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MY EDINBURGH

DAVID GREIG

Edinburgh-born David Greig is an award-winning playwright and the

Artistic Director of The Lyceum – he discusses settling in Scotland,
career highlights and the upcoming season at The Lyceum

What made you want to settle Restaurant in North Queensferry for
in Scotland? special occasions with the family.
In 1990 I was living in an attic bedsit
in Streatham, London. I had to duck Since taking over as Artistic
most of the time because the roof was Director of The Lyceum in 2016,
low and full of crazy angles. In the day, are there any productions which
I temped in an office. At night, I tried have been highlights for you?
to write plays. I remember sitting at my Local Hero was obviously the super
desk in the evening and looking out the highlight, but I’ve loved all the shows
window over a great plain of suburban during my time at The Lyceum. They’re
roofs that stretched south for miles and like children, I can’t choose! If forced,
miles. I felt no inspiration. No connection. I would say I was incredibly proud of two
One day, there was a documentary on lost plays by women which we found
telly about nature or something, and in the and restored to the repertoire. Cockpit by
middle of it there was a helicopter shot of Bridget Boland was an extraordinary play
the Cairngorms and I found myself crying. set in a theatre full of post-war European
I realised what I was missing. Hills. I just refugees. There was a heartbreaking
need some hills in my view. Hills, and maybe moment in act two when one of the
the sea. I’m lucky now – I live in North refugees turned out to be an opera
Queensferry and my house looks south over spot in the 1990s when theatre was well- singer and sang an aria in the ruins.
the Pentlands. They’re not the Cairngorms funded, and rents were still quite low. I also loved The Belle’s Stratagem by
but they’re a respectable range. They suffice I’ve had so many highlights but I would Hannah Cowley, which was a largely
for inspiration. pick out two. In 2010, my play Midsummer forgotten restoration comedy which Tony
was invited on a tour of Australia. I Cownie turned into a hilarious Edinburgh
Aside from The Lyceum, what remember walking up the steps of Sydney New Town farce. I adored the audience
are your favourite theatres and Opera House with the stage manager, Sarah reaction to that play and it also reminds me
arts venues in the capital? Scarlett. We had two poly bags full of props of Pauline Knowles, the great Edinburgh
The Traverse will always have a place and ukuleles. I remember saying to Sarah, actress, who starred in it, and who sadly
in my heart since it’s where so many “We can’t actually be on in there, can we? passed away, far too soon, in 2018.
of my plays were performed. I love the There must be a studio somewhere round
Filmhouse because since I was 16 it’s been the back.” And she looked at her sheet of What productions are you most looking
the place where I’ve watched the films paper and said, “No, I think it’s in there.” forward to in the upcoming season?
that shaped my cinematic taste. But my And she was right. I’m very excited to show audiences my
favourite place in the whole of Edinburgh The other highlight has to be the own show Solaris, which is a science
is the Gallery of Modern Art. You can opening night of Local Hero at The fiction love story set on a space station.
go in for a wander, have a coffee, and Lyceum. I was so incredibly proud of the It’s a show which I’ve been working on all
then walk back to Haymarket along the show, and of the work the Lyceum team summer. It’s about a woman who falls in
Water of Leith. It’s a perfect way to skive had done over three years to make it love with a planet. It’s strange and sad and
off work for an afternoon and dream. happen. To see the theatre full and the I think it talks about a subject that feels
audience happy… that was very special. very important today: how we relate to
You’ve had a varied and highly those people that are not ‘like’ us.
successful career – what are your Do you have any favourite bars I also think Barber Shop Chronicles will
personal career highlights? or restaurants in Edinburgh? be a very special show. It’s a portmanteau
I’m been incredibly, undeservedly lucky Whighams to hatch plans, The Doric of linked stories about young men
in my career. The playwrights who came upstairs to gossip, the Café Royal to watching the World Cup in barber shops
before me had a much harder road to have lunch with people who are new from Uganda, London, Nigeria and
getting work on Scotland, and those who to Edinburgh, the top floor of Harvey New York. It’s about the experience of
came after me have had tougher times in Nichols for lunch with Edinburgh pals, the African diaspora but it’s also about
arts austerity, and high rents, too. I was the Blue Blazer for a drink after the old men and young men, hair, dreams,
lucky to begin working during a sweet show with the actors and The Wee football… it’s got everything. PL

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