Friday, December 19

Latest Articles

The Bareback Kings – The Hope Theatre
London

The Bareback Kings – The Hope Theatre

Hilarious, energetic and satirical comedy all rolled up in one. The Bareback Kings together since 2017 made up of Lynsey Bonnell, Rebecca Schuster, Juliet Morrish and Francesca Reid.  Masters of their game from on point contour makeup to editing and ‘mansplaining’ they guarantee an evening of guffaws and chortles. The drag-king comedy group effortlessly saunters through improvisation, cabaret and sketch. The show begins with the Drag kings breaking out into a synchronized choreography with lip syncing to match that would make Nsync blush. The beats of the show explore themes of connection between audience members. Through the show there is a strong critique of the social assumptions, reinforcement of consent, and topical discussions about the threat of Barbie on the modern man....
Critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is set to return to The Lowry, Salford
NEWS

Critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is set to return to The Lowry, Salford

Critically acclaimed musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is set to return to The Lowry, Salford in early 2024, direct from London. Disney villain. Octo-woman. Plus-size icon. Returning to The Lowry by popular demand, following a sell-out run in 2022. With an original hot pop soundtrack and trademark filthy humour, the production splashes back to Salford from Thursday 22nd February to Saturday 2rd March 2024. The Lowry dates will kick off the show’s 2024 tour, which follows a 10-week winter run at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant Friday 8th December 2023 - Saturday 17th February 2024 Tickets are on sale now. With a new script and production, the latest version of this hit show is bigger, bolder and sexier than ever before. When Disney released...
Scotland

Iain Dale: All Talk with Nicola Sturgeon MSP – Pleasance at EICC

Nicola Sturgeon received a rapturous reception when she walked onto the stage. The audience was overwhelmingly on her side with regular outbursts of applause in response to her comments. This was her first extended interview since she stepped down as Scotland’s First Minister five months ago. Her interviewer was the broadcaster, Iain Dale, who is also interviewing other politicians at the Festival Fringe. Although a Conservative, you cannot tell from Dale’s questions. His approach is conversational, not confrontational. Dale has a good rapport with Sturgeon who he’s interviewed twice before. It’s a wide-ranging interview on a host of subjects including some very personal questions. Dale reminds Sturgeon that at the start of the year she said she had ‘plenty left in the tank’ so wh...
Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Filth – Assembly George Square
Scotland

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Filth – Assembly George Square

I entered the venue first which meant I got to watch hundreds of people flood in and fill the room , everyone was chatting to me and each other about times they had been to Skinner's shows before, this was my first time, but the enthusiasm of the other audience members put me at ease, I got the idea it was going to be a highly entertaining and laughter filled hour, what I didn't realise was, I would be sat repeating his jokes to my friends later and laughing all over again.  The audience was star studded with other well-known comedians there to support Skinner giving the whole evening a touch of stardom. On the stage in the spotlight stood a lone microphone, in moody blue light – like a rockstar ready to roll. The atmosphere was lively, thanks to the upbeat music setting the...
Late Bloomers Tales – The Jazz Bar
Scotland

Late Bloomers Tales – The Jazz Bar

Italian Jazz and soul singer, Anna Vanosi, is fast become a Fringe regular since she came here 4 years ago. Her soulful voice and playful storytelling brighten up the subterranean room of The Jazz Bar. She is no stranger to the venue throughout the year, but during August it seems to be where she lives! This set is as much a coming-of-age tale as a musical show, Anna draws her life out with lyrical richness, always finding the right song to tell her story, from tourist guide to traveller through Asia, to full time singer, and all dedicated to her Italian Grandma who has always been her guiding light. The songs when they come are rich and beautifully sung, aided by two talented backing musicians. Time is different for different things, Anna’s asks, ‘how long does it take water ...
Paved with Gold and Ashes – Old Red Lion Theatre
London

Paved with Gold and Ashes – Old Red Lion Theatre

Julia Thurston’s Paved with Gold and Ashes effectively captures the “American” gold-dusted dreams and hopes of five of the many immigrant garment workers employed at The Triangle Shirt Waist Factory. Based on a true story, the play heart-warmingly encapsulates their journeys, working conditions, relationships with each other and the factory in a crisp hour, all leading to the tragic fire claiming the lives of 146 garment workers in 1911. Their interactions- shuffling between each other and the audience are cleverly and cohesively crafted using movement, song and visceral storytelling with directorial support from Maria Cristina Petitti, Warren Rusher, and Stephen Smith.  An intimate black box with static warm golden lights, wooden chairs and white fabric create a stri...
Macbeth: Sleep No More – The Space @ Niddrie Street
Scotland

Macbeth: Sleep No More – The Space @ Niddrie Street

A cleverly shortened and in places rewritten version of the Scottish Play which takes nothing away from its power and fascination, performed very nicely by a four female cast, in what is normally a male heavy production. All four actresses do very well to play a screed of different characters, but none shines brighter than Victoria Adler, who is scintillating in whichever body she is inhabiting. Alder’s sword fighting scene with Amy Floyd’s slightly pedestrian Macbeth is one of the highlights of the whole show, with audience members visibly shrinking back and pulling up legs from the thrusting and whirling bodies as the contest progresses to its inevitable bloody climax. Absolutely riveting stuff! Perhaps a bit more cut and thrust in the lines department would not have gone amiss...
Trojan Women – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Scotland

Trojan Women – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Phenomenal. Raw. A fusion of golden talent across time and space. Combining Euripides’ play from 415 BCE with outstanding modern expertise is genius. Jung Jae-Il, the musical director, composer, is behind the success of Parasite (2019) and the cult TV series Squid Game; Scott Zielinski has lit more than 300 productions with numerous leading directors; renowned video/projection designer, Austin Switser, swamps and caresses the senses in magnificent style; Cho Myung Hee’s clean-lined, gorgeous, set is drop-dead wonderful; Wen Hui’s choreography is faultless; Kim Moo-Hong’s costumes … I want one. And then, of course, there’s the wonderful writer, Bae Sam-Sik who is acclaimed for outstanding structure, profundity and eloquence. The direction and conception is down to Ong Keng Sen, whose produc...
Matilda Jr – Edinburgh Academy, Magnusson Theatre
Scotland

Matilda Jr – Edinburgh Academy, Magnusson Theatre

A lone pink teddy bear sits centre stage under a yellow spotlight, behind it a bare scaffold. Do not expect lavish sets, this is a stripped back and shortened, junior, version of this family favourite. But worry not, what it loses in artifice it more than makes up for in oodles of acting, singing and dancing talent, from juniors and adults alike, and a sound system to die for. The well appointed auditorium is full and child heavy, crisps and haribos are munched, capri suns slurped. There is an expectant murmur from the packed crowd, and why not, this is after all a totally sold out run by Edinburgh crowd favourites Captivate, old hands at putting on fabulous fringe productions. A child walks out and picks up the teddy bear, is joined by another and another until, by my calculatio...
Lear Alone – The Space Triplex
Scotland

Lear Alone – The Space Triplex

And Tomorrow Theatre Company brings us Lear Alone: a modern-day take on street living, aging and the modern scourge of dementia in all its guises. It was originally an award-winning Web Series shot on the streets of London. The punitive Covid lockdown saw the homeless finally safe inside, but the arts and artists were crippled and bound by isolation.  And Tomorrow is creating work that can be presented both digitally and on stage in our post-pandemic landscape. The company is working with CRISIS to highlight the plight of homeless individuals in our relatively wealthy society. They have funding from The Arts Council, Screensaver, Elysium Theatre Company, Entire, Tricolore, Theater Auf’m Kahn, Berlin, Actors and Writers London and The So & So Club. Directed by Anthony Shrubsal...