoose, produced by Birds of Paradise and Random Accomplice, toured London and Europe in 2016. He is also a newly appointed Associate Artist with the National Theatre of Scotland.
The film is directed by Stewart Kyasimire, recently nominated for a Scottish BAFTA for his BBC TV documentary Black and Scottish.
Rapunzel is part of a special festive 2020 programme from the National Theatre of Scotland, which will see a number of projects bringing festive sparkle to audiences throughout December. Other highlights will include Makar to Cracker - the return of Jackie Kay’s soulful poetry and music offering for the festive season; Alone III and IV - two brand new festive episodes of Alone, Janey Godley’s online viral drama about Betty and Bobo; A Queen’s Speech - a very special alternative online message on Christmas Day from Dame of the Realm, Paige Ootabook, AKA Johnny McKnight; and a special sparkly winter edition of our Social Dance Club for LGBTI + elders, as well as a post Xmas Midwinter Warmer event.
Access: there will be an audio described and captioned version available online as well as a version featuring creative BSL performance interpretation from Jamie Rea. A visual guide will be available in advance.
Tickets and full listings for cinema screenings available at the National Theatre of Scotland website.
Please note, due to ongoing circumstances cinema listings are subject to change.
Still Game star Gavin Mitchell is showing his support for the Beatson Cancer Charity's upcoming Burns event with a fun call to action to find Rabbie Burns lookalikes!
Scotland's biggest staycation event, The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show, is going online for 2021 in a free virtual event!
Staff at Braehead shopping centre will be turning Blue Monday into Brew Monday as a way of keeping in touch with one another during lockdown.
The 2021 Paisley Book Festival programme has something for everyone and it looks forward to welcoming you to its digital stage in February!
With over 10,000 festival passes already sold, 44 countries from around the world will be tuning in to tonight's Celtic Connections Opening Concert!
Edinburgh’s award-winning Wedgwood the Restaurant is the first restaurant in the UK to launch a ‘Burns Box’, available nationwide, to celebrate Burns Night (25th January) in lockdown.
Glasgow Philharmonia are well known for their big performances up and down the country... but for the first time ever, they have released a charity single!
Specialist charity SBH Scotland is joining forces with international superstar Fran Healy, as well as Scottish comedians Janey Godley & Fred MacAulay to host the world's biggest virtual Burns supper!
The Celtic Connections online festival will begin one week today. Across 19 days, the festival will present over 30 online performances between 15th January and 2nd February!
A £4.5m project to restore some of Paisley town centre's historic architecture to its former glory has now completed work at several prominent sites.
Landmark locations at the heart of Renfrew and Johnstone town centres are being lit up – as part of a collection of projects aimed at bringing new life to Renfrewshire's town centres.
Brisbane Observatory, Govanhill Baths and The Ridge Foundations CIC are among the latest round of Historic Environment Support Fund recipients!
Gather the family around the TV this Christmas and join in the usual fun and frolics of a Pavilion Panto!
School pupils have transformed the streets of Gallowhill into a colourful celebration of Christmas!
Renfrewshire's Provost Lorraine Cameron is searching for community heroes across Renfrewshire as nominations for the Provost's Community Awards open for 2021.
In light of the new Tier restrictions, the Scottish company behind one of the UK's largest drive-in tours, The Parking Lot Social, has been forced to cancel all dates in Scotland for the rest of 2020.
Paisley-based arts organisation, Outspoken Arts Scotland (OAS) have spent 2020 fundraising and planning their artistic and creative learning programme for 2021 and beyond.
Rapunzel, the innovative new festive film from the National Theatre of Scotland, created in a first-time partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, is set to hit screens this month!
Newly renamed leisure destination XSite Braehead has announced that 90 per cent of its offering will be reopening just in time for Christmas!
A Scottish literature charity this week publishes an anthology of poetry that gives voice to some of Scotland's unheard groups and voices.
Nature-inspired photography competition winners announced by Loch Lomond Shores.
Launching on December 14th, ‘Adventure To Your Desktop’ is a five-day online festival bringing to life the best of Scotland, through how-tos, cook-alongs and masterclasses from Scottish talent.
Dance Base Scotland present a night of performance, movement and celebration, all filmed from their studios in Edinburgh and streamed to audiences across the world.
Associated community trusts and SPFL clubs across Scotland are bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most this year with a new-look initiative designed to support isolated older people.
Paisley Museum has received a £200,000 capital funding pledge of support from The Hugh Fraser Foundation towards its transformation into a world-class cultural destination.
The popular Braehead leisure destination, formerly known as Soar Braehead, has culminated its four-week rebrand project by unveiling its new name, XSite Braehead!
itison launch their annual Social Bite fundraiser, donate £5 to buy a meal for the homeless.
Quarriers has launched its annual Box of Hope Appeal to support homeless young people this winter.
Celtic Connections has announced the first list of artists who will perform as part of their digital-first festival this January!
Dobbies, the UK's leading garden centre retailer, has brought forward its official 'Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day' to December 5th as the public get into the Christmas spirit earlier than normal!