Scotland Archives - Page 15 of 94

44 Sex Acts in One Week – Pleasance Dome

16Aug

By Gill LewisNo Comments

Scotland

44 Sex Acts in One Week – Pleasance Dome

Hilariously bonkers and face aching funny. A squelchy take on the classic radio play. There’s no room for blushes in this deliciously naughty apocalyptic rom-com. Smutty sex guru Malaine Guttierez suggests that she may be in the possession of some seriously strong pelvic floor muscles by recommending that we ‘grab life by the clunge’, and have as much sex as we possibly can, all we need to do is buy her new book, ‘The 44 Sex Acts that will change your life!’. We’re sold! Guttierez’s hardcopy ends up on the desk of budding journalist Celina, working at the magazine ‘She Squad, and fed up of writing mindless clickbait articles (including a hologram baby announcing its own death). Struggling to pay her rent, and with her precious ‘serious’ writing held to ransom by her dominee...

The Red Room – Greenside @ Riddles Court

15Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

The Red Room – Greenside @ Riddles Court

The infamous red room of Lorraine Castle is said to be haunted and has seen the deaths of several people. But our protagonist (Ellie Ball) is a sceptic and, despite the warnings from the 3 castle inhabitants, has decided to spend the night in the room, alone. Or is she...? The Red Room was adapted from a story by HG Wells (writer of The War of The Worlds, The Invisible Man, and The Time Machine, amongst others) by the performer's sister Charlotte Ball. It's told entirely from the point of view of the protagonist and on that single night (with a few semi-flashbacks through tellings of what happened to previous occupants), with only the performer, a torch and a covered mirror in the corner. Ball is an energetic and likable performer, bringing both urgency and the occasional moment ...

Stepping Out – Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre

15Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Stepping Out – Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre

Mavis (Sophie Williamson) teaches a weekly tap class in a church hall. Most students are rather uncoordinated, but they have fun anyway. Then they are invited to perform at a local gala. Will they be ready in time for the big day? Stepping Out, written by Richard Harris, has a lot going for it as a community theatre production. It has a mostly female ensemble cast and is, itself, about a community group preparing for a performance. The excellent cast have some great lines to play with, but I think the script does have some flaws. There are some hilarious moments, with one liners such as a pointed “You know, I used to be fat…” and “Just pretend. Like you do with your husband.” It feels a lot like an old-fashioned sitcom. I enjoyed the build-up to the final dance scene, where the c...

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Ahhh! The youthful enthusiasm approach! Recently graduated from QMU, Rona Johnston, writer and lead performer, gathers her (5) Marys to tell the story of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots. The 6 young ladies squeeze onto the tiny stage, smirking, impetuous and ready. With a strong feminist thread and music at its heart and a SOLD OUT run, this feels close to being a hit! But SIX this is not. Not yet! Through a mixture of verse and song we follow Mary and her inner circle (known as her Marys) from France to Scotland and on to London and her ultimate demise. It is a strong story which lends itself to performance. Eight songs (soon to be released on Spotify) light up the production, ranging from Celtic ballads to grunge-rock anthems. Alli Von Hirschberg on electric lead guitar is a star ...

The Kate Bush Story – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Kate Bush Story – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

I took my seat at this one slightly concerned for the welfare of the singer. Would she try to be like Bush and fail, or try to be like Bush, but just be a parody or mimic, affecting a false voice (the worst of all options!), or just try not to be like Bush at all? The whole premise of the show seems like a bear-trap. After all, who can compare to the incomparable Bush, sing the unsingable songs, or be the unbearable complexity that is Kate. The first two intro songs of Hounds of Love and Wuthering Heights do nothing to quell my concerns. Thank God therefore for The Man With the Child In His Eyes, which sees Richards sitting down on keyboard, calm the hell down, and channel the essence of Kate for the first time with a sensitive and beautiful interpretation. Brilliant! The wonderf...

21: The Music of Adele – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

21: The Music of Adele – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Ella McCready comes from an early life immersed in the music of Adele, a true fan, which is very apparent in this performance. Close your eyes, and you could easily be in the front row of an intimate audience with one of the all-time greats. Her voice is remarkably similar, singing and phrasing are faultless which is obviously a good thing, right? McCready’s tender, breathy, rendition of When We were Young, which she acknowledges as one of her all-time favourites, and mine, is one of the undoubted highlights of this dedicated homage. However, there is always a fine line between mimicry and artistry, and this walks perilously close to the former. In danger of becoming the equivalent of listening to a greatest hits album, salvation here comes from an unlikely source, the skins. The...

007 Voices of Bond – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

007 Voices of Bond – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Following a brief video-briefing from M…M….Mike, we are passed into the very capable hands of femme fatale Ella McCready, resplendent centre stage in shimmering red sequin dress, supported by a full band. The scene is set for a journey through the music of Bond in the more than capable hands of Fringe music experts, Owl….. Night Owl. So, relax into the superior comfort of real leather upholstery, and the stunning acoustic of The Symposium Hall. All the expected songs are here, but also some welcome surprises. And these are not mere copies. McCready’s brilliantly Jazzy, upbeat version of Nobody Does it Better, is quickly bettered by an elastic and colourful interpretation of, For Your Eyes Only, a sure improvement on the dour Easton original. McCready’s range is exceptional, worki...

15Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Depression vs Anxiety – Waverly Bar

Anxious & Hilarious: Performers with Anxiety and Depression Deliver Smash-Hit Comedy—This Is What Makes Fringe Festival So Special! I cannot believe that this show was done by people with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. No, it’s not what you’re thinking—it’s a complete comedy show, and an absolutely brilliant one at that! Moni Zhang, who led the show, was exceptionally funny, setting the tone for an afternoon of laughter that you wouldn’t expect from a group dealing with such heavy personal challenges. As the afternoon unfolded, a series of comedians took the stage, each sharing their own experiences with mental health in the most hilarious ways imaginable. What they say on stage is 100 percent true about their situations, but the way they say it leaves the audienc...

15Aug

By Marcelina KruczyńskaNo Comments

Scotland

Malion – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

The play was a sensational mix of modern and ancient theatre, transcending time and language that connects modern audiences and Greek theatre buffs alike. Speeches of Gods and Goddesses were spoken in verse. The use of verse displayed the play’s connections to traditional Greek theater. However, this was broken up with modern conversations and ideas that the everyday viewer could understand and connect with in one way or another. This in turn made the play more accessible to a wider audience. Created by Tired Horses Theatre, written by Joseph Meardon, directed by Mikael Phillips and assistant directed by Hannah MacMillan. The stage was transformed into an art studio that looked like it belonged in today’s society just as much as an ancient one. The play seemed to be along the lines ...

The Edinburgh Seven – Greenside @ Riddle’s Court

15Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

The Edinburgh Seven – Greenside @ Riddle’s Court

The Edinburgh Seven were the first women to go to medical school in Scotland - and indeed the whole UK. But they faced discrimination from the University of Edinburgh, ridicule from male lecturers, criticism in some newspapers, and insults and even violence from male students. Their story began in the 1860s long before women (or even most men) had the vote. In 1869 Sophia Jex-Blake applied to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Then in her late twenties, she had been born and educated in England. She lived for a while in the USA and applied to Harvard University for a place in their medical school, but her application was declined because she was a woman. On returning to England Jex-Blake wrote an essay, entitled ‘Medicine as a profession for women’ in which she argued that w...