REVIEWS Archives - Page 8 of 629

4Sep

By Christina SchmidtNo Comments

Scotland

Glenn & Flenn – Paradise in the Vault

Glenn & Flenn were the stars of a kid’s TV puppet show that has unfortunately fallen into obscurity. Both puppets and actors have been trapped in the studio and time has not been kind to them. Years of disuse made the puppets moldy and rotten, and the puppeteers might just be going insane. It’s a wonderfully strange idea and writer and director Frederik Bang’s script has a good build up to the finale and lots of hilarious and lovelifying humour. The Glenn & Flenn jingle and fun little songs particularly stand out and really pull the audience into this world, keeping everyone engaged throughout the show. The puppetry unfortunately did not work. Eyelines are not working on the construction side, there’ some odd choices like hiding the puppet being one’s back although the audie...

3Sep

By Phoebe Olivia Sian HobsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Heathers – Leeds Grand Theatre

The Heathers opened their candy store with a bang at Leeds Grand last night. Dang, what you think will be another upbeat American teen musical but this time with not one but three Rizzo’s named the ‘Heathers’, actually takes a dark turn and you soon realise you’re not about to watch another Grease, but a high school musical about damage, destruction and homicide. Not to worry though it’s all covered with humour, bright lights and toe tapping sing a long songs. The show follows the point of view of none other than low life nobody, ‘Veronica Sawyer’ played by Gerardine Sacdalan who’s itching for popularity until she sees an opportunity and shoots her shot… literally. The thirst for popularity lands Veronica a spot with the heathers and she enters a candy store full of toxicity, powe...

3Sep

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Wicked – Apollo Victoria Theatre

Wicked is currently the ninth longest-running West End show in history, having been a staple of London’s theatre scene since 2006, and it is not difficult to see why. Already beloved as a prequel of sorts to The Wizard of Oz, the musical has reached an even wider audience following its recent blockbuster film adaptations. Yet, despite how familiar the story has become, the West End production still feels every bit as magical as it should. From the moment the curtain rises, we are transported to the land of Oz and introduced to a story that goes beyond the familiar tale of the Wicked Witch of the West. At its heart, Wicked is a story about an unlikely friendship, prejudice, ambition and the people who shape our lives. The production makes an immediate impression with Glinda’s spectacu...

Shatter Resistant – Greenside @ George Street

3Sep

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

Shatter Resistant – Greenside @ George Street

The audience enters the dimly lit basement. It’s a humid day and I’m pleased to get a front row seat near the portable air-conditioning unit. A fellow audience member tells me this is her first ever Edinburgh Fringe show. She’s flown in this morning from Dublin to see her sister perform in ‘Shatter Resistant’. This is an impressive writing and acting debut from Isabelle Blanche. She has written a captivating, poignant and often funny show which she performs with gusto. She treats the audience as her best friends as she takes us with her on her emotional rollercoaster. Cassie, a recent University graduate, has been working temporarily for a marketing company. She has high hopes that her experience of advertising ‘shatter resistant’ mobile phone screen covers will lead to her being...

David Correos: Noise Zealand – Monkey Barrel Comedy

3Sep

By Ella BeckleyNo Comments

Scotland

David Correos: Noise Zealand – Monkey Barrel Comedy

David Correos’ show feels like hanging out in a state of delirium in your mate’s garage, stunk out with smoke, sweat and booze. From the moment you walk into the monkey barrel basement room Correos’ chaos is palpable, with dance music booming at full volume while idyllic videos of New Zealand’s landscapes play serenely on the presentation style TV at centre stage. As the audience file in towards their seats, Correos greets them individually with a sweet smile and handshake, he’s genuine, down to earth and generally lovable. ...

Collateral Damage – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

3Sep

By Al CarrettaNo Comments

Scotland

Collateral Damage – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

This week I’ve spent sixteen hours on buses commuting in and out of Edinburgh. You might not immediately appreciate the relevance of this fact, but the bus is a focal point of social interactions and a microcosm of society. Theatre gets interesting when it holds a mirror to dysfunction and reflects it. Listen to any given conversation on an Edinburgh bus and you will begin to hear what sets this play apart; realistic dialogue and a wholly naturalistic approach. The play has thematic structures that are highly topical and relevant. The driving trope in this piece is the effect of alcoholism on a tight knit family and the subsequent resolution and healing needed to progress. Human interest stories work when we are invested in the characters and in the circumstances presented, reasons,...

Blip Blarp: An Alien Love Story – Just The Tonic at The Mash House

3Sep

By David NicaudieNo Comments

Scotland

Blip Blarp: An Alien Love Story – Just The Tonic at The Mash House

Confident, rehearsed, and gloriously unhinged, Blip Blarp lands on Earth with an ambitious mission: conquer the planet and produce 1,000 offspring. Unfortunately for our intergalactic heroine, the real challenge isn't planetary domination, it's dating. Through “burlesque” flair, sci-fi absurdity, and plenty of comedy, showing how dating can be completely alien. The central joke is simple but effective: if an alien can understand the complexities of invading Earth, why can't she understand how to get a human to commit? Located in The Snifter Room at Just The Tonic at The Mash House as the last show of the day, the chaotic nature of that time slot and the difficulty in finding the venue adds to the mystery of the show. One of the show's greatest strengths is its confidence. Blip feels ...

Berliner Philharmoniker Residency — Usher Hall

3Sep

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Berliner Philharmoniker Residency — Usher Hall

The Edinburgh International Festival closed in spectacular fashion with a performance by the world-renowned Berliner Philharmoniker, an orchestra described by the Los Angeles Times as “the greatest orchestra in the world.” At the Usher Hall, the orchestra was conducted by Kirill Petrenko, its Chief Conductor since 2019, in a programme featuring two major works of the orchestral repertoire: Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor. The concert lasted around two hours, with one interval, and provided a magnificent conclusion to the festival. Elgar — Enigma Variations The first half began with Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Op. 36. The work opens with the theme, marked Andante, followed by fourteen variations, each portraying someone from Elgar’s circle. Rath...

3Sep

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Mere Mortals – Edinburgh Playhouse

Mere Mortals, which opened in San Francisco in 2024, is an ambitious and visually striking dance production choreographed by the internationally acclaimed Aszure Barton, who has been praised as a brilliant choreographer. Barton, a Bessie Award honouree, has collaborated with renowned artists including Mikhail Baryshnikov, and her experience and creativity are clearly visible throughout this production. At its heart, Mere Mortals explores the fascinating and increasingly relevant theme of artificial intelligence. The production is inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Pandora’s Box. However, rather than imagining a box that releases the evils and sorrows of humanity into the world, Barton reinterprets the myth through the lens of AI. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of what ...

Ten Ways to Die Happy – Underbelly Cowbarn

3Sep

By Ella BeckleyNo Comments

Scotland

Ten Ways to Die Happy – Underbelly Cowbarn

Coming to the Fringe for the first time, Italian company Sisifo production presents Ten Ways to Die Happy, an adaptation of the Italian production Dieci Modi per Morire Felici, written and directed by Emanuele Aldrovandi and presented in collaboration with Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione. As you enter the theatre, you’re given a slip of paper with a number next to a skull and cross bones – morbid! The set is...