Roger Jacobs, Author at North West End UK

8Dec

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Dancing Shoes – Traverse Theatre

Unbridled joy. A tonic. In an almost panto-style atmosphere this brilliantly written work of Edinburgh-based duo Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith is brought to life in celebratory fashion, complete with audience participation, and the themes (NOT memes); addiction, isolation and depression. Still with us? The set is comprised of five chairs and an Eric’n’Ernie curtain through which, eventually, reluctantly, steps our Byrne-esque hirsute hero Donny (Stephen Docherty). ‘Dancin’ Donny’ encounters Craig (Lee Harris) and Jay (Craig McLean) in a local community centre where amongst the Craft Workshops, Yoga (and Baby Yoga) activities on offer are sessions for recovering addicts. With Maggie, who always takes the central chair and alternates the direction of conversation depending on the d...

2Dec

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Bee Asha – Traverse Theatre

As part of The Soundhouse Winter Festival we’re treated to a vibrant set from poet, spoken-word, rap, jazz, dance, multi-faceted artist Bee Asha, but more of that in a minute… Support is no less than erstwhile keys player for The Vaselines, Carla J Easton, playing a clutch of songs from a forthcoming album that started life in a small recording booth in Nashville. With Brett. Dignifying a Fender Mustang (ok, could’ve been a Jaguar or Jazzmaster), peppering the set with anecdotes ranging from buying said guitar from Glasgow’s salubrious West End, to adventures halfway up a Norwegian glacier with Mr Hefner himself, Darren Hayman, she’s accompanied by ‘the best-dressed man in music’, Paul Kelly on acoustic. He was well-attired but a touch of glitter wouldn’t have gone amiss. What reall...

Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening – Traverse Theatre

29Oct

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening – Traverse Theatre

Kathryn Tickell is one of Folk’s superstars, though it’s a title she’d probably toss over her shoulder in embarrassment. Prolific and eclectic from an early age she’s delivered albums of her own too numerous to mention since 1985 while collaborating with artists ranging from The Penguin Café Orchestra to Sting to Andy Sheppard. And most points in between, staying resolutely modest and self-effacing. Tonight, she performs with a slightly altered line-up of The Darkening, a creation inspired by twilight, or, as the French put it, ‘Entre Chien et Loup’, that time of day when a certain magic – both exhilarating and malevolent - is in the air. Together they perform what’s been dubbed ‘Ancient Northumbrian Futurism’ and while it’s an accurate description it’s also worth learning from one of Kath...

17Sep

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Our Brother – Traverse Theatre

The horrific events that took place in Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) under the Khmer Rouge between 1975 – 79 are well documented, but writer Jack MacGregor has - to good effect -dramatised a true, less well-known incident from 1978. An idealistic Scots professor, simply referred to as ‘Stranger’ (played by Bobby Bradley) managed to grab 15 minutes with Pol Pot, or ‘Brother No 1’ (David Lee-Jones). With him was ‘American’ (Nicole Cooper), armed with enough knowledge of the atrocities to remain somewhat less effusive. This piece explored the (chiefly Marxist) motivation and ambition shared, initially, by Stranger and Brother, the notion that there was a way to create an egalitarian, agrarian utopia. Upon a simple platform covered in white sheets the three actors performed this inten...

The Real Australia – theSpace @ Niddry St

10Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

The Real Australia – theSpace @ Niddry St

Reality TV, as we know - as we all SHOULD know - is scripted, planned and edited with precision a brain surgeon would be proud of, supposedly representative of ‘real’. With tongue firmly in cheek, the talented performers of Playon.productions aim to take it down – or rather, down-under - with this fast-paced, chaotic, too-short show featuring ‘eight ordinary Australians’ as they commune on Rottnest Island for the season finale of, guess what… The Real Australia. Every tragedy ends with a death (or similar), every comedy with a wedding, so… James is betrothed to Kylie, who has a sister, Danni, who’s a bit grumpy about it all. Sam, iPad permanently in hand, runs the wedding destination and is trying to keep everything on track but has committed a romantic error involving Brendan, who ...

When Billy Met Alasdair – Scottish Storytelling Centre

9Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

When Billy Met Alasdair – Scottish Storytelling Centre

Enthralling. Feel free to locate your battered copy of ‘Lanark’ but under no circumstances attempt to speed-re-read two days before the show. Breathe… turns out it’s not necessary. Author & playwright Alan Bissett is the proud owner of a photo showing the two Scots cultural icons at the launch of said tome at Glasgow’s Third Eye Centre in 1981 and wondered how the conversation between the two might have gone. But there’s stuff before we get there… It's a simple set, just Bissett in front of us alternating between Connolly and (attaches glasses, cues the lighting) Gray, telling their own stories in lively monologues, insights into how and why they ended up doing what they do/did. There’s an armchair to Bissett’s left and a table on which sits a bottle of Glenfiddich (a rather spec...

100% Scouse Comedy – Laughing Horse@West Nic Records

8Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

100% Scouse Comedy – Laughing Horse@West Nic Records

For something so foul-mouthed and filthy, this has to be described as a breath of fresh air. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s unhinged, off the hook, unmanaged and uncensored. Never the same two nights running. And just the right side of offensive. Depending on one’s perspective, obvs. Probably the only show to survive a wrong - Hitler-related - turn. It’s a bit like stumbling into the Late & Live of yesteryear, except it’s only 8.30pm. Kyle Legacy and Dean Coughlin are our hosts and anyone who’s followed the goings-on at Liverpool’s Hot Water Club these last few years will be familiar with these two already. From the get-in to some jumping hip-hop, feelgood reigns supreme and these lads don’t allow things to flag. The language is industrial but with a scouse accent it’s almos...

0% Beer Loves Me, Women Fear Me, Sheep Were Unavailable For Comment (Dan Boerman) – Beehive Inn (Lounge)

8Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

0% Beer Loves Me, Women Fear Me, Sheep Were Unavailable For Comment (Dan Boerman) – Beehive Inn (Lounge)

‘2pm, upstairs in a pub, there are worse places on a Wednesday afternoon!’ And we’re off for an hour in the company of amiable, amenable Kiwi Dan Boerman, lately of this Midlothian parish if the dispensed information is correct. Though not offered up is anything about 0% Beer, scared women or sheep. Little matter, he has another show on across the Grassmarket, ‘Dan Boerman Folds A Fitted Sheet’, so why not pop across there later to avoid anything about sheets, fitted or otherwise. Though he did actually perform said manoeuvre on Calton Hill recently, attracting sizeable hordes of observers, which was, to coin his bon mot, ‘unreal’. And looked like a damn funny diversion. This afternoon’s fare, he explains, is ‘work-in-progress’ so if you attend, prepare to be involved, but it’s f...

Twonkey’s Zipwire to Zanzibar – Laughing Horse @ Dragonfly

6Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Twonkey’s Zipwire to Zanzibar – Laughing Horse @ Dragonfly

Whether it’s a night train to Liechtenstein or basket weaving in Peru, you can guarantee a Twonkey show will have little or nothing to do with the topic in the title. So, this proceeds with scant reference to Zipwires or Zanzibar and tonight doesn’t even feature Twonkey – he’s dead! A tin of contaminated condensed milk… no struggle… probably in the library, without Colonel Mustard as a witness. Fear not, his widow, Twonketta—replete with hair-bows, heels, painted nails and pop socks—is here to guide us through the labyrinthine ‘structure’ of the annual experience. Google synonyms for ‘strange’, ‘surreal’, or ‘weird’ and you still won’t find words to describe this. Upon departure, one’s head is full of ‘incidents’, just not necessarily in the right order. There was a song containing ...

6Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Miles – Summerhall TechCube

Recorded in March 1959 and released in August the same year, Kind of Blue consists of five tracks, totaling 45 minutes and 45 seconds of what is often considered the most important jazz ever recorded. It fuelled the progression not just of jazz, but also of soul, funk, hip-hop, and even mainstream popular music—impacting the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and beyond. And yet, Miles Davis himself dismissed the label “jazz,” remarking that “it’s just what white folks call our music.” How did he create, orchestrate, and supervise the album Kind of Blue? While no one would accuse Miles of false modesty, his explanation was disarmingly simple: they assembled the best—or most appropriate—musicians for the task. The album marked a leap from the Bebop structures of the time in...