Scotland Archives - Page 55 of 93

Hendrix and Us – The Jazz Bar (Venue No.57)

11Aug

By Amy HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Hendrix and Us – The Jazz Bar (Venue No.57)

Scottish jazz-funk guitarist Aki Remally presents this ear-shattering and mind-blowing tribute to Hendrix. Just like Hendrix, Remally and his crew expertly navigated the binary between rock and jazz creating a sound that was both delicate and powerful. His singing was so alike Hendrix that when Remally spoke between songs his Scottish accent was a (pleasant) surprise. The other musicians were also incredible, and they all worked together like organs in a body to bring the band to life. Although it is impossible to pick a favourite from this set-list the impromptu addition of Red House featuring meandering interludes on the electric guitar was incredible. Whilst All Along the Watchtower was a crowd-pleaser with its funky riffs. Throughout, the performers played with passion which made th...

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It’s Off To Work I Go – theSpace @ Niddry St

10Aug

By Christina SchmidtNo Comments

Scotland

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It’s Off To Work I Go – theSpace @ Niddry St

In his autobiographical solo-show, Phillipe Andre Coquet takes the audience on a journey through his remarkable life. From growing up in New York, close to gangs, drugs, hookers and pimps, to being a teenager in 70s Hollywood discos, to spending 25 years in a New Age cult, and to a midlife career change as an erotic masseur – Coquet has seen it all. His story is musically infused with classic Broadway songs such as ‘Life is a Cabaret’ or ‘Glitter and be Gay’, as he simultaneously explores the history of sex-workers in Broadway musicals, the very thing that made him a theatre-kid and a performer later in life. His performances are all acapella, because ‘his accompanist didn’t accompany him to Scotland’, as Coquet explains. However, his beautiful singing voice makes up for it. Ther...

Twonkey’s Greatest Twitch – Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms (Ballroom)

10Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Twonkey’s Greatest Twitch – Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms (Ballroom)

There will be few Fringe sights this year more unsettling than The Wobbly Waiter, a dismembered, dead-eyed puppet & frying pan fixture, advancing down the aisle… to you. To the strains of the Custard Club song. Except, a short while later, The Ship’s Wheel appeared. The relief in the room was palpable once a woman near the front agreed to take the expensive sausage and two fellows on the left the Huge Red Knickers. Their most intimate adventures successfully described by the mind-reading ship’s appliance (despite one denial), Twonkey returned to the stage to continue something resembling a revue of his greatest moments from the last ten or so years. Nine more than he’d ever envisaged when putting his first show on in 2010. Might’ve been 2011 but everything’s fluid in the Twonkeyverse. ...

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet – Pleasance at EICC

10Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet – Pleasance at EICC

Two households, both alike in dignity In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unlean, And booze makes one of the lovers rather quite mean! Shit-faced Shakespeare are at it again, turning another Shakespeare classic into comedy gold as one of our leads is absolutely bladdered. We join a cast of incredible, traditionally trained actors as they put on a condensed version of the well known play Romeo and Juliet, or at least they attempt to do so. Each night a different cast member will increase the difficulty of both their job and their peers by getting drunk, and if the audience doesn’t think them drunk enough more alcohol will simply be provided leaving you with a version of Romeo and Juliet like y...

Little Ward of Horrors – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

10Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Little Ward of Horrors – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

The idea of Little Ward of Horrors sounds brilliant: a sketch show led by health care students regarding working in the medical field and NHS. Mix in some Little Shop of Horrors songs with the lyrics swapped out to fit the theme and you’ve got yourself the potential for a very funny show. It’s not to say that this humour was not delivered, after all the team had some very funny moments but unfortunately the show did not quite live up to its full potential. The musical side of things really could have worked, there’s some fantastically changed lyrics in there that fit the theme brilliantly, but the delivery of the numbers felt full of nerves and in need of some more showmanship. Other than the members of the team who were playing the live music (very impressively may I add) the mu...

MATES: The Improvised 90s Sitcom – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

10Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

MATES: The Improvised 90s Sitcom – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

MATES is an improvised theatrical performance which takes it’s inspiration from the 90s sitcoms we all know and love. Complete with the over the top characters, stereotypes and of course a New York back drop. Unlike the classic sitcoms this team doesn’t need a laugh track to tell its audience when it’s funny. These three talented performers had the audience laughing from the get go with their charisma and overall likability. Just like the characters from everyone’s favourite sitcoms, this cast are charming, funny and a little goofy at times, you really do feel immediately that you’re amongst a few mates. In this improvised performance the audience choose the name of the episode by shouting out random words or locations for a double bill episode of this amusing sitcom. Once selected t...

Spring Awakening – Greenside @ Riddles Court

10Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Spring Awakening – Greenside @ Riddles Court

Dynamic Theatre presents the story of the sexual awakening amongst a group of teenagers at a strict religious school in Germany in the late 19th Century. As you might imagine, this requires a delicate directorial touch and sensitive staging approach, all of which Dynamic passed with flying colours. This production also includes scenes of a sexual nature as well as teen suicide, which perhaps could have been better advised by the theatre staff. The singing quality in this production is really excellent as evidenced from the first opening number, Mama Who Bore Me, with some beautiful harmonies. The acting is also particularly strong given the challenging environment that the teenagers find themselves in, repressed and abused by the adults at seemingly every turn. If that all sounds rat...

Crizards: This Means War – Pleasance Dome

10Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Crizards: This Means War – Pleasance Dome

This was – The funniest show I’ve seen at the Fringe this year! They say you are your own worst enemy… well not during wartime. The UKs lowest energy double act, as they like to call themselves, are back. After a very successful Fringe in 2022 as Cowboys, Will Rowland and Eddy Hare take on the much sillier subject of war. Guitars in hand they strum their way into explaining that whether or not any of this is a good idea, they are going to do it anyway. The classic double act sees the serious Hare try, with mounting frustration to tell the true story (allegedly) of his granddad and the important role he played in winning the war. A fine example of the genre, deadpan Hare and mischievous Rowland, eyes shining, replete with dimpled cheeks and wide grin thinks up ways to parado...

Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome – Debating Hall, Teviot Row House

10Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome – Debating Hall, Teviot Row House

This was – A tour de force by an expert impressionist! Jon Culshaw twice in one day, I am getting spoiled! Earlier on I had the pleasure of reviewing Lena (****) at Assembly, George Square, in which Jon takes the starring role as Hugh Green. And it goes without saying that he was brilliant. They say it takes 10,000 hours to accomplish ‘expert’ status in your chosen field. Jon’s 30+ years as one of the UK’s top impressionists certainly puts him in the expert category, and he shows no sign of slowing down. This brand new show was sure evidence that he is still current, still growing and right at the top of his game. Treating a packed house to a show that spotlights his vast impression library and phenomenal memory for tone and intonation and timing. This may have been expected, what wa...

10Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

Scotland

Aionos – Edinburgh Fringe Online

Toasterlab’s Aionos is a mixed reality, experimental performance, which promises to blend Ancient Egyptian history with the fantasy, sci-fi fairy tale world of Star Wars. The production hopes to appeal to gamers, fans of online gaming streams, and anyone curious about theatre and/or Ancient Egypt by combining elements of all these things. It’s an exciting and brilliant concept, but also a lot to handle. There are three ways to view the show: in person, via livestream or using a virtual reality (VR) headset. This review was written based on the online stream. The show was produced based on a concept by Debbie Deer Productions in consultation with multi-disciplinary theatre practitioner, Ari Tarr. The piece opens with Anubis, God of Death (Shaharah Gaznabbi) introducing their livestream s...