The National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Men Should Weep tours Scotland this autumn. The full cast is now confirmed with well-known faces from stage and screen set to appear in this production directed by Graham McLaren.

Men Should Weep opens at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow on Fri 16 Sept until Sat 8 Oct 2011 and goes on tour to the Webster Theatre, Arbroath, from Tues 18 Oct until Wed 19 Oct, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Tues 25 Oct until Sat 29 Oct; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen from Tue 1 untilSat 5 Nov; Kings Theatre, Edinburgh from Tues 8 until Sat 12 Nov, and Perth Theatre from Tues 15 Nov until Sat 26 Nov.

The full cast is: Anita Vettesse (Mrs Harris), Ann Scott-Jones (Granny), Charlene Boyd (Isa), Erin McCardie (Edie), Grant McDonald (Ernest), Julie Wilson Nimmo (Mrs Bone), Kevin Guthrie (Alec), Louise McCarthy (Jenny) Lorraine McIntosh (Maggie) and Michael Nardone (John), Colin Little (Removal Man / Cover Alec and Ernest), Janette Foggo (Lizzie), Maureen Carr (Mrs Wilson), Michael Nardone (John), Pauline Lockhart (Mrs Bone).

Ena Lamont Stewart’s landmark 1947 play is set amid the crippling poverty of Glasgow’s infamous tenements in the 1930s. At the centre of the story is Maggie, the care-worn matriarch. Supported and hindered in equal measure by a network of neighbours and family – from whom it is impossible to keep any secrets – she does her best in the worst of circumstances, always putting herself last.

Men Should Weep Director, Graham McLaren comments:

“Men Should Weep is one of the very best plays ever to be written about the corrosive effects of poverty. This is not a problem that has ever gone away. It is almost the story of my own family 70 years ago and it is almost the story of people living with the pressure of poverty and unemployment today in Glasgow, Manchester, London or any city on the planet.  It has been compared to the work of Sean O’Casey or Synge.  I see more similarities with Ken Loach or Tennessee Williams but, unlike them, Ena Lamont Stewart is a Scot and I’m excited to help bring the play to a new audience here at home.”

Men Should Weep is supported by Bank of Scotland as part of Pioneering Partnership – a new sponsorship connecting Bank of Scotland and the National Theatre of Scotland in a relationship across a wide range of National Theatre of Scotland programme elements over two years.  The partnership offers geographic spread and reach across productions, initiatives, workshops and events particularly in the area of supporting creativity and emerging talent.

Susan Rice, Managing Director, Lloyds Banking Group Scotland commented:

“We are absolutely delighted to continue our Pioneering Partnership with the National Theatre of Scotland. Our investment enables National Theatre of Scotland to develop its core programme further and to take it to audiences across Scotland. It is estimated that in the first year alone nearly 100,000 people will come into contact with a production or initiative under the Bank of Scotland Pioneering Partnership banner. Our joint aim is to encourage and support the next generation of theatrical talent, from actors to set designers, directors to writers, reinforcing Bank of Scotland’s wider sponsorship strategy of supporting emerging talent in Scotland and providing opportunities for our customers and colleagues.”