Jessie Martin, Author at North West End UK

27Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Sweeney Todd – The Famous Spiegeltent

As part of their nine-show lineup at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, Captivate Theatre brings their rendition of Sondheim’s magnum opus Sweeney Todd to The Famous Spiegeltent in St Andrews Square. Humorous and gritty, the in-the-round set-up of The Spiegeltent added a voyeuristic, sinister energy to the production as the cast prowled through the audience, spying on as the action played out. Captivate’s prominence in the Edinburgh amateur theatre scene guarantees a production of consistency and talent, with Sweeney Todd certainly keeping in line with this expectation. Unfortunately for me, I was rather distracted throughout the performance as having arrived later than the general audience, I found myself dejected to a stool rather than a seat - a stool with a mirrored pilla...

Sense – A New Musical About Dementia – theSpace Triplex

24Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Sense – A New Musical About Dementia – theSpace Triplex

Produced by Belgian-based company Plotfish, Sense is a touching new musical created in collaboration with the Belgian Alzheimer’s League. Gathering around the dinner table for Christmas, the Smit family is hosted (as they are yearly) by their Grandad Albert (Erik Goris). Being gifted a projector for his Christmas, Albert takes the family on a trip down memory lane as he peruses his old photos. The further the night goes on, the more Albert begins to confuse his memories - we realise the Smits aren’t the Hallmark family they are pretending to be. The family are no longer on speaking terms but have agreed for this one night to come together for Albert’s sake. Having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago, they play happy families so as not to confuse or u...

23Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Forget-Me-Nots – theSpace on The Mile

A couple finds themselves in some kind of liminal space with no memory of their life in the real world and no idea how to get back. Even with no recollection of their history together, they still gravitate towards each other, falling in love all over again, frozen in time together. Produced by Raiser Theatre and written and performed by Isla Hall, Forget-Me-Nots is a portrait of connection - with no distinct plot and no end in sight, like the couple, we are frozen in one moment, watching as the relationship unfolds and develops. At times the story felt a little cliché, although the dialogue and performance was believable. The two actors worked well together, creating an authentic and sweet, if quite sappy, relationship. Although Hall does refer to her partner...

As You Like It: A Radical Retelling – Church Hill Theatre

22Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

As You Like It: A Radical Retelling – Church Hill Theatre

Crow’s Theatre presents the Scottish premiere of the aptly named As You Like It: A Radical Retelling at the Edinburgh International Festival; written by Indigenous Canadian playwright Cliff Cardinal, this is a work that is confrontational, provocative and polarising in the most spectacular way. This piece highlights the marginalisation and injustices the Indigenous people have faced and still face today. Demanding our attention, we are forced to interrogate the authenticity, intentionality, and effects of our allyship - the pointed delivery is shocking and bold, but completely imperative to the message of the show. The audience is largely involved with a great usage of direct address - the lead performer often stopped the show to chastise audience members for being...

Missed Connections – theSpace @ Niddry St

22Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Missed Connections – theSpace @ Niddry St

Inspired by the rich musical style of the Appalachian mountains, Los Angeles Theatre Initiative presents Missed Connections, a newly written musical by Rachel Arianna and Eric Powers of Northwestern University. Missed Connections opens in 1997 on the last night at the Southside Bar after its owner Maggie (Camryn Helgeland) receives a notice of foreclosure. With one night left to celebrate and nothing left to lose, we see the townsfolk come together with old loves, first dates, family and friends to lay everything out on the table. With cast members on stage playing guitar and bass, there is a real folk feel to the musical reminiscent of the likes of Hadestown - Eric Powers’ composition is lilting and bright - I need a cast recording! The brunt of the story sp...

20Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Derby Day – theSpace Triplex

Following the success of their returning production Wish You Were Here, Without Compromise Theatre brings its second show to the Edinburgh Fringe with the gritty and gut-wrenching Derby Day. Set in Fife, the play examines the aftermath of a fatal stabbing through the eyes of friends Danny (Xander Cowan) and Harris (Kieran Lee-Hamilton). As the investigation unfolds, the two attempt to distance themselves from any connection to the deceased. Yet the harder they try to conceal the truth, the more it inevitably seeps through the cracks. Written by Michael Johnson, Derby Day explores themes of cyclical violence and abuse within the framework of a Scottish community. In doing so, it remains true to Without Compromise Theatre’s mission: to advocate for the Scottish working class while exp...

20Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Bog Body – Paradise in the Vault

Lindow Moss, Cheshire - a peat bogland gains notoriety in 1984 when an iron-age body is uncovered from the bog mostly intact, fondly named Lindow Man. Soon after being discovered, the body was properly preserved and then displayed in the British Museum - until now. It’s Petra’s wedding day and she’s full of the pre-wedding jitters, maybe because it’s a huge milestone in life, or maybe because she is about to marry the decaying body of Lindow Man which she has stolen from the British Museum. Produced by Itchy Feet Theatre, Bog Body is a one-woman show that revels in the dark and brooding atmosphere, with both humour and almost thriller-like aspects. Performed by Maddie White, we are let into Petra’s inner world - stressed, all over the place, and in deep emotional a...

19Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Stick Together – theSpace on the Mile

Showing in theSpace on the Mile at the Edinburgh Fringe, Stick Together is a grassroots musical written and co-directed by Gabby Blackie. Set in Perthshire, we follow the journey of three field hockey players who have trapped themselves in the locker room. The surrounding area is overrun with zombies and with no sign of ZPS (Zombie Protection Services) the girls are forced to stick it out until morning despite growing tensions amongst the group. As the musical unfolds, we discover that Zara (Gracie Spencer) is massively crushing on Hazel (Madeline Gilroy). But with Zara’s hot-headed, defensive attitude - mostly directed towards new-girl Keelie (Kate Santos), Zara can’t help but push Hazel away in the process. Spoiler, they do end up together after singing it ...

19Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

The Unseen Truth: Sarah Lewis – The Hub

Sarah Lewis takes to The Hub stage at this year's Edinburgh International Festival, analysing the power of culture as a means of justice rather than by law in her talk The Unseen Truth. Lewis is an art historian and Associate Professor of the Humanities and African American studies at Harvard University, leading the popular course, Vision and Justice: The Art of Race and American Citizenship. Discussing ideas from her book of the same title (The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America) Lewis delves into the historical misrepresentation of people of colour in America and focuses on those who combated this misrepresentation, most notably the work of abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) and photographer Dorothea Lange (1895-1965). Lewis explores Dougla...

Eggs Aren’t That Easy to Make – Jersey at Underbelly

18Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Eggs Aren’t That Easy to Make – Jersey at Underbelly

Produced by Big Sofa Theatre and Counterminers, Eggs Aren’t That Easy to Make follows the friendship of Claire (Rachel Andrews) and Dan (Thomas Kingman) through the years, starting with a drunken off-handed promise in university that Dan would be the sperm donor if Claire ever got into a lesbian relationship—unlikely, right? Well, a few years down the line, Claire is in a lesbian relationship and ready to have a baby when Dan reminds her of her promise. The problem is Dan is a little… overbearing, so Claire and her partner Lou (Esther Carr) must assert agency, set up boundaries, and prepare for their pregnancy, all while trying not to upset Dan. Written by Maria Telnikoff, this play tells an endearing story with queer joy at its heart. Charming, funny, and light, I could watch this ...