Written, Directed and Performed by Pauline Goldsmith, Bright Colours Only is a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event that exhumes the death industry and resurrects the dying wake tradition. An uplifting interactive experience, it celebrates the struggle to be ourselves in our life and in our death. The performance takes place in a virtual living room with domestic images of Belfast projected onto suspended screens and interspersed with digital animation by visual artist Mandy McIntosh. In a room packed with hilarious and heartfelt memories of a Belfast childhood, the audience is offered tea and sandwiches, as well as a drop of the hard stuff. At the culmination of the event the audience departs following four pallbearers, a coffin and Pauline herself in a moving, but ultimately uplifting funeral cortege.

This event is only suitable for people who are dying to live.

Tramway
Bright Colours Only originated in November 2001 as a Dark Lights Commission by Tramway Theatre in Glasgow, where Pauline had previously worked with the acclaimed performance group Crush. The show opened to great reviews in the Scottish press and met with a brilliant response from audiences, selling out on its three night run.

Arches
That should have been the end of the story, but Pauline was approached by Andy Arnold, Artistic Director at Arches Theatre, to perform as a central part of the Festival of New Scottish Writing in March 2002. From there the show garnered further critical acclaim and steadily increasing popular support - again selling out its run.

Edinburgh
With the assistance of Arches Theatre the Glasgow success led to a three week lunchtime slot at The Assembly Rooms during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The show received further critical acclaim from the British press and featured as a key item on Scottish Television and BBC coverage of the Festival. It was described as 'the surprise hit of the festival' by Kirsty Wark of the BBC's Edinburgh Show. Pauline was also nominated by The Stage for The Festival's Best Actress Award.

At the Fringe run the coffin was carried by a number of celebrities including Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot and Gangs of New York) Tommy Sheridan, MSP and Todd Stark (Darren from Neighbours) ensuring further press interest.

Bright Colours Only also met with substantial offers to tour both at home and abroad and Pauline is set to tour extensively in Britain and Ireland in addition to forthcoming dates in Europe, Australasia, and North and South America. The show also came to the attention of The British Council who have incorporated it into their 2003 Directory of Drama and Dance. In order to capitalise on this international interest Pauline sought the services of Martin Sutherland Productions who now operates as general manager. Check out Martin's other productions here.

Bright Colours Only was published in the Summer 2002 edition of The Drouth. To read a section of it click here.

View Mandy's other projects here.

Bright Colours Only is supported by Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Arts Council.

Who We Are

Pauline Goldsmith - Performer, Writer, Director
Pauline Goldsmith is an actor, writer and performer from Belfast who has worked extensively in theatres throughout Scotland. Pauline recently appeared in Kenny Glenann's award winning film Gas Attack and Peter Mullan's superb film The Magdalene Sisters. This is her writing and directing debut.

David Archibald - Company Manager
Aside from acting as company manager, David also works as a part-time film academic and as a freelance arts journalist for numerous British and Scottish newspapers. Read one of his articles here