Scotland Archives - Page 64 of 128

Buckets of Blood: Fairy Tales Not For Kids – Pleasance Courtyard, The Green

1Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Buckets of Blood: Fairy Tales Not For Kids – Pleasance Courtyard, The Green

We have all heard the Disney versions of the fairy tales, the ones where the princess marries the prince, they live happily ever after and absolutely no one has to cut their alkalies off or dance in hot iron shoes. The original stories are not as well known and much more gruesome, after all not everyone can have a happy ending. Eden Storyteller takes us on a mythical journey through the original Grimm’s fairy tales that inspired the much more publicized ones, or more accurately the original fairy tales that inspired the Gimm’s stories. . Expect blood, cannibalism (in abundance), child abuse and well deserved stories of revenge. Eden is a natural performer and storyteller; he exudes charisma and charm. The venue is intimate which suites the show well, with Eden commanding the space wh...

‘Born in the USA (Leaving Vietnam’ – C Arts (studio), Edinburgh

1Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

‘Born in the USA (Leaving Vietnam’ – C Arts (studio), Edinburgh

This engrossing one man show tells the story of Jimmy Vandenburgh, a decorated marine who finds it difficult to come to terms with life after his military service in Vietnam War, and is swayed for a while by Trump. Like many veterans, Jimmy still bears the mental scars of the War. “I died once in Vietnam, and once every day since then,” he tells us. Although it’s nearly fifty years since the USA had to admit defeat and pull out of Vietnam, America itself - like Jimmy - is still scarred by that conflict in which nearly 60,000 Americans died - a huge total, though dwarfed by more than a million Vietnamese deaths (half of them civilians). During the 1960s and 1970s, while the Vietnam War raged, America was more divided than perhaps at any time since the Civil War. But the USA is just...

Burning Down The Horse – Pleasance Dome, Queen Dome

1Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Burning Down The Horse – Pleasance Dome, Queen Dome

If you haven’t heard of the Trojan Horse before then this will be an eye opening and hilarious introduction. As Greek leader Odysseus leads his men (and in this case women too) to war in a giant wooden horse the soldiers are starting to have second thoughts about how safe their plan is. They are also beginning to have doubts about their leader. Will the attack go to plan or is there a fair few limitations to storming a city in a giant flammable wooden horse? Fishing4Chips have put together a brilliantly well-rounded historical comedy centering around the famous Greek mythology. This highly immersive show is sure to make you laugh as well as to incite the “power of the people” into you. We as an audience are the soldiers, we are being marched to battle and we are being yelled at to stay ...

Cats: The Beyond Broadway Experience – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

29Jul

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Scotland

Cats: The Beyond Broadway Experience – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

This production of the iconic stage musical, Cats, is brought to us by a huge cast of accomplished young performers The programme lists 31 principals and 161 ensemble members. This is a truly ambitious production, with challenging songs and movement, and the cast rise to the occasion, showcasing their impressive dance, vocal and acting skills. The show is comprised of a series of “chapters”, each introducing us to either a character, or an aspect of the community of Jellicle Cats. At the interval, some audience members told me that they were struggling to follow the story, but perhaps it is better to think of the piece as a collection of interconnected stories. As Grizelda, Kirsty Montgomery has the challenge of singing the haunting song, Memory. As well as being vocally demanding, t...

22Jul

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Red – Scottish Opera Young Company

In this outstanding new adaptation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Scottish Opera’s Young Company take us on an epic journey through the archetypal stages of a woman’s life. As Red, the wonderful Maria Wotherspoon embodies four incarnations of one woman, with references to her splendid red hair throughout. In Act One, she is Little Red Riding Hood, the ingenue. The vengeful wolf is played with a wicked pantomime grin by Luke Francis. There is no sturdy woodcutter to rescue our damsel in distress; from within the wolf’s digestive system, Red discovers that there is magic in her hair, and saves herself and her delightfully surly grandmother (Findlay Peters), beginning to own her power. In Act Two, as Red Rapunzel, our heroine becomes a mother. She gives birth in a burning tower, flames red lik...

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience – Scottish Events Campus (SEC), Glasgow

11Jul

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience – Scottish Events Campus (SEC), Glasgow

Van Gogh, the man, who tried to be an art dealer and failed, tried to be a Pastor, like his father, and failed, and tried to be an artist and failed. And eventually gave up on life at the age of just 37, having sold one painting in his life, shooting himself in the chest with a revolver on 27th July 1890, and dying two days later. What would Vincent make of this remarkable exhibition, 134 years on. I wonder? A 50-minute train trip from Edinburgh, a refuel at the superlative Paesano Pizza (well worth the 20-minute wait), and a pleasant 30-minute walk by the river Clyde, on a surprisingly dry day, for Glasgow, brought me to the Scottish Events Campus, nestled between the pneumatically impressive Ovo Hydro and the iconic SEC Armadillo. Glasgow’s creative hub. Better known for live music...

Lea Salonga – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

3Jul

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Lea Salonga – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

A rare opportunity to see one of the greatest singers of our time, a true icon of musical theatre and a Disney princess twice over. The singing voice of warrior, Mulan and Princess Jasmine in Alladin, but perhaps best known for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon for over fifteen years, Salonga has a long list of stage and screen credits, spanning over 35 years. When Salonga took on the role of Kim in Miss Saigon in 1989, aged just 18, she went on to become the first Asian performer to win a Tony and one of the youngest to win an Olivier. In the 1990’s she played Eponine alongside, Michael Ball’s Marius in Les Misérables. The rest, as they say, is history. Most recently starring in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, in London’s West End, she has taken time out to tour the UK, for eight perfo...

28Jun

By Melissa JonesNo Comments

Scotland

Grease – Edinburgh Playhouse

Think you know Grease? Think again. This production takes Rydell High back to its gritty roots and it’s never been so refreshing. Forget your memories of Travolta and Newton-John politely bopping away in pastel pinks, Nikolai Foster’s Grease’s origins appear firmly rooted in the sardonic gritty teenage drama that Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey originally wrote. Here, the teenage hormones flow quicker than burger sauce, the cuss words come thick and fast and hand-jiving is a very serious business, indeed. Now sitting somewhere between a homage to Americana and a raw Westside Story, Douglas O’Connell's set design includes all key components of the era, reveling in Americana. One can’t help but feel a little High School Musical creep into the giant Rydell High with the bright red tracksuit...

27Jun

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Life of Pi – Festival Theatre

Life of Pi at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre is a treat for the senses. Based on Yann Martel's novel of the same name, the action commences in a bleak, bare hospital ward where Pi (Sonya Venugopal) is hiding under the bed. The clever use of projection (Andrzej Goulding) and sound effects (Carolyn Downing) indicate time and place. It is set pre-computerisation, so letters appear on the wall as if from a typewriter with suitable tap, tap, tap reverberations. As soon as recollections flood the stage, this grey, sterile room transforms seamlessly into a verdant, noisy zoo in India; a colourful Bazaar; and a ship’s deck without effort - as if by magic. Before you know it, the transformation has happened: we are adrift upon an ocean with no land in sight and several dangerous animals for compa...

Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier – Cre8 Theatre

27Jun

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier – Cre8 Theatre

Twisted is a retelling of Disney's Aladdin from the point of view of that cartoon's villain, Jafar (Fionn Cameron/Oliver Payn on alternating nights), portrayed here as a well-meaning public servant struggling to deal with his tragic backstory with Sherrazade (Cosette Bolt), and to fix the Magic Kingdom's (an amalgamation of Disney and Agrabah) issues, including its incompetent Sultan (Mitch Gardiner), immature princess (Mhairi Goodwin/Heather Richardson), criminal dude-bro Aladdin (Calum Philp/Orla Bayne) and belligerent neighbour Prince Achmed (Darren Walls). Unsurprisingly, much of the comedy is built around the Disney version of the tale. Quotes from song lyrics from the original film are peppered throughout the dialogue, scenes from the cartoon are comedically described to have happ...