{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox play | name =Dark Road | image =Dark_Road_Play.jpg | image_alt = | caption =Official poster of the 2013 Lyceum production | writer =[[Ian Rankin]]<br>Mark Thomson | chorus = | characters = | mute = | setting =[[Edinburgh]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/ian-rankin-working-on-first-play-for-royal-lyceum-1-2913898 | title=Ian Rankin working on first play for Royal Lyceum | publisher=[[The Scotsman]] | work=scotsman.com | date=1 May 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> | premiere = {{Start date|df=yes|2013|09|25}} | place =[[Royal Lyceum Theatre]], [[Edinburgh]] | orig_lang = | series = | subject = | genre =[[Crime thriller]] }}
'''''Dark Road''''' is a 2013 [[Play (theatre)|play]] written by [[Ian Rankin]] and Mark Thomson. It made its world premiere at the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]], [[Edinburgh]] in September 2013, and was expected to embark on a [[UK]] tour in 2014.
==Production history== Dark Road is co-written by [[Ian Rankin]] and the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]]'s Artistic Director Mark Thomson.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/54887-edinburgh-lyceums-mark-thomson-discusses-dark-road-the-first-play-by-ian-rankin/ | title=Mark Thomson discusses Dark Road, the first play by Ian Rankin | publisher=[[The List (magazine)|The List]] | work=list.co.uk | date=17 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> On 30 April 2013,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/liam-rudden-lyceum-aims-for-top-rankin-with-dark-road-1-2915455 | title=Lyceum aims for top Rankin with Dark Road | publisher=[[The Scotsman]] | work=scotsman.com | date=1 May 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> it was announced that the play which would mark Rankin's play-writing debut<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/ian-rankin-turns-his-pen-from-rebus-to-stage-play.20959653 | title=Ian Rankin turns his pen from Rebus to stage play | publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] | work=heraldscotland.com | date=1 May 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> would begin previews at the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]], [[Edinburgh]] on 25 September 2013,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.stv.tv/east-central/223477-rebus-author-ian-rankin-debuts-first-play-as-part-of-lyceum-new-season/ | title=The Lyceum to host Ian Rankin's debut play as part of new season | publisher=[[Scottish Television|STV]] | work=news.stv.tv | date=30 April 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233201/http://news.stv.tv/east-central/223477-rebus-author-ian-rankin-debuts-first-play-as-part-of-lyceum-new-season/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> with an official opening night on 1 October,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lyceum.org.uk/whats-on/dates-times-prices/darkroad | title=Dark Road | publisher=[[Royal Lyceum Theatre]] | work=lyceum.org.uk | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> booking for a limited period until 19 October.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.forthone.com/news/local/ian-rankin-world-premiere-for-first-play/ | title=Ian Rankin: World premiere for first play | publisher=[[Forth One]] | work=forthone.com | date=26 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> The production was also directed by Thomson with fight direction by Malcolm Shields,<ref name="fight">{{cite journal |journal=Royal Lyceum Theatre Programme |title=Dark Road |date=October 2013 |page=13}}</ref> design by Francis O'Connor, lighting design by Malcolm Rippeth, video design by Euan McLaren<ref name="video">{{cite journal |journal=Royal Lyceum Theatre Programme |title=Dark Road |date=October 2013 |page=7}}</ref> and composition and sound design by Philip Pinsky.<ref name="Creative">{{cite web | url=http://www.lyceum.org.uk/whats-on/cast-and-credits/darkroad | title=Cats & Credits | publisher=[[Royal Lyceum Theatre]] | work=lyceum.org.uk | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> It is expected that the play will tour the [[UK]] during 2014,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10347001/Dark-Road-Royal-Lyceum-review.html | title=Dark Road, Royal Lyceum, review | work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]| date=1 October 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> in a co-production between the Lyceum and the [[Wales Millennium Centre]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2013/04/royal-lyceum-to-premiere-ian-rankin-play-before-uk-tour/ | title=Edinburgh Royal Lyceum to premiere Ian Rankin play | publisher=[[The Stage]] | work=thestage.co.uk | date=30 April 2013 | access-date=19 October 2013}}</ref>
A performance runs 2hrs 45mins, including one interval of 20 mins.<ref name = "video"/>
==Synopsis== The play is set in modern-day [[Edinburgh]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity-interviews/crime-novelist-ian-rankin-moves-2340922 | title=Crime novelist Ian Rankin moves out of his comfort zone and takes police drama to stage for theatrical debut | publisher=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] | work=dailyrecord.co.uk | date=6 October 2013 | accessdate=20 October 2013}}</ref> and follows [[Scotland]]'s first female [[Chief constable]] Isobel McArthur now [[Chief superintendent]] of [[Edinburgh]] following the creation of [[Police Scotland]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ft.com/content/dca19d0c-2a82-11e3-ade3-00144feab7de | title=Dark Road, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh review | work=[[Financial Times]] | date=1 October 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> as she considers retirement and ponders writing a book. As part of that she reviews the case of Alfred Chalmers a serial killer who killed four girls<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/theatre-review-ian-rankin-stages-2338370 | title=Ian Rankin stages grisly masterpiece in Dark Road | publisher=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] | work=dailyrecord.co.uk | date=4 October 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> twenty five years previous, a conviction she has long held doubts about.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/theatre-comedy-dance/theatre-review-dark-road-edinburgh-1-3117511 | title=Theatre review: Dark Road, Edinburgh | publisher=[[The Scotsman]] | work=scotsman.com | date=20 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> What follows is a thriller that throws herself, her daughter and her colleagues into a psychological battle against Chalmers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lyceum.org.uk/whats-on/production/darkroad | title=About Dark Road | publisher=[[Royal Lyceum Theatre|The Lyceum]] | work=lyceum.org.uk | accessdate=20 October 2013}}</ref>
==Principal roles and original cast == {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" | Character ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Edinburgh performer<ref name="cast">{{cite journal |journal=Royal Lyceum Theatre Programme |title=Dark Road |date=October 2013 |pages=8–10}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |Isobel McArthur | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Maureen Beattie]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/50710-rebus-author-ian-rankin-set-to-launch-lyceums-2013-14-programme/ | title=Rebus author Ian Rankin set to launch Lyceum's 2013/14 programme | publisher=[[The List (magazine)|The List]] | work=list.co.uk | date=30 April 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |Alexandra McArthur | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Sara Vickers]] |- ! scope="row" |Alfred Chalmers | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Philip Whitchurch]] |- ! scope="row" |Frank Bowman | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Robert Gwilym]] |- ! scope="row" |Fergus McLintock (Black Fergus) | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Ron Donachie]] |- ! scope="row" |Janice | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Nicola Roy]] |- ! scope="row" |Drew, Young Man, Male Nurse | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Jonathan Holt]] |- ! scope="row" |Female Nurse | align="center" colspan="1"|[[Belle Jones]] |}
==Critical reception== The production received mostly positive reviews. Neil Cooper in ''The Herald'' wrote: "there are enough twists and turns in his Edinburgh-set yarn to keep audiences spellbound", and noted that despite the "script needing paring down slightly, Rankin and Thomson have nevertheless produced a gripping piece of tartan noir that thrills and entertains in equal measure."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/stage/enter-ian-rankin-with-bold-tartan-noir-plot.22282449 | title=Enter Ian Rankin with bold tartan noir plot | publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] | work=heraldscotland.com | date=30 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> Liam Rudden in the ''Edinburgh Evening News'' wrote: that the production was "Vicious, twisted and visceral" and went on to note the shows length and said that the production "seldom dips in pace" and that Rankin and Thomson "had produced an unpretentious, honest evening’s entertainment that, like his crime novels, leave you desperate to discover more about his characters."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/what-s-on/theatre/review-ian-rankin-s-dark-road-is-real-thriller-1-3117879 | title=Review: Ian Rankin's Dark Road is real thriller | publisher=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] | work=edinburghnews.scotsman.com | date=20 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref>
Some were more critical, with David Pollock in ''The Independent'' writing: "There’s quite a bit to recommend here, including a great cast, a stunningly ambitious rotating pedestal of sets designed by Francis O’Connor and a whodunit reveal which is typically Rankin, satisfyingly obvious and unexpected all at once" but went on to say that the play was "essentially still the work of a debut playwright" and that it was the fate of the female leads "Isobel and Alexandra which leave the sourest taste in the mouth: neither ultimately in control, both manipulated at best, or simply portrayed as being too weak and soft of will to win the games of brutish men."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/theatre-review-ian-rankins-dark-road-royal-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh-8849110.html | title=Ian Rankin's Dark Road, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | work=[[The Independent]]| date=30 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref> Mark Fisher in ''The Guardian'' wrote: "Thomson draws out a set of ferocious performances in a pacy production that papers over the more implausible corners of the plot and the clunkier passages of exposition. What's harder to transcend is the hermetic nature of the genre: when everything rests on solving the mystery, there's little room for metaphor. Rankin goes some way to dealing with this by developing a theme about living with the consequences of guilty secrets and half-remembered mistakes, but by the end, when the play lurches into Victorian melodrama, we're left with the empty feeling of a story which, however well told, lacks resonance."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/sep/29/dark-road-review | title=Murder mystery meets mind games as Ian Rankin brings modern cop drama to the stage | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=29 September 2013 | accessdate=19 October 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Ian Rankin}}
[[Category:2013 plays]] [[Category:Detective, mystery and crime plays]] [[Category:Thriller plays]] [[Category:Plays set in Scotland]]