AS performers start drifting off to prepare for the Edinburgh festival, summer can be a quiet time for theatre in Glasgow.
But at The Tron theatre in Glasgow, things are heating up with a two-week production of
Cooking with Elvis which began on Friday.
Artistic director Andy Arnold – who is also leading the action on the play, told Live: "We really wanted to
have an in-house summer production again.
"It's well suited to this time of year because it's a good, funny show but it also has a real dark side to it. I think it's one Glasgow audiences will really appreciate".
The play, a family drama shot through with inky-black humour, is a surreal comment on strange eating habits – with a few of The King's best known numbers thrown in for good measure.
Schoolgirl Jill starts cooking as an outlet for her worries as her dad, a former Elvis impersonator, is wheelchair-bound after a stroke and her mum is more interested in a naïve young factory worker Stuart.
Andy said: "Every so often the dad jumps into an Elvis performance – and there are some great numbers like
Are You Lonesome Tonight and
The Wonder of You.
"But anyone coming along just expecting an Elvis show would be disappointed – that's not what it's about".
The cast is made up of familiar faces.
River City co-stars Jayd Jackson and Deirdrie Davis play Jill and her mother, while Martin Docherty of
Dear Green Place plays Stuart and the dad is played by Gavin Mitchell (
Still Game)
And writer Lee Hall is better known as the author of film smash
Billy Elliot.
Andy added: "This shows quite a different side to his writing.
"Whereas
Billy Elliot worked very well as a film,
Cooking With Elvis is perfectly suited to the stage.
"We've moved the action from its original setting in Newcastle to be based in Glasgow, and it really suits the humour of this city".
COOKING With Elvis is at the
Tron Theatre until July 25 (except Sun and Mon) at 7.30pm. Tickets £7-£14, book on 552 4267.