Jessie Martin, Author at North West End UK

Black to My Roots: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart – C ARTS

18Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Black to My Roots: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart – C ARTS

Black to my Roots is an exploration and celebration of African American hair, looking at the stigma, the joys and the tribulations that come with it. The Seattle based company returns to the Edinburgh Fringe after winning a Fringe First award in 2002, this time also bringing their sister show, Hair’s Breath to the stage. Using a series of monologues, poems, and songs written by Kathya Alexander and Renescia Brown, we are transported to the salon, to school, and to our mother’s house, experiencing all the huge ways in which hair impacts African American women in every context of life. Brown and Alexander’s work includes a number of humorous monologues, with moments that are all too relatable, yet are carrying a heaviness beneath the surface. We have multiple monologues set from ...

18Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Mary, Queen of Scots – Festival Theatre

Scottish Ballet presented their contribution to the Edinburgh International Festival this year with the brooding portrayal of the historical Mary, Queen of Scots. Co-created by choreographer Sophie Laplane and director James Bonas, this is a bold show with outstanding production design and provocative content, contrasting a dark grungy tragedy with moments of ludicrous humour and cyber-punk neons. Bringing modernity to tradition, Scottish Ballet embraces evolution, focusing not only on choreographic motifs but also a heavy-handed stylism that focuses on the way in which the design and story are represented. With Soutra Gilmour’s set and costume design, this is a completely elevated ballet featuring moving walls, a clown dressed in bright lime, and a giant farthingdale-like c...

17Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Oh Plagues – C ARTS

Oh Plagues, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, produced by Mebe Productions, sees a group of young aristocratic women attending a soirée when they suddenly learn that they have been locked in to prevent contamination as the smallpox epidemic of 1810 rages on. This isn’t any ordinary period piece however, as the ladies are given a modern twist - swearing, taking drugs, partaking in lesbianism and the like. There’s even a baroque-ified dance breakdown featuring Chappel Roan’s hit song “HOT TO GO!” at one point with the help of Yohana Bayekula’s movement direction. Making up the group are a bundle of East 15 Acting School students and graduates who implement both scripted and improvised dialogue throughout the show to provide an all round good time for us. Writ...

16Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Nocturne – Greenside @ George Street

Produced by One More Saga, Norwegian folk-musical Nocturne makes its Edinburgh Fringe debut this year. Inspired by a number of traditional Norwegian folklore tales, Nocturne tells the story of Solveig as she ventures into the enchanted forest in order to find her missing cow. The further she forges into the forest, the stranger creatures she meets - kind-natured and helpful, Solveig puts her own quest aside to free these fairytale creatures from the curse of Nøkken - “the water spirit of beauty and dread.” As the curse is lifted, the creatures remember their stories, and eventually, so does Solveig. Solveig is played by the multi-talented Hedda Rustad Carlsen, who also co-wrote Nocturne, working on the composition and lyrics as well as the book. Carlsen gives...

16Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Echoes – C ARTS

Founded in 1947, China Coal Mine Art Troupe is a national arts group which combines a range of artistic modes, from rap to physical theatre. At this year's Fringe, CCMAT brings their multi-medium show Echoes to Edinburgh audiences. Echoes tells the tale of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest - a group of scholars who fled to the mountains due to the suppressive political climate of the time, instead following the beliefs of Daoism. The group’s leader, Ji Kang has disappeared from the lives of the sages after being executed. Echoes explores the sage's search for fulfilment now that Ji Kang is gone, through dance, poetry, wine and music. Music plays a large, symbolic role in Echoes, with Ji Kang being known as a master of the guqin, a traditional Chinese...

14Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Note of Concern – theSpace on the Mile

In Note of Concern things take a turn for old school friends Scott (Will Evans) and Alec (Jordan Monks) when they get trapped in a classroom during their High School reunion. Secrets are uncovered, old feuds are rehashed, and the body of their old teacher Mrs Cruickshank is found in the supply cupboard. Produced by Fast Snail Productions and written by Evans and Monks, this show is a one act play that looks at growing up, growing apart, and the unseen turmoil people face alone. Both Evans and Monks seem to thrive in the realist and naturalistic style of the play - of course it does help that they themselves wrote it so have a greater understanding of the tonality of the piece. Stephanie Austin’s direction made for a snappy and fluid show, with the actors delivering re...

Mother, Maiden and Crone – theSpace @ Niddry St

14Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Mother, Maiden and Crone – theSpace @ Niddry St

Based upon the witches of Macbeth, Mother, Maiden and Crone retells this classic tale in the setting of Club Limbo (or should I say Limbo Bar and Kitchen) — a gay bar in which the witches work. Mother (Lewis Gemmell) is the bar’s only drag queen, Maiden (Ewan Burns) is the signature messy twink bartender, and Crone (Fin Watt) is the feral, nonconformist DJ. Together they face the horror that is a straight hen-do, who have booked into Limbo for the night. With gay-adjacent bridesmaid Brandi (Zara Kennedy) having booked the venue, the rest of the gaggle aren’t best pleased, so Mother, Maiden, and Crone have a little fun stirring the pot, leading to McBride’s (Erin McGivern) demise. Ewan Burns’ writing makes for a hilarious evening, with dialogue from Macbeth being campified and modern...

Uncle Barry’s Birthday Party – Muse at Braw Venues @ Hill Street

12Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Uncle Barry’s Birthday Party – Muse at Braw Venues @ Hill Street

It’s Uncle Barry’s birthday this week at the Edinburgh Fringe, but please don’t tell him - it’s a surprise! Everyone is invited to Braw Venues where the scene is set with party hats, a DJ, and a mandatory conga line. This immersive experience is probably the introvert’s worst nightmare as the whole night we make small talk - the more we talk, the more everyone realises Barry is not who he seems… Some people I spoke extensively to, and some people I didn’t speak to at all. But the strange thing is, each person had a wildly different take on Barry’s life and his character, leading to rising tensions and gossip amongst the group - does anyone really know Barry? As I entered the party I was greeted by Mimi (Mia Foster) who promptly offered me a shot, proceeding t...

Drawing From Life – The Studio at theSpace Triplex

11Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Drawing From Life – The Studio at theSpace Triplex

Devised by Alice Connolly and facilitated by Eve Connolly, Drawing From Life sees Alice Connolly posing as the life model, while the audience is provided with drawing materials to sketch her various poses. As the class progresses, things begin to unravel—we begin to hear the inner thoughts of both the audience members and Alice herself. Slowly, the intense focus required to draw begins to waver, as we start to humanise our otherwise silent model. Audience members are handed stuffed dolls, which are later retrieved and manipulated by Eve, who bends and contorts them into different shapes. Alice mirrors these movements, seemingly controlled, as if under the influence of a voodoo doll. This element of the performance was both engaging and intriguing, showcasing the Connollys’ strong dr...

10Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Bombshell – theSpace @ Triplex

Following a successful run in New York last year, Cross the Pond Theatre presents us with their new, original musical, Bombshell. Written by Madison Mayer, who stars as Scarlett, our climate-conscious main character, we explore three girls’ mission to spread climate awareness by performing raunchy cabaret numbers with a political message. With songs composed by Cumbernauld local Aila Swan, who plays Jane, Bombshell delivers a kooky and amusing story, with pizzazz and high energy. Emory Kemph directs and features as Eliza, perfectly capturing the sarky and satirical feel of Mayer’s writing, eliciting a great reaction from the audience with laughs aplenty. Each number flies by, with well-choreographed routines and strong harmonies—the trio are fabulous performers, strong in all aspect...