Scotland Archives - Page 22 of 127

Frankenstein Afterglow – theSpace on the Mile

5Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Frankenstein Afterglow – theSpace on the Mile

Frankenstein: Afterglow is a neon-gothic mixture of poetry and puppetry set after Frankenstein and the Monster's final book confrontation in the Arctic. However, in this version neither died there, with the Monster instead subduing Frankenstein and bringing him back to his home in Switzerland. Set entirely within the room of Frankenstein's home in which the Monster keeps him imprisoned, the show is light on plot and strong on character, and its reverence for the book – bar a couple of twists on the material – may be an advantage for those who don't know the story well, or know and love it like a fan hearing a favourite song at a concert. Because of the subjective nature of these points, whether these two factors are criticisms or recommendations will therefore have to be left to the...

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Darkfield: Eulogy – Summerhall

Set in a shipping container outside of Summerhall this liminal experiment uses binaural sound and haptic feedback to provide an experience unlike many at the Fringe. This year, Darkfield have also introduced speech recognition technology into the mix, and a series of questions are asked at the outset to allow the algorithm to curate a more individual experience. They are pushing the boundaries, and with the powerful tools they have, they are closing in on their goal of ‘participation theatre’ but are not there yet. The storyline is set in a strange hotel, where you are transported to different levels by a lift, which you can feel and hear moving. Air movement across your face adds to the virtual reality. You also have a guide, in my case a young woman who whispers in my ear, whic...

Bluffstone is Starvin’ – TheSpace on the Mile

5Aug

By Charles PipeNo Comments

Scotland

Bluffstone is Starvin’ – TheSpace on the Mile

With its large ensemble of eight performers, including three musicians, Bluffstone is Starvin’ is a compelling but imperfect tragedy set against the familiar backdrop of the Wild West. Each actor brings something unique to the table and every performance is distinct and effective. The standout for me was Zachary Hodges, who plays the unhinged bartender Jim (and who also doubles as an instrumentalist, and who composed the original music for the show). Hodges brings a wide-eyed, frenetic energy to the performance that makes the character instantly loveable and memorable. It would have been great to learn more about this character, but with five other characters demanding attention in this 60-minute play, not all of them can be equally fleshed out. Many of the performances do seem a li...

5Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Devil’s Point – theSpace on the Mile

In this folk horror play from Cutty Sark Theatre, Ailsa (Laura Milton) and Sean (Logan Rodgers) are a young couple on a hiking trip up the mountain known as Devil's Point. But all is not well in paradise. And the clear tension between them from events in the recent past isn't helped by the stories of the previous travellers to have climbed the Devil's Point, not to mention the voices heard there that whisper your name... Devil's Point is a highly effective horror story from Director Eve Miller and writer Laura Milton. Very atmospheric in its sound (the music is by Oliver Armstrong, and the sound & lighting design is by Mia Renaldi) and shadow puppetry, like many of the best horror plays, it knows that horror and comedy are not opposites but partners. Rodgers and Milton deliver w...

Mr Chonkers – Summerhall, Anatomy Lecture Theatre

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Mr Chonkers – Summerhall, Anatomy Lecture Theatre

This unlikely named clown creation, Mr Chonkers, from American comedian, John Norris, is a Grade-A, nonsense-filled, gold-plated, home run, hit. It is just brilliantly silly and the bevvy-filled youthful audience that cram into the tiny semi-circular Anatomy Theatre auditorium are screaming with glee and pounding the wooden lecterns by the close! From the Gregorian Monk opening to the magic trick climax, the pacing, comic, timing and audience interaction are all perfectly aligned within the perfect space at the perfect time. All of his stars have lined up, as have mine! Like all great comic turns that have you laughing out loud for no apparent reason, I just wish I could record it, pull it apart, study it and understand it. But even then, Norris introduces enough variables into t...

8-Bit Dream – C ARTS | C venues | C aquila

5Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

8-Bit Dream – C ARTS | C venues | C aquila

Warwickshire-based Youth Theatre group, Square Pegs brings Ben Grant’s new, original writing, 8-Bit Dream to the Edinburgh Fringe this year. With this being Square Pegs’ 12th year at the Fringe, the company are well versed in the logistical restraints of the Fringe, utilising mixed media to create this absurdist play. Considering the tight turn-around given for get-ins and outs during the Fringe, it’s a wonder that Square Pegs have managed to incorporate such a sheer number of technical elements into 8-bit Dream in this short timeframe. Set in a 90s-esque ensemble style daytime television show, the show is broadcast by live camera feed (operated by the cast) onto a projection screen with multiple angles which we cut between throughout. A keyboard is played live to a...

Shirley: A Ghost Story – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

5Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Shirley: A Ghost Story – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

Inspired by the life of Shirley Jackson and the ghost stories of M.R. James, Shirley: A Ghost Story is a one-person play performed by Jasmin Gleeson and written by Josh King, together as Moon Rabbit Theatre. The play jumps between two settings, one past and one present, both equally haunted: in the past there is a young girl version of Shirley and a story her older self is desperate to tell, and in the present there is a husband profiting from her writing and trying to tell his own, rather cliched, ghost story. Unlike Shirley's husband's story, this is an atypical ghost-story, and Gleeson jumps ably between the two time-lines, juggling not just different settings and ages but also characters (including the buffonish and controlling husband) with humour and subtlety, aided by King's ...

100 Things You’re Overthinking – Alchemist Edinburgh

5Aug

By Ross MackieNo Comments

Scotland

100 Things You’re Overthinking – Alchemist Edinburgh

I had the pleasure of watching "100 Things You're Overthinking" at the Edinburgh Fringe, and I'm still grinning from ear to ear. In its 6th appearance at the fringe, you can appreciate why it has sold out in previous years. Ori Halevy and his merry bunch of standup comedians give a masterclass in taking the mundane and amplifying it to absurd proportions. They all tackled the intricacies of life and burning issues with a refreshing blend of humour and relatability. With immersive participation from the start, audience members write down the questions they are overthinking, anonymously, on pieces of paper. The comics then create a set on the spot, tailored to the audience, pure genius! From the moment they stepped onto the stage, it was clear that they were on a mission to skewe...

NYO2: Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony – Usher Hall

4Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

NYO2: Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony – Usher Hall

Edinburgh’s Usher Hall tonight hosts the European debut of NYO2—Carnegie Hall’s amazing youth orchestra for 14–17-year-olds. Led by the energetic conductor Rafael Payare, they perform a bold and exciting programme, including Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto and Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. The evening begins though with an unexpected treat, Jimmy López’s Perú Negro (2012), a dazzling tribute to Afro-Peruvian musical traditions. It’s rhythmically electric and full of colour, the highlight of the night for me. The percussion drives it with so much energy, and the whole orchestra plays with real joy and confidence. It’s a perfect way to start. Visually, the stage looks fantastic. The orchestra wears red and black, with cellist Alisa ...

4Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

The End of the Line – Bedlam Theatre

Four strangers are sat on a tube when a global warning sounds telling them that a nuclear bomb is about to explode and not only is it coming for London, but they are in its exact location. What can one do when they are faced with certain death? Do strangers really come together in their time of need and what is more helpful in such situation: acceptance or hope? With no signal and no way out, it’s time to reflect upon our life choices and decide who we want to be in our last moments. This show is well thought out and whilst the staging is simple the set is charming. A painted backdrop of a tube train and some very familiar seating covers that scream British public transport. Some light strobes are used to create the illusion of a moving train and our cast stumble upon the stage in t...