Jessie Martin, Author at North West End UK

Cold, Dark, Matters – C ARTS | C venues | C aurora

10Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Cold, Dark, Matters – C ARTS | C venues | C aurora

Jack Brownridge-Kelly’s one-man thriller, Cold, Dark, Matters finishes its run at the Edinburgh Fringe this week. Brownridge-Kelly has produced a masterclass in storytelling as he shares the tale of the mysterious events our main character Colin undergoes after he moves to Cornwall. The more this piece progresses, the more peculiar twists and turns we uncover. Brownridge-Kelly plays all the characters he meets in the close-knit, cult-like village, from the nosy and haughty community busybody to the gruff and cryptic neighbour - transitioning from each with clarity and fluidity - each completely distinctive from one another. Narrating the piece as himself, with a conversational and interactive note, he too seems just as shocked by the contents revealed in the mysteri...

8Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Inertia – Dovecot Studios

Ragana Productions paints us a picture of one woman’s post-Soviet life in Inertia at the Edinburgh Fringe. Having lived her life under the thumb of male domination, we see the ways in which Frida (played by Ola Olsinova) is haunted by her traumas, and how they reflect on those around her following the suicide of her abusive husband. Written and directed by Trudy Kalvynaité, this is a dreamy and wistful play filled with generational rage and sadness. Olsinova delivers a strong and complex character, showing us both the gentle, caring side of Frida, but also the unpredictable, wounded woman who is stuck in her past. Supporting Frida is Marta (played by Daiva Malina) — Frida’s best friend and confidante, who stays by her side even in Frida’s most vicious moments. Malina’s performance is an...

When We Were Young – theSpace on the Mile

6Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

When We Were Young – theSpace on the Mile

When We Were Young performs for the first time at the Edinburgh Fringe this month, produced and written by Liam Lambie of Glasgow-based company, Geez a Break Productions. This play looks at the lives of one of Glasgow’s ‘Young Teams’ in the 90s—gangs made up of teenagers who grouped together based on the area they lived in. We explore the teenagers' relationships with each other, gang culture, their community, and the societal constraints they live under. The play begins in the future, with the young team’s leader, Mooney (played by Lambie), reflecting on his time as a teenager. We are then taken back in time to witness the fatal consequences that the young team brought into the characters' lives. Lambie’s writing is brilliant, with brazen and vulgar dialogue that encapsulates both ...

8-Bit Dream – C ARTS | C venues | C aquila

5Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

8-Bit Dream – C ARTS | C venues | C aquila

Warwickshire-based Youth Theatre group, Square Pegs brings Ben Grant’s new, original writing, 8-Bit Dream to the Edinburgh Fringe this year. With this being Square Pegs’ 12th year at the Fringe, the company are well versed in the logistical restraints of the Fringe, utilising mixed media to create this absurdist play. Considering the tight turn-around given for get-ins and outs during the Fringe, it’s a wonder that Square Pegs have managed to incorporate such a sheer number of technical elements into 8-bit Dream in this short timeframe. Set in a 90s-esque ensemble style daytime television show, the show is broadcast by live camera feed (operated by the cast) onto a projection screen with multiple angles which we cut between throughout. A keyboard is played live to a...

Rock of Ages – Sanctuary at Paradise in Augustines

4Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Rock of Ages – Sanctuary at Paradise in Augustines

Bare Productions is back at the Edinburgh Fringe with another smash-hit show - this time it’s Rock of Ages. Known for their consistently high-quality productions, Bare have once again sold out, quickly becoming a yearly Fringe staple. This high-energy, rocking, raunchy jukebox musical features hit classics such as Don’t Stop Believin’ and Can’t Fight This Feeling - so popular a film was made after it with stars such as Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones starring in it. As someone who notoriously hates jukebox musicals, Rock of Ages really took me by surprise. Set in the Bourbon Room bar in 1984 Hollywood, we follow the love story of wannabe stars Sherrie (played by Georgia Brennan) and Drew (played by Joshua Scott) as the characters fight against the real estate de...

3Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Antigone – Institut Français Écosse

In this bold and dark retelling of Jean Anouilh’s Antigone, Edinburgh-based theatre company Mythography is led by French director Philomène Cheynet, bringing us an intense and shrouding take on this classic Greek tragedy to the Edinburgh Fringe. Featuring large plastic, opaque curtains hanging from the ceiling, masked figures and handheld light bars that highlight and shadow the characters on stage, this production focuses on all that is hidden in war and peace. Beginning the show with the cast standing backlit behind the opaque sheets and our narrator figure standing in front, we are immediately set up to receive both the aesthetic and thematic values of this play. Cheynet’s vision is strong and purposeful, holding value on the more experimental side of theatre as well a...

3Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Ah-Ma – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Produced by Cathy Lam Arts Creative, Ah-Ma (meaning grandmother) is a one-woman show in which our main character recounts fond memories of her grandmother who has since been diagnosed with dementia. Written and directed by Cathy Lam Patrie, this show is based on her experience with her own grandmother. Ah-Ma features as a part of Asia Base at the Edinburgh Fringe - a project that highlights talent from Hong Kong and Taiwan - aiming to share Asian art with an international audience. Kasen Tsui performs as our main character, using storytelling and movement to act as both the grandmother and the granddaughter. Kasen plays this role with dignity and thoughtfulness, basking in moments of quiet and taking her time to really take in her imaginary surroundings...

Bare: A Pop Opera – Alba Theatre at Braw Venues @ Hill Street

2Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Bare: A Pop Opera – Alba Theatre at Braw Venues @ Hill Street

As part of their stacked lineup of shows for the Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh Little Theatre presents Bare: A Pop Opera. Set in Catholic boarding school St Cecilia’s, the musical follows the journey of the school’s pupils as they grapple with the complexities of relationships, sexuality, and faith. At its core is the secret relationship between Jason (played by Josh McPherson) and Peter (played by Callan Paterson). Peter is ready to be open about their love, while Jason wants to keep it hidden—thus sparking the central conflict. The musical itself is a rollercoaster, complete with surreal and striking moments like Mother Mary appearing in a fever dream as Dolly Parton, simulated sex on stage, and a subplot involving teenage pregnancy. While Bare tackles extremely heavy themes, includ...

2Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Summer Fling – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Student Theatre at Glasgow brings their satirical and raunchy rendition of ITV’s hit reality show Love Island to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Summer Fling, written and directed by Grace Donaldson, follows the journey of four Love Island contestants navigating their morality and sexuality as they compete to win the grand prize of £100,000, not to mention the highly sought after fast-fashion brand deal. This play highlights the social concerns and qualms surrounding reality television in a brassy but intelligent approach. Following the success of STAG’s 2024 fringe show, Lads of the Flies (also written and directed by Donaldson), it’s clear that STAG and their audiences hold great appreciation for Donaldson’s quick-wit and playful direction. Lola Gibbons (playing Ma...

The Beyond Broadway Experience: Footloose – Festival Theatre

19Jul

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

The Beyond Broadway Experience: Footloose – Festival Theatre

Edinburgh’s hit youth-theatre company The Beyond Broadway Experience, took to the Festival Theatre with their rendition of the cult-classic Footloose. Featuring a cast of almost 200 actors aged 8-25, this was a showstopping, full-out musical extravaganza. This cast performs with such flair and professionalism it’s hard to believe the majority of the cast are under 20! With aerials, split leaps, and tumbling, the acrobatic and dancing capabilities of the whole cast was astounding, each cast member bringing maximum energy to their performances. Unfortunately, I cannot provide the names of the actors in this production so will henceforth refer to them by their character names. Our leading ladies, Rusty and Ariel were an unstoppable duo - true triple threats, bri...