Wednesday, December 25

Scotland

Dear Billy – Assembly Rooms
Scotland

Dear Billy – Assembly Rooms

Partick, birthplace of comedian, Billy Connelly, back when it was a small countryside village on the outskirts of Glasgow, on the banks of The Clyde, famous for fish and hunting, Aye, it had a hundred chippies and you had to watch out for people with knives! The world and the words of National Treasure, Billy, are brought gloriously to life by multiple Fringe-First winner, Gary McNair, accompanied by the musical talents of Simon Liddell and Jill O’Sullivan. But this is no tribute act, despite the obvious visual similarity between McNair and a young Billy. Instead, it is an array of stories and recollections, of the big man, hilariously voiced and acted by McNair, collected across the length and breadth of Scotland, most humorous, but some surprisingly deeply moving. From his childho...
Mhairi Black: Politics Isn’t for Me – Gilded Ballon
Scotland

Mhairi Black: Politics Isn’t for Me – Gilded Ballon

This show is an absolute joy. Tumultuous applause greets Mhairi Black’s entrance. From then until the show ends 70 minutes later, she captivates the audience with her humour, insights and brilliant storytelling. Unsurprisingly the show’s sold out. Try very hard to get a return for one of the best shows at this year’s Fringe. It’s now nine years since Mhairi Black became an SNP MP, overturning a huge Labour majority. Black was part of the SNP landslide in 2015 when the party won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats at the General Election. Aged only 20, she became the youngest MP since the early 1800s. Still a student at Glasgow University, Black took her final exam after the election, gaining a first-class honours degree in Politics. An impressive speaker, she became deputy leader of the SNP at ...
One Sugar, Stirred to the Left – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall
Scotland

One Sugar, Stirred to the Left – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

World Premier Based on his own lived experience, following the death of his father, award-winning composer Jon Lawrence, turns playwright in a quirky, bittersweet tale, which may have a sad ending built-in but leaves a pleasant aftertaste, nonetheless. Hamish and Henry lie in hospice beds. They know they are dying, but they have not lost their sense of humour, or their need for human contact. They still have their dignity, and for one of them they find a reason for living, at least a little longer, in a final task to be completed. Like a final episode of Still Game much of the best writing here comes in the pitch-black gallows humour, but also the life truths, shared between coffin-dodgers Stephen Corrall (Henry) and Duncan Airlie-James (Hamish). A pair of old curmudgeons, rea...
Showtime! – C Venues, C Aurora
Scotland

Showtime! – C Venues, C Aurora

EM The Master Productions Showtime! is a tough one.  Conceptually, it works, (an exploration of seeking fame at all costs) but there is so much effort that it feels desperate, which is an uncomfortable place to put your audience … which is, no doubt, deliberate. The tale is about extremes of emotion and extremes of effort and, so, it was unremitting and manic. A few moments of calm would have given the audience time to digest and would have counterbalanced the wrecking ball. It is a small venue and yet the performer wears a mic. This may be an artistic choice, as it couldn’t possibly be necessary. Was it to suggest the trappings of performance? One needs the kit to be good? We jump from piano, ego and alter ego and sound bites of angst. Costumes go on and off, hair comes dow...
The Outrun – Church Hill Theatre
Scotland

The Outrun – Church Hill Theatre

Amy Liptrot's 2015 memoir of a generation lost to trivia and over-consumption certainly struck a chord. A film of the book is released this year plus this co-production between Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. The Outrun is beautifully staged. Milla Clarke works some artistic magic, along with a collection of talented creatives from Lewis den Hertog on video (superb), Lizzie Powell on lighting, Michael Henry and Kev Murray on music and sound. The piece is cleanly directed by Vicky Featherstone. Vicki Manderson’s chorus opening as waves is very atmospheric and intriguing. Set partially in Orkney, waves are relevant. Additionally, a wave can knock us off our feet and fighting a wave can prove fruitless. Metaphorically, the waves work for this pie...
Sinatra: Raw – C Venues, C Aurora
Scotland

Sinatra: Raw – C Venues, C Aurora

Richard Shelton is marvelous in his portrayal of that ol’ crooner, Sinatra. Set in 1971, Sinatra: Raw recreates a 2 am show in Palm Springs. Here, Frank is opinionated, open, honest and enjoying Jack Daniels on ice. He is, of course, singing. Shelton is from Wolverhampton originally. He now lives in LA. Seven years ago, this particular Edinburgh Fringe show set him up for life, and he has since performed it in London, New York and Los Angeles to great acclaim. In fact, he is so well-liked that he was gifted one of Sinatra’s own dinner jackets which fits him to a tee. If you are a Sinatra fan, get yourself along to see this recreation of Ol’ Blue Eyes and hear about the Rat Pack, the love affairs, the unfairness of life with its ups and downs. Shelton has cracked Sinatra’s voice a...
William Kite Has Memory Issues – Paradise in the Vault
Scotland

William Kite Has Memory Issues – Paradise in the Vault

With an ageing population, it is becoming more likely that your life will be, or has been touched by a diagnosis of Dementia. You’ll have experienced first-hand, its ripple effect on all the lives it leaves an impression on. For the affected individual, the advocacy provided by family and friends is paramount to ensure that they’re receiving the care they need, and that they’re kept safe and feel supported. Dottyb / Robot Parrot Productions present a snapshot of the barriers faced by advocates in seeking the necessary assessments and appointments for their loved ones. Such as the long wait times on the phone, lack of communication between agencies, feeling at a loss with all the various barriers, feeling powerless as their loved one’s care needs slowly increase as the disease tak...
Stuffed – Pleasance Courtyard
Scotland

Stuffed – Pleasance Courtyard

It’s already been said, but when is it going to change? This call to action becomes even more frantic, accompanied by pounding heavy synth beats which pulsate with the warning of arson on a national scale. Multi award winning Ugly Bucket Theatre are back with ‘the bad stuff’, and a heavy sprinkling of macabre comic relief. Its feasible that foodbanks could soon set to become one of the biggest industries in the UK as it establishes itself as a permanent fixture in communities. Notably for those people in the bottom 25%. The demand has grown at a phenomenal rate and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down with more people than ever having no choice but to access this support.   Ugly Bucket use a range of mime and clowning, playfully creating nightmarish sequences which highlig...
Christopher Hall: Girl For All Seasons – Gilded Balloon
Scotland

Christopher Hall: Girl For All Seasons – Gilded Balloon

A celebration and salute to all the women who have made an impact on Christopher’s life, and no doubt, have helped shape his funny bones into the stellar comedian he is today. An hour just isn’t long enough to spend with Christopher, his natural warmth and cheeky quips are laugh out loud funny. Oozing natural charisma and charming flamboyance, he glides around the stage with vivaciousness, throwing in spunky one liners and cheeky observations. From navigating a ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ moment of soul searching with a potential sexual conquest, to his own ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ epiphany. Christopher takes us through his younger days and beyond with stories and recollections which are extremely funny and relatable. Reminding those of us over a certain age that the ability to measure someone’...
Addict – theSpace on the Mile
Scotland

Addict – theSpace on the Mile

This new piece of writing hooks you in to the addictive dark side of social media use. Where the line between what’s virtual and real, can disappear within the space of 174 characters of a simple Tweet. Written by Tony Voller, Addict is structured and based around the five stages of addiction which demonstrates the psychological impact and behavioral changes as addiction takes hold. In this case, triggering a freefalling snowball effect of when reality is blurred upon the creation of an online alter ego. Likeable Paramedic John unexpectedly becomes a Twitter sensation after a tweet challenging a misogynistic comment made against a female MP goes viral, turning John into an overnight hero.   Amongst all the likes and comments is the expected attacks from trolls who ma...