Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE USE

The Royal Lyceum Theatre and Edinburgh International Book Festival Presents Muriel Spark’s Doctors of Philosophy Edited by David Greig Directed by Marilyn Imrie Sunday 19 August 2018, 5:30pm

The Edinburgh International Book Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh today announced that Doctors of Philosophy, Muriel Spark’s only work written specifically for the stage, will be presented in its entirety as a one-off rehearsed reading, edited by The Lyceum’s Artistic Director David Greig and directed by Marilyn Imrie, at the Book Festival in August.

Extracts from the play, which has not been performed on stage in the UK since 1962, were received with great enthusiasm when presented in collaboration between the Book Festival and the Lyceum in January to celebrate the centenary of Muriel Spark’s birth. Spark, who was born in Edinburgh and made her final visit to her home city in 2004 for an appearance at the Book Festival, was the author of 22 novels including the world renowned The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. She was also a poet, playwright, essayist and literary critic whose work has influenced a generation of Scottish writers. Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said “Doctors of Philosophy is an astonishing piece of theatre which demonstrates Muriel Spark at the peak of her powers and the audience response in January was extraordinary. We were extremely keen to bring the play in its entirety to the Book Festival and we are delighted that we have been able to continue our collaboration with The Lyceum to bring a full rehearsed reading of the play to Charlotte Square Gardens in August.”

David Greig said “We’re thrilled to present a full reading of Muriel Spark’s only play, Doctors of Philosophy, with the Book Festival. Spark’s play is a mixture of Pirandello, Wilde and Joe Orton for a largely female cast, and it’s all shot through with her own acid wit. Our taster presentation at the Usher Hall in February was a huge success, and this full length version promises to be an exciting revelation of a forgotten work.”

Director Marilyn Imrie previously worked with the Book Festival in 2016 when she directed the theatrical adaptation of Alice Munro’s The View From Castle Rock produced in partnership with the award-winning theatre company Stella Quines. Imrie’s credits also include Mrs Sidhu Investigates: Murder With Masala, ’s with , both BBC Radio 4 and Val McDermid’s Margaret Saves Scotland, Aberdeen Performing Arts and .

The rehearsed reading of Muriel Spark’s Doctors of Philosophy will take place on Sunday 19 August at 5.30pm in the The Spiegeltent in Charlotte Square Gardens. Tickets, priced at £15 (£12) will be on sale through the Box Office at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh on 0131 248 4848 or https://lyceum.org.uk/whats-on from Saturday 2 June 2018 and through the Edinburgh International Book Festival Box Office from Tuesday 26 June 2018. The full programme for the 2018 Edinburgh International Book Festival will be announced on Thursday 7 June 2018 and more information can be found at www.edbookfest.co.uk.

ENDS

For further information please contact: Harriet Mould, Press and PR Manager, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh 0131 248 4822 or [email protected]

Or

Frances Sutton, Press Manager, Edinburgh International Book Festival 07841 579 481 or [email protected]

Full Listings information

Muriel Spark’s Doctors of Philosophy By Muriel Spark Edited by David Greig Directed by Marilyn Imrie

Performance Details: Sunday 19 August 2018, 17:30pm Spiegeltent, Charlotte Square Gardens Prices: £15 (£12)

NOTES TO EDITOR

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company is a crucible of Scottish talent, developing Scotland’s considerable indigenous artists and presenting the best of international drama from its home in a magnificent, intimate Victorian building in Edinburgh’s West End.

Internationally celebrated playwright David Greig became the 8th Artistic Director of The Lyceum in 2016. As part of his premiere 2016/17 season, the company is producing ten full productions, making it one of the biggest producing companies in the United Kingdom.

In recent years, The Lyceum has staged co-productions with Told by an Idiot, Edinburgh International Festival, Actors Touring Company, Theatre Royal, Bath; The Bush Theatre, ; Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company; National Theatre of Scotland; Citizens Theatre; Dundee Rep; Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse; Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith.

In addition, The Lyceum also runs an award-winning, ambitious and acclaimed Creative Learning programme which engages with over 16,000 young people across Scotland annually.

For more information, please visit lyceum.org.uk or call Box Office on 0131 248 4848

Edinburgh International Book Festival (11 – 27 August 2018)

Celebrating 35 years in 2018 the Edinburgh International Book Festival annually serves up a feast of world-class literary talent for adults and children of all ages in the leafy green space of Charlotte Square Gardens and George Street in the heart of the historic city. The Book Festival welcomes a host of bestselling authors from around the world as well as poets, politicians, photographers, illustrators, graphic novelists, musicians, historians and biographers and a full family programme for toddlers to teenagers. Audiences can expect to be entertained and enthralled, to meet their favourite writers, to have their imaginations stimulated and to participate in some healthy discussions.

Events include debates, writing workshops, theatrical performances, poetry readings, storytelling and book signings for everyone from babies to adults. The beautiful, tree-lined Charlotte Square Gardens (at the west end of George Street, a minute away from Princes Street), is a wonderful space in which to sit, talk, think, read, play and be entertained, to browse the bookshops or enjoy a coffee or ice-cream in the cafes. Entry to the Gardens is free as are a number of events across the Festival.

The 2018 programme will be announced on Thursday 7 June and full details can be found on www.edbookfest.co.uk