Scotland Archives - Page 50 of 93

15Aug

By Danielle FarrowNo Comments

Scotland

The Messenger – Assembly Roxy

Motion. Emotion. Toilet Humour. This masked physical theatre play grabs from the start and we soon see the stakes are high. An imperial figure initiates the process for A Mission, where someone is endowed with the ability to carry this out through the bestowing of a special hat, accompanied by rousing adventure music. Costume is of the Korean Joseon period, but we quickly follow this new Messenger into the modern world, and there the fun begins. Hangings allow the set to swiftly change from neutral to a photographer’s studio / home. Different characters are strongly depicted, from an old photographer and the ill wife to whom he is devoted, to various amusing customers - including a dog - wedding planners, and, of course, the mysterious Messenger. The focus is on the relatio...

What You See When Your Eyes Are Closed/What You Don’t See When Your Eyes Are Open – Summerhall

15Aug

By Euan HuthNo Comments

Scotland

What You See When Your Eyes Are Closed/What You Don’t See When Your Eyes Are Open – Summerhall

What You See When Your Eyes Are Closed/What You Don’t See When Your Eyes Are Open is a very strange piece of art. You are in a small room, and as you enter you are greeted by an eight-foot-tall orange Cyclops who is staring at you. Behind him, a man lays on the floor with the name “Mamoru” on his jumpsuit. The show begins and Mamoru is on location reporting for the news about the fifty-foot Cyclops attacking the city, and like all good fringe shows there’s plenty of audience interaction too. I’ll try to refrain from saying too much about the events of the show, as I feel work of this kind is most effective when you go in completely blind, but to be honest I also don’t think I could begin to explain it clearly anyway. That’s the sort of piece this is, it’s a thought-provoking narrative ...

Creepy Boys – Summerhall Demonstration Room

15Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Creepy Boys – Summerhall Demonstration Room

Two self-identified Creepy Boys in the Shining tradition are throwing their 13th birthday party, with their reluctant babysitter Sharon on tech and an audience full of potential best friends. What follows is a mixture of games, make-belief, some low-level satanism and a surprising amount of 00s (I guess this show definitely earns the right to call them the naughties) nostalgia, mostly around pop songs and the first Spiderman film, all against the cheery backdrop of a seemingly disused Victorian surgery demonstration room decorated with some balloons. (ah, the Fringe, where if it can't be used as a performance space, you're just not trying hard enough. Or maybe you're just trying at all.) Company Scantily Glad Theatre and writer-performers Sam Kruger and S.E. Grummett made their Edinb...

Nobody’s Talking About Jamie – Underbelly Cowgate (Iron Belly)

15Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

Scotland

Nobody’s Talking About Jamie – Underbelly Cowgate (Iron Belly)

I am still not 100% sure whether this is a true story or not, but honestly it doesn’t matter. Whether fact or fiction, Jamie Finn has crafted a highly relatable, consistently entertaining and at times moving performance. Charting the highs and lows of romance and friendships, Finn takes us on his journey out of his first relationship and into the whirlwind life that followed. Accompanied by numerous original songs, the best of which is ‘a song for my ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend (Warren)’, Finn’s storytelling is hilarious and heartfelt. The songs were all very funny, and suitably drove the plot. His voice was at times nasal and slightly out of tune, but I think this was a purposeful choice for the character. He isn’t meant to be a godly rockstar! There are so many moments in...

15Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

Scotland

AnotherKind – Edinburgh Fringe Online

AnotherKind is a multi-media scrapbook of the creative process, inspired by Amy Louise Wilson’s award-winning play, Another Kind of Dying, which tells the story of a young man who moves from the rural Eastern Cape to Johannesburg after the death of his father. For anyone who watches theatre but isn’t involved backstage, it’s easy to think that rehearsals mostly consist of actors repeatedly performing scenes until they stick, but AnotherKind offers a unique insight into what it actually takes for a cast to develop characterisation and explore plot to ensure that their show is as intricate and vibrant as it can be. A product of the pandemic and the effect it had on in-person theatre, the piece features heavy use of typed observations and narration, which are cleverly amended and corre...

Twenty People a Minute – theSpace on the Mile

14Aug

By Christina SchmidtNo Comments

Scotland

Twenty People a Minute – theSpace on the Mile

‘Twenty People a Minute’ is a new play that provides a terrifying outlook of what the near future could look like. Set in 2030, the play follows four people fleeing from their homes for different reasons – whether being persecuted for their gender, sexuality, or fleeing from war and natural disasters. These refugees of tomorrow highlight the social, political and environmental crises plaguing the world today and how they might impact individuals in the future. Written by Samantha Robinson, her prose seamlessly becomes poetry whilst the fragmented storylines slowly intertwine and come together in the end. Her excellent writing carries the audience through the play, being fast-paced and using repetitions to underline the characters constant questioning of themselves and the situation they...

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

The concept of this, from the group that also produces Shamilton earlier in the day, is to take shouted audience suggestions and to create a hilarious comedy musical on the spot. When I visited, Mimi Todd and Dear Euan McGregor were considered, but the clear winner on the shoutometer was Barbies of The Galaxy – the Musical. And I grudgingly have to admit that it was pretty damn amazing what they came up with. A funny, quirky, catchy musical with some inspired choreography, amazing music, great singing. It was a bit like watching a very early workshop run of a comedy musical that a comedy musical genius has been working on, in his garage, for the last six months. That’s the kinda vibe we are talking about. How?? This is a fickle thing, a show that one night might produce a one sta...

The Blondie Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Blondie Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

Comparison is the reviewer’s critical tool, and at 35 shows into the Fringe of 2023, it is only getting sharper! In the world of good, better, best, this one is good but could be better. And ironically, front singer Reine Beau might well be the first one to stand up and agree. In this brand new show, the winning Night Owl docu-style formula works really well with video and audio clips from Blondie’s back story throwing new light on areas that even die-hard fans might be surprised to see and hear. There is also the superb musicianship of the Night Owl band, who are as usual fantastic and note perfect. What works less well is Beau straining at times to reach the intensity and high notes of the new age Punk sensation that was Debbie Harry. Less than half way through the run I rea...

IMA (pray) – Assembly, Murrayfield Ice Rink

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

IMA (pray) – Assembly, Murrayfield Ice Rink

Hungarian group Recirquel Cirque Danse led by Bence Vagi bring this highly unusual aerial gymnastic show, to the equally unusual venue of Murrayfield Ice Rink. No ice here but this is certainly a pretty cool show, as evidenced by my two teenaged children who were simply blown away. Operating as six individual performers each with one solo performance per day at times ranging between 12:00 noon till 19:30. We signed up to the 16:30 performance, which featured artist Renato Ille’s, who gave a simply stunning performance, combining dance and aerial gymnastics, not to mention extreme strength, set within a light and sound experience that takes your breath away. As to the ‘performance’ itself, no spoilers here, suffice to say that it was an emotional almost religious experience wit...

Shakespeare for Breakfast – VENUE C aurora

14Aug

By Danielle FarrowNo Comments

Scotland

Shakespeare for Breakfast – VENUE C aurora

Fancy some Love Island Shakespeare? If part of that doesn’t really appeal, fear not - there is plenty of the other to keep you happy! ‘Shakespeare for Breakfast’ has been running for decades and knows how to provide fun entertainment in its mixing of modern pop culture with bardic puns, a good dose of original plot and yes, actual Shakespeare lines, all served with a croissant and beverage (hot or cold, as you prefer). On this occasion, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ plays out within the setting of a reality tv programme for would-be lovers. For those - such as myself - not familiar with that particular form of pop culture, the show still provides plenty of laughs and sometimes you pick up on specific references / tropes through other audience members’ responses. I imagine it works the ...