Greg Holstead, Author at North West End UK

Rock, Paper, Scissors – Traverse Theatre

25Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Rock, Paper, Scissors – Traverse Theatre

Established in 2016, Tandem Writing Collective comprising of three young(ish) writers Mhairi Quinn, Jennifer Adam and Amy Hawes, gave us a sneaky peek of a trio of (in workshop) new plays to a rapt and enthusiastic audience at the subterranean Traverse 2 tonight, for one night only. And with the juicy promise that all three will become fully developed plays later this year. Accompanied very nicely by musos, Celloist Jessica Kerr and keyboard player Aaron McGregor on stage, actors Kim Allen, Natalie Arle-Toyne and Betty Valencia, with scripts in hand bring the three workshop pieces to beautiful and dynamic animated life, to the obvious delight of the writers sitting in the front row with beaming smiles. And why not, all three pieces sounded and looked great and the actors, to a woman,...

Sean and Daro Flake It ‘til They Make It – Traverse Theatre

18Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Sean and Daro Flake It ‘til They Make It – Traverse Theatre

Director, Robert Softly Gale shows that disability is no impediment at all for making great theatre and scoring a five-star hit. The current artistic Director of Glasgow based, disability centred, Birds of Paradise theatre, teams up with The Traverse theatre to bring the gallus patter of Glasgow to the more refined East coast for this World premier of a show which could easily become a classic of the Scottish theatre circuit for many years to come. Fearless acting talent, Sean Connor as Sean (handy) and Cameron Fulton as Daro give truth to Laurie Motherwell’s brilliantly hilarious script which follows the fortunes of the two likely lads as they double-handedly take on the world from behind the ice cream van counter. As if to make even more room, in what is a packed theatre, the stage...

The Multiverse is Gay – Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

13Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Multiverse is Gay – Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

The Multiverse is Gay is a brand-new play performed by Lyceum Young Company. You can only imagine the nerves and courage it took to pull this off for the teens and young adults on stage. It was my pleasure to attend their opening night at the 100-seater Lyceum small theatre, a ‘black box’ cube space with seating set up in L-shape formation for this performance. A surprisingly moving piece which undoubtedly brought a tear to many an eye at the conclusion of the opening night this evening. At the heart of ‘The Multiverse is Gay’, is the common thread of ‘otherness’ which binds the raggle-taggle group of friends on stage. Others may have branded them as the outsiders, the geeks, the queer kids or the school dropouts, but they know they are a community, a family. This is certainly an amb...

Kidnapped – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

13Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Kidnapped – Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, National Theatre of Scotland’s retelling of this boy’s own adventure novel is a fine evening’s entertainment. Branded on the fliers as a ‘swashbuckling rom-com adventure’, it does do some serious veering around from pantomime to poetic to abstract post modern, to sassy jazz cabaret with a splash of bromance. As Kim Ismay proclaims following her rousing ‘I’ve been everywhere (man)’ opening musical number, ‘this book is different’. Kidnapped follows the adventures of youth Davie Balfour, who, following the death of his father leaves the safe dullness of his Borders town to travel to Edinburgh in search of his rich uncle. We are at this point introduced to ‘the boulder’, a cleverly conceived hollowed out stage device which also houses a f...

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

16Mar

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Week 3 of a 40-week tour of the UK, the long-running musical Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, lands at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. The multi award winning globe-trotting show, first performed in 1989, has clocked up an impressive 10,000+ performances in the UK, putting it firmly in the top 10 of UK musicals and can fairly promote itself as the forerunner of the now very popular Juke Box musical. Typical of this style of musical, the script and acting play very much second fiddle to the music, which to be fair is practically non-stop. The story, what there is of it, by Alan Janes, focuses on the last 18 months, between 1957 and 1959, of Charles Hardin Holley’s, too short 22 years. The script could do with a reboot and the delivery is patchy, but gratefully, the music is never far away....

Revelations of Rab McVie – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

27Feb

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Revelations of Rab McVie – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Every now and again you review a show which really stands out. Here is one. The Revelations of Rab McVie is advertised as an immersive journey through a psychedelic dreamscape of live painting, live music and theatre and the real buzz in the packed theatre bar before this show was ready evidence of the unique event to come. Experimental, raw, flawed, real. The irony of this five-star show is that with more performances, it can be even better. Barely rehearsed and on only the second night of its world premiere, this experimental ground-breaking show has been and gone, and it was my undoubted privilege to have witnessed its brief existence. Five strong band, The Filthy Tongues, from Edinburgh were at the top of their game, showcasing works from their new album, In These Dark Pla...

The Yeomen of the Guard – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

24Feb

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Yeomen of the Guard – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

A massive production, with a cast of over 60, a purpose-built two-storey set, glorious costumes and a full orchestra tries, mostly successfully, to breathe life into this rarely staged comic opera, and had some real bright moments amongst Gilbert’s dark libretto. Like snow falling on a bright day, there seems barely enough time to appreciate the full extent of the massive effort expended here, by the institution that is Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society, before the so-brief run ends in just two days time. The story follows Colonel Fairfax, war hero, wrongly imprisoned and sentenced to death for sorcery. When he escapes, helped by an old war buddy, it leads to some farcical situations with young ladies and hiding in plain sight as one of the Yeomen of the Guard. Meanwhile two str...

17Feb

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Moonset – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Finishing it’s too short 15 day run at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Citizens Theatre Glasgow brings a thought provoking coming-of-age piece which has its roots in the infamous burning in 1697 of seven witches, known as the Paisley or Bargarran witches. The play, set in modern day, follows 15-year-old Roxy (Layla Kirk) as she tries to come to terms with her mother’s recent cancer illness at the same time as pre-exam stresses. This is a loss of control for Roxy, which throws her into a tailspin. At her lowest point we see the importance of her friendships with studious Bushra (Cindy Awor), who also has her own sexuality/faith issues, rebellious live wire, Gina (Leah Byrne) and glamor-pus rich kid Joanne (Hannah Visocchi), with boyfriend troubles. Evoking the turmoil of young minds, Jen...

Scottish Opera: The Verdi Collection – Usher Hall, Edinburgh

13Feb

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Scottish Opera: The Verdi Collection – Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Two 30ft tall gilded iconic Columns and Pilasters support the muscular un-curtained proscenium arch framing the gargantuan stage of the Usher Hall, internationally acclaimed music venue. It is angular, strong unfettered and on the tiered stage the orchestra of Scottish opera are arranged, and ready. The orchestra immediately launch into a frenzied overture, La Forza del destino, under the baton of Stuart Stratford, which puts a wide smile on the faces of the nearly full audience. Stuart then, rather breathlessly, addresses the packed audience and introduces a collection of some highlights from the middle years of Giuseppe Verdi, one of opera’s most beloved and recognisable figures. The format of the show is somewhat problematic, without a set, costume changes, lighting effects or pro...

13Feb

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Madama Butterfly – Edinburgh Playhouse

Three weeks into a five-month tour of the UK, Director Ellen Kent brings the Ukrainian Opera and Ballet Theatre, Keiv, to Edinburgh Playhouse with a triple bill of La Bohème, Madama Butterfly and Aida, playing on consecutive nights. This is quite an undertaking for any company, but Ellen Kent who is celebrating thirty years of bringing opera and ballet to the UK was never likely to take the easy option. And if this powerful rendition of Puccini’s masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, does not move you, the finale featuring a passionately sung Ukrainian National Anthem, together with ubiquitous blue and yellow flag, surely will. Madama Butterfly is perhaps the best known of Italian composer, Giacomo Puccini’s 12 Opera output. The story is set in 1904, when the Russo Japanese war is taking place...