Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
19:30 17 – 20 May, Assembly Roxy Upstairs
Tickets £15 (£12 EGTG Members)
Two European physicists meet in the city during World War 2.
The Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group will be bringing the highly-charged Copenhagen back to Edinburgh this spring. Premiered at the National Theatre in London in 1998, with a revival at the Lyceum Theatre in 2009, Michael’s Frayn’s intense and erudite script will get a showing at Assembly Roxy 17 – 20 May by the local theatre company.
Copenhagen, directed by Ross Hope (Jerusalem – 2013, All About My Mother – 2018), poses the question – why did Heisenberg go to Copenhagen? Exploring what might have been said between Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg against the background of the race to build a nuclear weapon, and the effect this will have on the end of the war, and on the world ever since.
The production continues the EGTG tradition of not shying away from challenging and interesting theatre. Set across multiple possible versions of the past as well as sitting outside time, the action and dialogue flutter between different periods, creating a unique and abstract experience for actors and audience alike.
Talking about the play, Copenhagen director Ross Hope said: “The play has been a challenging but rewarding project to work on for everyone involved. It is fantastically well written and amazing to both rehearse and perform.
“This is the first script I’ve worked with where the characters are based on historical figures. There’s a reality and past that we can bring into the characters, that you can’t do with completely fictional works. It’s been a fascinating process learning about Bohr’s and Heisenberg’s background and incorporating that into what we present on stage.”
The Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group’s Copenhagen runs Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 May 2023, 19.30 at Assembly Roxy, Upstairs. Tickets cost £15 via Assembly Roxy Box Office with a 20% discount for EGTG Members.
Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
19:30 17 – 20 May, Assembly Roxy Upstairs
Directed by Ross Hope
with assistance from Emma Carter and Abbye Eva
Niels Bohr – Laurence Wareing
Margrethe Bohr – Helen Goldie
Werner Heisenberg – Alan Patterson
Tickets £15 via Assembly Roxy (£12 EGTG Members)
★★★★☆ Stimulating and engaging
Allan Wilson for All Edinburgh Theatre
“In Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen at the Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group tackle a difficult, sometimes impenetrable, play with intelligence and skill.”
★★★★☆ Sterling Piece of Theatre
Dominic Corr for Corr Blimey
“Spectres linger in Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen, which received a strong reception from audiences at the Assembly Roxy last week. Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group utilise their usual pedigree to translate a tricky play with competence and intellect.”
EGTG 