Jessie Martin, Author at North West End UK

The Great Gatsby – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

19Jul

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

The Great Gatsby – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Set in the grand manor of Jay Gatsby in 1922, Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents us with Elizabeth Newman’s dreamy adaptation of The Great Gatsby as part of their 2025 Summer repertoire. With a winding imperial staircase, sheer curtains that drift in the breeze, and a magnificent art-deco style glass chandelier, Jen McGinley’s set design establishes the splendour and veil over New York in the roaring twenties. The band sits atop the staircase, observing the mayhem below them unfold from behind their white-rimmed glasses. As in Pitlochry’s latest production of grease, the cast act in the play as well as making up the band. Accompanying the play with classic jazz standards, setting the tone for Gatsby’s (played by Oraine Johnson) raucous parties. The story unfolds...

The 39 Steps – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

17Jul

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

The 39 Steps – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Based on Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film, Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s revival of The 39 Steps features femme fatales, a runaway convict, police chases, and a healthy number of sheep. The film and the play both share an almost identical narrative structure and much of the dialogue has been lifted straight out of the film and into the play - however they couldn’t feel more different to each other. The play is a spoof of the classic film, and while it still maintains the dry, sarcastic humour of the film, it relies heavily on slapstick comedy. I was especially pleased to see the iconic train scream being absolutely nailed because nothing is more camp than that. With only four actors, but about 150 characters, it was a marvel to watch the cast rapidly battling with jac...

This is a Gift – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

30Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

This is a Gift – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

In a continuation of Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s 2025 Summer programme, This is a Gift brings a fresh contemporary take on the legend of Midas. Rather than a King being the one granted with the gift of the midas touch, it is a working class shopkeeper from Leith - the Father of Zoe, the narrator of this one-woman show. Written by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir, This is a Gift subverts from the original tale and puts the gift in a position where it is wanted out of need not greed. But is money the root of all evil - is it worth the sacrifice? This play asks us how far we will go to provide for the ones we love. The one hour-and-twenty run time flew by thanks to Sigfúsdóttir’s fast-paced writing and Blythe Jandoo’s (who plays Zoe) punchy performance. And with th...

Nick Costley-White Quartet – Traverse Theatre

25Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Nick Costley-White Quartet – Traverse Theatre

Although small in number, they certainly weren’t small in sound—Nick Costley-White and his band absolutely rocked the Traverse with their unique jazz sound. Pulling inspiration from Brazil, West Africa, Malta, and more, Costley-White has curated a full-on hubbub of sound with an inventive and experimental flair. Those pieces which used these multi-cultural influences all began with a distinctive fusion sound. However, as improvisations took over from the pre-written work, we lost those cultural distinctions, falling into patterns and conventions that are perhaps more stereotypical to the traditional western jazz sound. It would have been exciting to hear the themes and ideas presented at the beginning of each piece carry over into the solos. Nonetheless, the quality of the solos was unq...

24Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

RANT – Traverse Theatre

With yet another instalment of Scottish traditional music, RANT brought their lively fiddle quartet tunes to an even livelier audience at The Traverse. Comprised of Bethany Reid, Anna Massie, Lauren MacColl, and Gillian Frame, RANT are a powerhouse of a band, bringing an energy to their music that finds your toe tapping involuntarily. Having attended many a music night at The Traverse, never have I seen an audience in such high spirits as I did at RANT. Starting off as a rather coy but enamoured crowd, after Anna Massie came to introduce the next tune, the audience were soon whooping, clapping and stamping. It is quite a skill to evoke that kind of energy from an audience—especially given that the demographic of most of The Traverse’s music nights are of an older, very well-mannered gen...

21Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Grease – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

The classic rock and rollin’, bunny hoppin’ musical Grease lands at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre this week after kicking off their run at the Blackpool Grand Theatre earlier this month. Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Blackpool Grand Theatre have worked together to co-produce this rough and ready production, showcasing the enterprise opportunities that come with collaborating both financially and creatively. Not only allowing for more freedom with budget, but also (very importantly) allowing this show to provide accessible commercial theatre for those more rural theatre scenes. With no typical-style ensemble and no typical-style band, the cast are tasked with acting, singing and dancing all while playing the score of Grease themselves. Jan (Leah Jamieson) rocks out...

20Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Livin’ On a Prayer – Traverse Theatre

‘Are we making the most of our time?’ is the question posed by Strange Town in their latest piece of new writing: Livin’ On a Prayer. The Edinburgh-based youth theatre company of 8-25 year-olds took on the writing and direction of James Beagon who has worked with Strange Town for almost a decade, currently working as the Youth Theatre Manager. Beagon’s Livin’ On a Prayer is set in a karaoke bar in which a selection of Greek Gods and Deities enjoy the sweet taste of ambrosia (the source of their immortality). But when Dionysus, God of madness, decides to hide their ambrosia, the Gods must work together to decipher the clues left for them by Dionysus. Initially led to believe that if they enter a singing competition, the winner will earn the remaining ambrosia, howeve...

14Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Soundhouse: Sian – Traverse Theatre

With tales of criminals, swan hunters, and torrid affairs, folk-group Sian had the audience of the Traverse in awe. Presented by Soundhouse, we were blessed with yet another live folk performance at the Traverse Theatre. Sian is a three-piece group of folk singers, performing exclusively in Gaelic and accompanied by Innes White on electric and acoustic guitar. Composed of Ceitlin Lilidh, Eilidh Cormack, and Ellen MacDonald, this is a group that celebrates its Hebridean roots—featuring songs that tell the traditional stories which have stood the test of time, having been passed down through the ages in areas around Skye and Lewis. The vocal agility and control of Sian is astounding, as they sail through the lilting nature of the pieces with ease. They uphold the rich history of the songs...

12Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Firelight Trio – Traverse Theatre

Presented by Soundhouse, Firelight Trio take us on a journey through European folk music, finding unity in the sounds of a myriad of cultures from klezmer to polka. Working in partnership with the Traverse as well as other venues around Edinburgh, Soundhouse is a charity organisation with the aim of promoting live music in Edinburgh. Firelight Trio are featured as a part of Soundhouse’s Summer lineup at the Traverse which holds focus on showcasing the talents of upcoming folk artists. With weird and wonderful modifications to their instruments, an adept knowledge of their craft and a passion to share it, it is clear that Firelight Trio’s music is created with deep intentionality and expertise. The trio are highly credited, with Ruth Morris (who plays the Swedish ...

Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

6Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Featuring in Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Summer lineup, Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed has been produced by Firebrand Theatre Company and Pitlochry Festival Theatre for a second time following the success of the play’s first run in 2024. The biographical play explores the life of famous female Scottish writer Nan Shepherd, the first woman to be printed on a Royal Bank of Scotland banknote. This play paints a ghostly portrait of Nan’s mental deterioration throughout time, while simultaneously highlighting the headstrong, vibrant and vigorous way in which she carried herself through life. Although we see glimpses of nan’s childhood, as well as her time in a nursing home, the brunt of the story is told when an American reporter comes to interview her about her close friend...