The Southside Group – Past Productions
Five Years of The Southside Group
Featuring all of The Southside Group’s ‘world of joyful ensemble work’ (The Scotsman) stuffed full of ‘objectively good theatre’ (The Quintessential Review) and bursting with ‘all the trickery and the beauty of performing’ (The Fringe Review) this short film, packed with interviews and performance footage, describes a remarkable journey.
Formed in January 2020 to present new and exciting opportunities for learning disabled adults to become actively involved in theatre, The Southside Group has grown into a ground-breaking company of 17 individuals.
Ranging in age from late teens to sixty, all have some degree of learning disability. Some are experienced performers; others are relative beginners. All contribute enormously, in their own ways, to the work of the company.
Together, they are The Southside Group.
Please watch, enjoy and feel free to share, far and wide, their phenomenal journey over the past five years.
Five Years of The Southside Group:
Filming, sound, and music by Richard Williams
Edited by Peter Clerke, Catherine Gillard and Richard Williams
Directed by Peter Clerke and Catherine Gillard
The Southside Group’s Christmas Tales
Directed by Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Set & Costume Design by Ali Maclaurin Music by Richard Williams
From Dickens to Dr.Seuss, via Oscar Wilde and Hans Christian Andersen – plus a few other unexpected stops in-between – TSG presented an early festive journey through some of the best loved, classic Christmas tales.
Using minimal technical resource and relying very heavily on the company’s story-telling prowess, the production toured to four libraries across Glasgow’s Southside, introducing new audience to the company’s work. Performing to over 350 people this was TSG’s first ever tour.
Having The Occasion perform in four Southside libraries at the beginning of the festive period was a fantastic experience. The performances brought new audiences and regular library customers together for excellent entertainment. This was something a bit different for the libraries and I was very glad we took a chance on something new.
This is a lovely night of welcome magic which lights up the cold winter evening… It’s been quite a year for this group. They have risen to the targets and tasks set and can go off on what is their very first tour round local libraries with plenty of confidence.
Another Nice Mess
June 1947… the widely-anticipated return of Stan Laurel – one time resident of Glasgow’s Southside – with his partner, Oliver Hardy, for a run at The Glasgow Empire.
Also, June 1947… The Laurel & Hardy Club (Battlefield branch) are threatened with eviction from their beloved, bomb-damaged cinema. The Lords Bannatyne have plans to turn it into a ‘motor vehicle tenement parking’ facility.
Performed at Tramway, Glasgow, June 29th to July 1st 2023.
Photographs by Tim Morozzo
This is one of the best pieces of theatre I have seen for some time. In the shadow of the latest CATS awards which did highlight the work of disabled artists, this would rank up there in terms of both process and performance – for disabled arts to thrive and flourish it needs depth. It needs more and not less. This is just a perfect example of why.
A strikingly well-made show that succeeds in transporting us not only to the Glasgow of 75 years ago, but also into a world of joyful ensemble work that lifts the heart, and inspires as much as it entertains.
The Snow Queen
On Thursday 1 December & Friday 2 December 2022, in Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church, The Southside Group brought Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic tale vibrantly to life.
Photographs by Stewart Ennis
This is a group, as in any ensemble, of diverse talents and abilities, and were The QR interested in handing out stars for effort, this would warrant a solid 5. However, this is a cast aiming at making objectively good theatre, bringing their hearts and minds to offer a unique perspective on the story. With more experience as a live cast, they can surely aim higher still. Directors Clerke and Catherine Gillard are to be congratulated for enabling such a terrific showing from The Southside Group.
The choice of material brought opportunities for nice set pieces, and I particularly loved the skating, the shadow work, the introduction and development of the Snow Queen and the big bang! … One Friday night, in panto time, I saw a terrific piece of theatre. Full. Stop.
The Peabody Chronicles
The complete story
Spanning a 30-year period, from 1887 to 1917, ‘The Peabody Chronicles’ is a tale of villainy, skulduggery, kidnap, heroism, war, love, heartbreak, revenge, injustice, come-uppance…
I loved this, have told plenty of people all about it and would thoroughly recommend you take your creatively critical eye and go and learn what it is like to emerge from lockdown with your art intact.
The Night Before Christmas
An online Christmas card to everyone
Based on Clement C. Moore’s iconic poem… featuring night caps, reindeer and beards, one Glasgow street waits excitedly for Christmas Day…
The Peabody Chronicles
The Southside Group’s first public performance online – The Peabody Chronicles.
This development piece was part of the overall This Fire programme, with support from Creative Scotland. We plan to develop it into a full length performance in 2021.
A melodramatic feast full of villainy, tragedy and heroic deeds. The year is 1917. With Philip Snr. away, fighting in the war, his penniless family confront their avaricious landlord, Lord Stroke. Suspicion, sensation, intrigue and humour combine.
To watch The Peabody Chronicles – Episode 1 please click below:
Thank you for all your patience and hard work. It was just superb. Everyone was fantastic.
This was truly delightful, heartening and playfully and artfully played by the Southside Group! Nice going with these elegant boxes of sweet delights – better than Cadbury’s! Really fine job of direction, fitting all the individuals and the poem together. Loved it!
Just wanted to write and thank you for all your work with the Southside Group this year. I think what you have produced in both films has been brilliantly creative and great fun, especially given the challenges we’ve faced this year.
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