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{{short description|Scottish women's theatre company}}{{Multiples issues|{{ad|date=July 2022}}
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Established in 1993, '''Stellar Quines''' is a Scottish [[theatre]] company and charity based in [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, which celebrates the energy, experience and perspective of women. Stellar Quines provides a platform for women's stories, creating live theatre driven by women and where female practitioners are at the forefront of all creative roles.


'''Stellar Quines''' is a women's Scottish [[theatre]] company and charity based in [[Edinburgh]], Scotland. Established in 1993, the company has worked predominantly within Scotland but has also toured shows nationally and internationally. Stellar Quines was under the artistic direction of [[Muriel Romanes]]<ref>Stellar Quines Official website http://www.stellarquines.com/page.php?p=6</ref> from 1996–2016, when [[Jemima Levick]] took over.<ref name="Dibdin">{{cite news|last1=Dibdin|first1=Tom|title=Jemima Levick appointed artistic director at Stellar Quines|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2016/jemima-levick-appointed-artistic-director-at-stellar-quines/|accessdate=9 March 2016|publisher=The Stage|date=3 February 2016}}</ref>
Live theatre lies at the heart of the company, however in recent years Stellar Quines has begun initiating projects that explore the interface between the traditions of live theatre and the possibilities emerging through the digital and virtual world.


The name Stellar Quines is a combination of two old Scots words: ''Stellar'', meaning 'starry', and ''Quines'', meaning 'women'.<ref>Stellar Quines Official website – what’s in a name http://www.stellarquines.com/page.php?p=5</ref> It was suggested by [[Gerda Stevenson]], who established the company in 1993 to "address the lack of opportunities for women in theatre."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quines Story |url=https://stellarquines.co.uk/about/the-quines-story/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Stellar Quines |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Stellar Quines is currently under the artistic direction of Muriel Romanes<ref>Stellar Quines Official website http://www.stellarquines.com/page.php?p=6</ref>

The company has worked predominantly with Scotland but has also toured shows nationally and internationally (see productions below).

==Origin of the Name==
The name Stellar Quines is a combination of two old Scots words: ''Stellar'' meaning starry, and ''Quines'' meaning women.<ref>Stellar Quines Official website – what’s in a name http://www.stellarquines.com/page.php?p=5</ref>


==Productions==
==Productions==
The 1963 [[novella]] by [[Muriel Spark]], [[The Girls of Slender Means|''The Girls of Slender Means'']], was adapted for a stage for a production by the Stellar Quines in August 2009.<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=27</ref> [[Perfect Pie|''Perfect Pie'']] was written by [[Judith Thompson]] and directed by [[Maureen Beattie]] in 2006. It was produced by Stellar Quines in association with the [[Byre Theatre]] of St Andrews and [[Perth Theatre]].<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=12</ref>
* '''The List''' ''written by Jennifer Tremblay, translated by Shelley Tepperman, directed by Muriel Romanes and starring Maureen Beattie.'' For the Edinburgh Fringe 2012.<ref>The List's Official website, s http://www.stellarquines.com/thelist</ref> It is being re-staged for the Fringe 2013.
* '''Ana''' ''written by Claire Duffy & Pierre Yves Lemieux & directed by Serge Denoncourt'' - from October 2011, world premiere at Espace Go, Montreal and then touring Canada and the UK. A co-production between Stellar Quines and [[Imago Théâtre]]<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, future productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=28</ref>
* '''Age of Arousal''' ''written by Linda Griffiths (inspired by [[The Odd Women]] by [[George Gissing]]) & directed by Muriel Romanes'' - February–April 2011, opened in [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]], Edinburgh and then toured. A co-production between Stellar Quines and the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]], Edinburgh<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=29</ref>
* '''[[The Girls of Slender Means]]''' ''by [[Muriel Spark]], adapted for the stage by Judith Adams & directed by Muriel Romanes'' - [[Assembly Rooms (Edinburgh)]], August 2009<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=27</ref>
* '''Baby Baby''' ''written by Vivien French & directed by Jemima Levick'' - January–March 2009, opened in [[Garrison Theatre]], Lerwick, Shetland and then toured<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=23</ref>
* '''[[The Unconquered (play)|The Unconquered]]''' ''written by [[Torben Betts]] & directed by Muriel Romanes'', February - March 2007, Toured to UK & then New York, USA in 2008.<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=22</ref><ref>http://www.59e59.org/archive/unconquered.html</ref> The play won the Best New Play award at the [[Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland]], 2007.
* '''[[Perfect Pie]]''' ''written by [[Judith Thompson]] & directed by [[Maureen Beattie]]'' - March–April 2006, Touring Scotland. Produced by Stellar Quines in Association with The [[Byre Theatre]] of St Andrews and [[Perth Theatre]]<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=12</ref>
* '''Three Thousand Troubled Threads''' ''written by Chiew Siah Tei & directed by Muriel Romanes'' - August–September 2005. A co-production between Stellar Quines Theatre Company, [[Edinburgh International Festival]] and the [[Byre Theatre]], St Andrews<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=6</ref>
* '''[[The Memory of Water]]''' ''written by [[Shelagh Stephenson]] & directed by Muriel Romanes'' - April–June 2004, Touring<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=3</ref>
* '''Sweet Fanny Adams in Eden''' ''written by Judith Adams & directed by Muriel Romanes<ref>Show publicity material, 2003</ref>'' - August 2003, Scottish Plant Collectors Garden, Pitlochry<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=1</ref>
* '''[[Wit (play)|Wit]]''' ''written by [[Margaret Edson]] & directed by [[Gaynor MacFarlane]]'' - March–April 2003, touring<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=4</ref>
* '''The Reel of the Hanged Man''' ''written by Jeanne-Mance Delisle, translated by Martin Bowman and Bill Findlay & directed by Muriel Romanes'' - April 2000, opened in the [[Traverse Theatre]] and toured to Shetland, Glasgow, Stirling and Paisley<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=10</ref>
* '''Learning the Paso Doble''' ''written by [[Dilys Rose]] & directed by Irene Macdougall'' - Spring 1999, Touring<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=5</ref>
* '''The Clearing''' ''written by [[Helen Edmundson]] & directed by Muriel Romanes'' - 1998/1999, toured to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Liverpool<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=31</ref>
* '''Refuge''' ''written by [[Janet Paisley]] & directed by [[Gerda Stevenson]]'' - March–April 1997, touring<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=32</ref>
* '''The Seal Wife''' ''written by Sue Glover & directed by [[Gerda Stevenson]]'' - 1995, touring<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=33</ref>
* '''[[Night Sky (play)]]''' ''written by Susan Yankowitz & directed by Lynn Bains'' - 1993, toured to Aberdeen, Ayr, Glasgow, St Andrews and Edinburgh<ref>Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=34</ref>


==Projects==
==Other Activities==
Knit 2 Together is a heritage lottery-funded ''All Our Stories'' project. Knit 2 Together has a series of knitting circles and local history sessions hosted by Stellar Quines in partnership with Heart of Hawick.


Stellar Quines's Rehearsal Room is a platform for showcasing new plays.<ref>Scottish Arts Council - Focus on Stellar Quines - http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/drama/features/archive/focusstellarquines.aspx</ref>
===Rehearsal Room===
Stellar Quines' Rehearsal Room was created to uncover new plays and new voices in partnership with the audience, through rehearsed readings and workshops. The main aim of Rehearsal Room is to enable writers to be more proactive in the development of their text using audience feedback as a major element of the process. It provides a platform for showcasing new plays and developing audiences, while also existing as a showcase for potential co-producers and promoters.<ref>Scottish Arts Council - Focus on Stellar Quines - http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/drama/features/archive/focusstellarquines.aspx</ref>

Many of the productions that Stellar Quines have created have been through the Rehearsal Room process before becoming full-scale productions.

===Commissions===
Stellar Quines regularly commissions new work. Since its inception the company has commissioned the writing, adaptation or translation of following plays:
* '''Dare to Care''' - written by Christine Lindsay
* Translation of '''A Live Bird in the Mouth''' - written by Jeanne-Mance Delisle, translated by Martin Bowman
* '''Ana''' – written by Clare Duffy and Pierre Yves Lemieux
* '''Constantina''' – written by [[Torben Betts]]
* An adaptation of '''[[The Girls of Slender Means]]''' by [[Muriel Spark]] for the stage adapted by Judith Adams
* '''The Girl Who Insisted She Wasn’t''' – written by Ariadne Cass
* '''The Past Is Not a Place''' – written by Beatrice Colin
* '''The Unconquered''' – written by [[Torben Betts]]
* '''Sweet Fanny Adams in Eden''' – written by Judith Adams
* '''Red Priest''' – written by Grace Barnes
* Translation of '''The Reel of the Hanged Man''' written by Jeanne-Mance Delisle, translated by Martin Bowman and Bill Findlay
* '''Learning The Paso Doble''' – written by Dilys Rose
* '''Refuge''' – written by Janet Paisley


==Awards==
==Awards==
* ''Age of Arousal''<nowiki/>'s director, Muriel Romanes, won Best Director in the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland<ref>CATS website http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/Winners/10-11.html</ref> and was nominated for Best Show, Best Ensemble and Best Design in the [[Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland]].
2012
* '''The List''' - won Fringe First
* '''The List''' - won Herald Angel

2011
* '''Age of Arousal''' - won Best Director, Muriel Romanes in the [[Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland]]<ref>CATS website http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/Winners/10-11.html</ref>
* '''Age of Arousal''' - nominated for Best Show, Best Ensemble and Best Design in the Critics' Awards for Theatre Scotland

2007
* '''The Unconquered''' - [[Torben Betts]] won Best New Play at the [[Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland]] 2007<ref>CATS website http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/Winners/06-07.html</ref>

2003
* Alexandra Mathie won Best Female Performance as Dr Vivian Bearing in '''[[Wit (play)|Wit]]''' at the 2002-3 [[Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland]]<ref>CATS website http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/Winners/02-03.html</ref>

1996
* '''Refuge''' - won the [[Peggy Ramsay Award]] for the development of new writing<ref>Stellar Quines Official website http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=32</ref>

==Projects==
'''Knit 2 Together'''

Knit 2 Together is a Heritage lottery funded ''All Our Stories'' project aimed as championing the female stories and histories intertwined in the Scottish Borders' textiles industries, and combines events, new writing and oral history. Knit 2 Together involves a series of knitting circles/local history sessions hosted by Stellar Quines in partnership with Heart of Hawick.

Playwright Sylvia Dow will use the project as the inspiration for a new play which celebrates women, knitting and Scotland's social history. The play will be given a rehearsed reading in Hawick in October 2013, as part of the Luminate festival.
All Our Stories, a brand new small grant programme, was launched in support of BBC Two's The Great British Story and was designed as an opportunity for everyone to get involved in their heritage.

==Research==
'''AmbITion'''

Stellar Quines is involved with a programme of digital development, as a Partner Organisation on Creative Scotland's AmbITion scheme - a change programme for the arts and cultural sector. Through AmbITion, Stellar Quines is engaging with digital technology to experiment with how it may enhance and develop existing ways of creating live theatre, extend the reach and engagement of the company with current and new audiences, and to develop business models with the aim of extending the life of live productions and delivering work in new ways.

Another component of Stellar Quines' involvement with AmbITion was to undertake a series of digital labs.
The first took place in January 2012 and involved live streaming a rehearsed reading of The List; the script then went to full production in the summer of 2012. Two hours of rehearsal and the entire reading were live streamed from Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre , followed by an after show discussion via Skype. The second digital lab involved the filming of Ana in 3D; raising the question of whether 3D can offer an artistic and commercially viable experience of live theatre. The third and final digital lab will take place in 2013.

'''Gender in Scottish Theatre'''

In 2010, Stellar Quines undertook a research project, funded by the Scottish Arts Council Equalities Department, to provide the basis for Stellar Quines to test its purpose as a company, and refocus its vision for the future.

Phase One of the project was a piece of desk-based research, reviewing secondary data related to gender in the performing arts, to build an opinion based picture of women in theatre. The output of a series of Scottish building-based and touring companies in 1993 (the year Stellar Quines was founded) and 2009 (the last full Scottish theatre season before the research was commissioned) was assessed. The study of two Scottish theatre seasons 18 years apart explored to what extent women were represented as directors, writers, actors, lighting, set and costume designers, and composers/musical directors.

Phase Two involved consultations with, and a survey of, a wide range of individuals from the Scottish theatre world. Individuals, groups and organisations who had a relationship with the company, or were relevant to the company's work, were surveyed - as well as those who had no existing relationship with the company but showed an interest in the future development of women in Scottish theatre.
Stellar Quines then reviewed the results from both phases of research, before adding its own observations.

==The Company==
* Muriel Romanes; Artistic Director
* Lesley Anne Rose; Creative Producer
* Gillian Shaw; Company Administrator


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.stellarquines.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.stellarquines.com/ Official website]

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Theatre companies in Scotland]]
[[Category:Theatre companies in Scotland]]

Latest revision as of 07:03, 28 August 2024

Stellar Quines is a women's Scottish theatre company and charity based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 1993, the company has worked predominantly within Scotland but has also toured shows nationally and internationally. Stellar Quines was under the artistic direction of Muriel Romanes[1] from 1996–2016, when Jemima Levick took over.[2]

The name Stellar Quines is a combination of two old Scots words: Stellar, meaning 'starry', and Quines, meaning 'women'.[3] It was suggested by Gerda Stevenson, who established the company in 1993 to "address the lack of opportunities for women in theatre."[4]

Productions

[edit]

The 1963 novella by Muriel Spark, The Girls of Slender Means, was adapted for a stage for a production by the Stellar Quines in August 2009.[5] Perfect Pie was written by Judith Thompson and directed by Maureen Beattie in 2006. It was produced by Stellar Quines in association with the Byre Theatre of St Andrews and Perth Theatre.[6]

Projects

[edit]

Knit 2 Together is a heritage lottery-funded All Our Stories project. Knit 2 Together has a series of knitting circles and local history sessions hosted by Stellar Quines in partnership with Heart of Hawick.

Stellar Quines's Rehearsal Room is a platform for showcasing new plays.[7]

Awards

[edit]
  • Age of Arousal's director, Muriel Romanes, won Best Director in the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland[8] and was nominated for Best Show, Best Ensemble and Best Design in the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stellar Quines Official website http://www.stellarquines.com/page.php?p=6
  2. ^ Dibdin, Tom (3 February 2016). "Jemima Levick appointed artistic director at Stellar Quines". The Stage. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. ^ Stellar Quines Official website – what’s in a name http://www.stellarquines.com/page.php?p=5
  4. ^ "The Quines Story". Stellar Quines. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  5. ^ Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=27
  6. ^ Stellar Quines Official website, past productions http://www.stellarquines.com/production.php?p=12
  7. ^ Scottish Arts Council - Focus on Stellar Quines - http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/drama/features/archive/focusstellarquines.aspx
  8. ^ CATS website http://www.criticsawards.theatrescotland.com/Winners/10-11.html
[edit]
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