FANS of heart-warming stories have a rare opportunity to see a multi-award winning trilogy in its epic entirety in Edinburgh.
Last seen on a couple of sold-out dates at Summerhall last August, Songs Of Friendship brings together three acclaimed storytelling shows James Rowland first performed at the Fringe.
Mixing live music with excellent writing and an affable, relateable style, 2016 debut Team Viking told how Rowland and friend Sarah managed to fulfil a dear one’s wish to be given a viking burial.
Two more celebrated shows followed: 2017’s A Hundred Different Words For Love and Revelations, a 2018 show, Rowland says, “about trying to do the right thing”.
Working out how to act well is the central motivation of each of the three, whether it’s honouring a friend, making up and breaking up or helping pals to start a family.
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Talking of which, do be prepared for bare flesh in the latter, though there’ll be something to distract those with delicate sensibilities.
That Rowland was brought up in the evangelical church figures: for each tough section, there’s a song (or a laugh) to rebalance the mood.
There’s a choice to see each show in chronological order on consecutive evenings from March 11 to 13, but if you have the opportunity and means, go for the heart-squeezing marathon on March 14. After a delightful, tragic, hilarious four-hour helter-skelter, you’ll be patting hitherto strangers on the back, eyes bleary and gleeful, like you’ve just seen friends get hitched or firewalked with Tony Robbins.
A ruffled guru who genuinely can’t find his shoes, Rowlands is a soul looking for beauty and meaning in the messiness of everyday life.
Team Viking: March 11 8pm, Mar 14 6pm; A Hundred Different Words For Love: Mar 12 8pm, Mar 14 7.30pm; Revelations: Mar 13 8pm, Mar 14 9.15pm, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, £15 and £5 to £12 concs per show or all three shows for £27, £15 to £21 cons. Tel: 0131 228 1404. www.traverse.co.uk www.tangramtheatre.co.uk
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