Nazaret Ranea, Author at North West End UK

The Talented Mr Ripley – Festival Theatre

18Sep

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

The Talented Mr Ripley – Festival Theatre

I remember first reading Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley as a teenager and being completely hooked by Tom Ripley’s mix of cunning, insecurity and longing. There was something about him that felt both thrilling and a little unsettling, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the Riviera he inhabited, sun-drenched, glamorous and just a little decadent. Then I watched the 1999 film, and my fascination only grew. So, when I got the chance to see the story brought to life on stage at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on the opening night, I was really intrigued about what I was about to experience. From the very first moment, the play draws you into Ripley’s world. Ed McVey is rarely off stage and he inhabits Tom with such precision that it is impossible not to be captivated. He moves ef...

Figures in Extinction – Festival Theatre

23Aug

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Figures in Extinction – Festival Theatre

The Edinburgh International Festival continues to prove how committed it is to bringing the finest examples of the arts to the city every year, and this time it could not have been otherwise. Figures in Extinction is one of the most elevated ballets I have ever seen, both in terms of technique, concept and production design. Crystal Pite proves herself to be one of the finest choreographers currently working in Europe. What sets her apart is her willingness to look directly at the world around her and to translate difficult, often painful subjects into movement that feels alive, urgent and deeply human. In Figures in Extinction, a trilogy created with Simon McBurney of Complicité and performed by the extraordinary dancers of Nederlands Dans Theater, she turns her attention to the climate c...

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – Festival Theatre

14May

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – Festival Theatre

As someone who spent a good portion of their childhood half-convinced there might be a secret world hiding at the back of the wardrobe, this production was always going to land somewhere between nostalgia and reverence. And I’m pleased to say, it hit the mark beautifully. Michael Fentiman’s production, adapted from Sally Cookson’s earlier version, is a rich, often dazzling journey into Narnia and one that balances spectacle and substance with real flair. From the opening bars of We’ll Meet Again, underscoring the siblings’ evacuation from London, it’s clear this is not simply a children’s story. There’s grit in the frame, a proper wartime darkness that lends weight to the fantasy. It’s still magic – of course it is – but the stakes feel real. The visual storytelling is a triumph. ...

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – Festival Theatre

10Apr

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – Festival Theatre

Having previously been swept away by Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet and the haunting brilliance of Edward Scissorhands, I knew to expect something bold, something unexpected. But nothing quite prepares you for Swan Lake – The Next Generation. This isn’t just another reinterpretation of a classic – it’s the jewel in Bourne’s already glittering crown. Now in its 30th anniversary revival, Bourne’s audacious take on Swan Lake has lost none of its bite. If anything, this latest incarnation feels sharper, more intimate and emotionally resonant than ever. From the moment the curtain lifted at the Festival Theatre, there was an electricity in the air – the kind that only comes when something truly iconic is about to unfold. For those unfamiliar, Bourne's Swan Lake made waves in 1995 for...

28Mar

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Ghost Stories – Festival Theatre

I went to see Ghost Stories at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on the 26th of March, and I have to admit—I didn’t actually enjoy it. Not because it was a bad show, but because it genuinely scared me. I suppose that means it did its job well! I’m not usually one for horror, and while I went in hoping for something atmospheric and thought-provoking, I left shaken and, embarrassingly, had nightmares afterwards. If you’re a fan of horror theatre, you shouldn’t expect anything particularly groundbreaking in terms of storytelling, but you can definitely count on plenty of jump scares. Photo: Hugo Glendinning The play, written by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, follows Professor Goodman, a parapsychologist, as he investigates three different supernatural encounters. Without giving away any s...

Northern Ballet: Hansel & Gretel – Festival Theatre

23Mar

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Northern Ballet: Hansel & Gretel – Festival Theatre

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family, Northern Ballet’s Hansel & Gretel is an absolute must-see! I had a lovely time at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, completely swept up in this magical, modern twist on the classic fairy tale. It’s got adventure, laughs, and a really important message about looking after our planet—perfect for both kids and grown-ups. Hansel and Gretel, played by Archie Sherman and Julie Nunès, were these city kids totally obsessed with their video games. Their dad, hilariously portrayed by Andrew Tomlinson, was so fed up he dragged them on a woodland adventure. The forest set, designed by Ali Allen using recycled materials, was stunning—whimsical and creative but also thought-provoking. The whole production was bursting w...

Pretty Vacant: The Story of Punk and New Wave – Usher Hall

29Jan

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Scotland

Pretty Vacant: The Story of Punk and New Wave – Usher Hall

Punk was never about perfection, and Pretty Vacant – The Story of Punk and New Wave definitely stuck to that ethos. Hitting the stage at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on the 28th of January, the show set out to celebrate one of the most rebellious, game-changing movements in music history. And while the music absolutely delivered, the rest of the production felt a little basic—fun, but not quite as explosive as it could have been. The best thing about the night was, hands down, the setlist. From The Sex Pistols and The Clash to Blondie and The Ramones, the show was packed with classics. Hearing God Save the Queen and London Calling live—well, as live as a tribute show gets—still gave me chills. And when they launched into Blondie’s Heart of Glass, it was a perfect shift into the smoother, more...

8Jan

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Bat Out of Hell – Edinburgh Playhouse

Walking into the Edinburgh Playhouse, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Bat Out of Hell. I’d heard the rave reviews and knew of Meat Loaf’s legendary anthems, but would it translate into a compelling night of theatre? As I was not familiar with the story, I had my doubts but by the time the final note rang out, my question was answered with a resounding yes! Right from the opening moments, the show makes its intentions clear: it’s big, it’s bold, and it’s not afraid to embrace its madness. Backed by an incredible eight-piece live band, the production hurtles forward at full speed. The stage transforms into a dystopian world filled with rebellion and romance, brought to life by Jon Bausor’s stunning set design. One moment we’re in dark underground tunnels; the next, a teenager’s...

6Dec

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Swamplesque – Assembly Rooms

The Assembly Rooms on December 5th hosted the return of Swamplesque, a show so gloriously unhinged that it had already obliterated box office records at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. If you think you’ve seen it all, imagine Shrek in nipple tassels and Donkey gyrating in velour, and then realise: you’ve barely scratched the surface. This ogre-themed burlesque and drag parody manages to toe the line between absurd brilliance and complete insanity. The show dives headfirst into the swamp of pop culture references, pulling out everything from Shrek is Love, Shrek is Life (a segment that will haunt me until I die) to a roller-skating Magic Mirror doing cartwheels to Man in the Mirror. Every number was laced with just enough chaos to keep the audience howling with laughter—or stunned into...

Scottish Opera’s The Puccini Collection – Usher Hall

25Nov

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Scottish Opera’s The Puccini Collection – Usher Hall

As a lifelong Puccini fan, there’s nothing quite like hearing his music live, and Scottish Opera’s The Puccini Collection at the Usher Hall did not disappoint. This was a moving and celebratory tribute to mark the centenary of Puccini’s death, with Stuart Stratford conducting the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and a stellar line-up of soloists. The programme was brilliantly chosen. Alongside famous excerpts from Tosca, La Bohème, and Turandot, we were treated to earlier works like Le Villi and Edgar—pieces that are seldom performed but give insight into Puccini’s evolution as a composer. The decision to include extended scenes, not just standalone arias, made the performance feel more immersive, as though we were being drawn into the emotional worlds of the operas themselves. Stuart Str...