Scotland Archives - Page 62 of 93

5Aug

By Euan HuthNo Comments

Scotland

Drop Dead – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Everyone has heard of people doing rehearsals for their wedding, so their big day goes all according to plan and it’s the best day of your whole life. But what about a rehearsal for your funeral? Bit of a weird one, isn't it? Rehearsing for the most important day of your life that you never get to see? Drop Dead takes this idea and runs with it to tell a classic story of a group of oddballs fighting over who gets the inheritance, with an abundance of farcical devised comedy. The moment the show began I was immediately struck with how much fun the actors seemed to be having playing off each other, you can tell these are a group of people that really enjoy their work. Every actor brought their character to life in an energetic and wonderfully entertaining way that made all the intera...

Tales of a Jane Austen Spinster – Greenside at Nicholson Square

5Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

Scotland

Tales of a Jane Austen Spinster – Greenside at Nicholson Square

Finding love always seemed to work out well in the end for Jane Austen’s heroines, Austen’s books were filled with honourable gentleman such as Mr Darcy, Henry Tilney and Captain Wentworth, but Lilliana (Alexandra Jorgensen) hasn’t yet found her beau and wonder’s how she can do this. Maybe, a wander into the modern world of dating may help! Jorgensen (also the writer), plays Lilliana, a young lady who seems to have been passed over by men, whilst her friends and family receive plenty of attention. Beginning the tale in Austen era costume, Jorgensen’s character compares the world of dating in Austen’s period, to how we date today. It is an interesting comparison, and leads us into the world of dating apps, and consent. Who would not be charmed by a story inclu...

Better Days – Just The Tonic at La Belle Angele

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Better Days – Just The Tonic at La Belle Angele

A small tired-looking man pushes a brightly coloured piano down the street. A giant with the mean-eyed look of a pro linebacker dressed all in white with enormous fluffy angle wings negotiates his way carefully past a bus stop. It’s raining. Fish and chip from a posh van costs £15 and a small cup of watery cider £8. Yes folks its Fringe time again in Edinburgh. And kicking it off (for me) is this hedonistic fever dream lyric poem of the early nineties. This is Dylan Thomas, meets Trainspotting set in The Hacienda. Where ‘Better Days’ is actually set is a subterranean nightclub in the depths of Edinburgh’s Cowgate, at the slightly odd showtime of 13:30. It’s an interesting venue, maze-like and vast. Note to self to come back at 01.30! Ben Tagoe’s poetic story introduces us to Danny...

The Fleetwood Mac Story – The Space @ Symposium Hall

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Fleetwood Mac Story – The Space @ Symposium Hall

This was – A stunning and emotional performance. Welcome to this beautiful little intimate theatre, clean leather seats nicely spaced and on a steep rake, and with a brilliant acoustic, probably the comfiest music venue in all of Edinburgh - and not a bad seat in the house! An expectant and responsive full house attended this first performance and were certainly not disappointed. The standing ovation that ended this show was never in doubt. Hosted by the enormously talented Night Owl Shows duo of Hannah Richard’s and Alex Beharell, performing alongside the brilliant Night Owl Band who gave it their all this afternoon. Only their fifth gig of the day! There is a clever use of different band members to talk about the brief history of the band, which makes you feel really connect...

The Drowsy Chaperone – The Space @ Venue 45

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Drowsy Chaperone – The Space @ Venue 45

This is – Way better than you might expect from a school production – a hidden gem. I had to see this. Given that this is one of my all-time favourite musicals, and this is the only Chaperone on the Fringe this year, I had little choice! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer quality of this American schools production, by Charter Oak High School, supported by AHSTF, WorldStrides The show's own history is more recent than you might imagine. It started as a small sketch format comedy in 1998 before emerging as a more starry and elegant Los Angeles production a year later. The buzz stirred up by that production immediately set the wheels in motion for its transfer to Broadway, and the rest as they say is history. We view each scene through the eyes of the narrator (th...

How Long is February? – Edinburgh Fringe Online

5Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

Scotland

How Long is February? – Edinburgh Fringe Online

How Long is February? A fantasy in three parts — a video production as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Voices from the South showcase. The play is part satire, part narrative retracing of actual events from recent pasts and part a fantasy of what could 'justice' appear as. A very timely production with the growing fanatic violence across the world. Nisha Abdullah's laser focus and thoughtful kneading of the audience back and forth across 15 years leaves one churned and thoughtful. The talented troupe brings to the stage the painful, poignant and patient questions we must ask. The play holds space for our disbelief that humans are meting out such violence to other humans. It dips into our collective unconscious of earlier pogroms that mentioned communities to be exterminated as 'co...

The Ayes Have It, The Ayes Have It! – At Spiegeltent Palais Du Variété

5Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

The Ayes Have It, The Ayes Have It! – At Spiegeltent Palais Du Variété

This is politics as showbiz, an entertaining canter across a lush political landscape. An hour of political debate which was thoroughly enjoyed by a packed house in a wonderful venue. The evening starts with a prerecorded video message from actor Brian Cox. In Logan Roy style, he tells us to “enjoy ourselves - or else”. This show will be different each night. A series of ten debates on a variety of topics. The first night issue is one that has divided Scotland for a long time, particularly since the 2014 Referendum: “This house believes Scotland should be Independent”. The Director, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, introduces our ‘cast’ for tonight’s debate: Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, will propose the motion for the ‘Ayes’. David Davis, former Brexit Secretary, wi...

Wee Seals and Selkies – Scottish Storytelling Centre

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Wee Seals and Selkies – Scottish Storytelling Centre

Wee Seals and Selkies is a magical warm hug from children’s author, Janis Mackay. Her velvet voice and adept physicality captures young imaginations from the outset. As we enter, she sits on the edge of the simple set while her musician companion, Donald Scott, warms the atmosphere with this fiddle. In this delightful family show, storytelling and music combine to create an enchanting performance, evoking the Scottish northern seashores. The Wee Seal is the true tale of a seal born in the storyteller’s garden, while The Selkie Girl is a retelling for children of the much-loved magical selkie myth. Based on two of Janis Mackay’s much-loved books; The Wee Seal, and The Selkie Girl (Floris Books), the sea and the seals are evoked both on stage and by the audience. The lighting, c...

After this Plane has Landed – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

After this Plane has Landed – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

I had to see this musical out of guilt. John McCarthy was incarcerated in Beirut while I was mourning my mother’s passing. His capture wasn’t even a teardrop amid my grief. Five years later, I gave birth to my first born. A friend sent a message excitedly proclaiming it is the day that John McCarthy is released. Who? Nothing compared to the miracle of ten tiny toes and ten little fingers. A real human being who’d lodged in my womb for nine dark months had finally escaped. Then, just 32 years later, almost to the day, this play appears. I can now pay attention. Exit Productions “After This Plane Has Landed” provides a one-hour precis of The Friends of John McCarthy, Jill Morrell’s quest to free her then boyfriend, and the pressure upon their relationship once they are reunited. ...

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

RENT – Paradise in Augustine’s

Theatre joins us together in a shared experience to marvel at talent, commitment, application and teamwork. And to ponder the writer’s message. Edinburgh-based Bare Productions drew a rowdy standing ovation for this 1990s tale of fear and solidarity in AIDS riddled Bohemian Manhattan. My neighbour for the evening, a transgender Dane called Daniel, informed me that RENT is very popular in the queer community. He enjoyed the show, saying he likes slice-of-life style theatre and that, while this particular musical is no longer contemporary, having been created before he was born, it is still very relevant. Appreciating and understanding the social history of the queer community is important. That’s the magic of Edinburgh Fringe: sharing views and exchanging human warmth with someon...