DUNDEE REP ensemble launches the autumn season with the classic American musical Gypsy, the true story of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, writes Joy Watters, arts reporter.

Continuing the theatre’s outstanding reputation for producing musicals (Cabaret and Flora, The Red Menace), Gypsy will be directed by artistic director/chief executive James Brining with the ensemble’s Emily Winter in the title role and Ann Louise Ross as Mama Rose, the ultimate showbiz mother.

The show will be the biggest musical that the theatre has undertaken to date with a seven-piece band, and local children will have a part to play too. The Rep is auditioning for youngsters (aged 10-16) to form two groups of eight to appear in the show.

Auditions will be held at the Rep on June 4 and 5 and youngsters who can sing, dance and act should pick up an application form from the Rep and return it by May 26. The show runs from October 1 to 22.

The next ensemble play will be Ubu The King by Alfred Jarry, adapted by David Greig, a co-production with Glasgow’s Tron Theatre, BITE:05, the Barbican and Young Vic as part of its Young Genius programme.

The play, about two gross megalomaniacs planning to overthrow the king, is a frantic, funny, foul-mouthed tale of lust, greed and betrayal and is not for the fainthearted.

Gerry Mulgrew will make a welcome return to the Rep playing Pa Ubu in the show that also provides the second trip this year to London for the ensemble, as it will run in the capital following dates in Glasgow (Tron Theatre) and Dundee Rep (November 15 to 26).

The Christmas show is Cinderella by Stuart Paterson, which runs from December 6 to 31. Directed by James Brining, Cinderella is a feisty heroine.

Mr Brining said, “We’re very excited about the autumn season.

“It combines the showbiz razzamatazz of Gypsy, the hard-edged brutality of Ubu and the glamour and romance of Cinderella.

“A season of contrasts but all the shows have this in common—they celebrate the vigour and vitality of life with absolute theatricality.”