REVIEWS Archives - Page 281 of 549

16Aug

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Greatest Days – Blackpool Opera House

This evening I'm at the Blackpool Opera House to see the official Take That musical – Greatest Days. The box office colleagues are so pleasant and very helpful at this theatre, going the extra mile to ensure we are happy, even changing our seats to make it more accessible for the person with me. The greeting from front of house and ushers were so welcoming and professional. I couldn’t have asked for more. The Greatest Days began it’s life at The Band the musical but has been revisited and renamed with a new cast, a new set and a new lease of life. With the book written by Tim Firth and lyrics by Take That, we are transported on a journey of love, loss and a heap of nostalgia. Five teenagers follow every move of the ‘Boys,’ the band they share a love for and their journey of winning a...

Crash and Burn – theSpace @ Niddry Street

16Aug

By Christina SchmidtNo Comments

Scotland

Crash and Burn – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Set on a private jet, heading to the climate conference COP26 in Glasgow: Oil Baron James Johnson with his employee and daughter are forced to share the plane with eccentric actor and activist Amodius Vassano and his personal manager. After take-off, they find out that this and other planes have been hijacked by a group of radical environmental activists and they are being held hostage, only to survive if Johnson confesses to his crimes. ‘Crash and Burn’, a new play written by Will Leckie, who also plays Amodius Vassano, aims to be a political comedy that wants to ask the question of how far activism can or should go. Whilst this is a great premise, although an unoriginal idea, the execution of it was rather poor. The play lacks structure, trying to tackle too many topics at once...

16Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Anna Vanosi Jazz Trio – The Jazz Bar

Escaping the bagpipes, the ticket pushers, the crowds and the traffic, to rest at peace for a quick hour and bathe in a little pool of jazz bliss with the Italian Diva herself, Anna Vanosi is just about perfect. Set below ground in the subterranean bunker that is The Jazz Bar, near the Museum, in Central Edinburgh’s melee, Vanosi ushered us through quite a quick catalogue of songs, mostly above love or lost love in the language of love, Italian. And some in the much less romantic English. Either language was fine with me, Vanosi’s voice was nectar in both. This is Vanosi’s second show at the Fringe this year, at the same venue, having completed a run of shows last week entitled, Late Bloomers Tales, which I also thoroughly enjoyed, but in a different way. The previous show is ...

16Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Cola Boy – The Space @ Symposium Hall

This show kicked off on Monday (13th) with a full house and Thursday & Friday are already sold out. It’s in of those infamously ‘intimate’ Fringe venues so move fast if you want the experience; for that primarily is what this is, rather a fleeting one at that. How many times have you heard the cliché ‘The book’s much better’? Author Ryan Battles did actually live and work in Dubai, his book an enjoyable, adventurous tome pulling few punches about a place he has ‘no desire to ever travel to again.’ However, squeezed into 40 minutes it ends up highlighting just two themes; the death (and ghostly return) of Jimmy’s bezzy mate Andy, and the nerve-shredding trip back to London to traffic 70 grammes of coke back into Dubai. We’re welcomed in from a drenched Hill Square by a groovy ...

Don’t Dress for Dinner – Frinton Summer Theatre

16Aug

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Don’t Dress for Dinner – Frinton Summer Theatre

In these dark times we desperately need to laugh and laugh you will at ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much or so hard or felt my laughter was getting in the way of the actor’s next line – which I was eager not to miss on account of the hilarity at stake. The storyline, in brief, goes as follows: a wife is going to visit her mother and her husband is going to take advantage of his wife’s absence by inviting his mistress over for the weekend. His friend who’d been his best man at the wedding then calls and the husband invites him to join, thinking he would make a perfect alibi. As it turns out when the wife discovers the husband’s friend is coming to stay, she cancels her visit to her mother because – as it turns out – she’s having an affair with him...

Chronically Hilarious – Museum of Comedy

15Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Chronically Hilarious – Museum of Comedy

Chronically Hilarious platforms disabled Comedians who pack a punch. It is often declared that any comedian worth their salt must be in Edinburgh, but no one ever talks about how inaccessible the city and the festival's structure are. So, buckle your seat belts for Six unsalty comedy comedians making a delightful evening about bits about being disabled with other disabled folks on stage and in the audience. Special mention for the BSL interpretation by Peter Abraham with the expert signing. 1 in 5 of the UK population is disabled, and 80% of these people have a hidden disability. That's over 10 million UK people with an invisible disability. Historically conversations are riddled with shame, disbelief and unasked advice. The collection of comedians who are so funny and also have auti...

15Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Singh’ing in the Rain – Camden Fringe

Mandeep Singh’s Singh’ing in the Rain is an effortless and fresh take on comedy. He breezes through bits of observation from tiny instances we have all faced but not dwelled on, perhaps. Mandeep's comedy timing is brilliant. He plays such a diverse set of funny and relatable characters. His judicious use of props and music, expertly supported by his tech Fiona adds to the comedic charm. From enjoying chips on stage that pack a punch to dojo eagle dragons who will listen to anyone troubling you and help you punch away your misery, Mandeep has the audience in splits. Remember thumb wars as a kid to pass the time waiting on the train? You can relive this memory on stage with a bit of competitive character, which will make you laugh till your stomach hurts. Remember that squishy banana you ...

The Magic of Terry Pratchett – Gilded Balloon Teviot

15Aug

By Stephanie DunkNo Comments

Scotland

The Magic of Terry Pratchett – Gilded Balloon Teviot

The show unfolded with a mix of anecdotes, on-screen jokes, and AI-created images, painting a picture of Pratchett's life that left me intrigued. From his school days to his status as the most shoplifted author in Britain, the show offered a glimpse into his world. The AI-generated images and sound effects added a unique touch, immersing us in Discworld's eccentricity. The heart of the show was his own voice and insights. His words, accompanied by shown illustrations, brought depth to the experience, evoking both laughter and reflection. While I might not be well-versed in Pratchett's novels, the comedy show piqued my curiosity. It struck a balance between humour and emotion, presenting an enjoyable evening that left me with a newfound appreciation for his work. If you're a fan o...

Nathan D’Arcy Roberts – Gilded Balloon Teviot

15Aug

By Stephanie DunkNo Comments

Scotland

Nathan D’Arcy Roberts – Gilded Balloon Teviot

Nathan D'Arcy Roberts' show was an enjoyable experience that had me laughing throughout. With a casual approach, Roberts shared relatable stories that resonated with the audience. His mixed-race background provided an interesting lens through which he explored the topic of racism. Roberts had a talent for finding humour in everyday situations, his storytelling had a natural and easygoing quality that made it easy to connect with. He smoothly transitioned from light-hearted subjects to more personal moments, discussing family dynamics and his father's challenges with drugs. A standout moment of the show was Roberts' retelling of his trip to California, which had the audience laughing. His take on a fictional Honest advert brought a fun and imaginative element to the performance, s...

Letter To Boddah – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Letter To Boddah – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

Taking inspiration from Kurt Kurbain’s suicide note to his imaginary friend Boddah, characters Billy (Kyle Fisher) and Tink (Jordan Reece) must decide whether to continue with their ill-conceived plan to explode a bomb in Tescos, killing themselves and countless other shoppers, or man -up and return to the reality of their dull and pointless existence. Kurbain finished his famous final note with the mantra that it is Better to Burn out than fade away, and that’s the big question at the heart of this explosive piece by writer, Sarah Nelson for Watershed Productions. Can Tink really blow up the nice lady on the hot food counter, who gave him an extra chicken drumstick, and does he really want to blow himself up on the day that his mum is cooking steak and kidney pudding, his favourite?...