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James Phelan: The Man Who Was Magic – Underbelly Bristo Square

8Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

James Phelan: The Man Who Was Magic – Underbelly Bristo Square

I was captivated from the moment I entered the theatre. The stage lighting was vibrant and psychedelic, perfect for a night of illusions and entertainment. James Phelan displayed a visually stunning magic show that was also filled with humour and cleverness. Though the magic itself was impressive—particularly one particularly memorable instance where it seemed as though a card had travelled through the air between audience members—it was James's sense of humour and timing that were truly able to command the evening. The audience was laughing the whole time, and the atmosphere in the room never fell because of his interactive and comedic stage presence. Phelan's stage presence was welcoming and assured, such that the entire show felt intimate and inclusive. The way he interacted w...

7Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

007 Voices of Bond – theSpace Triple X

Celebrating 60+ years of Bond themes, 007 Voices of Bond features Maia Elsey and the Night Owl band performing, mostly chronologically, just under a dozen songs from the film series' history, sometimes accompanied by a guest performer for some duets, and by a projected “M” character for extra links and humour (as well as some inaccurate facts: Moonraker was made before For Your Eyes Only). Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Craig era dominates, with all but one of his five themes making the show (Sam Smith's proud first draft “The Writing's On The Wall” is a wise omission), compared to two each for Connery and Moore's longer runs (who get more than Dalton, who gets more than Brosnan). While this may result in disappointing omissions at least for some older fans – this is a Fringe-length show o...

7Aug

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

A Squash and a Squeeze – The Lowry

Julia Donaldson is something of a third parent in our family, with her books (and Axel Scheffler’s iconic illustrations) being the bedtime story of choice most evenings. So, of course, we were not going to miss the opportunity to see their first collaboration (written in 1993!) on stage at the Lowry. The story itself is a brilliant rhyming tale, where an old lady complains that her house feels too small, and a wise old man suggests she takes her farm animals, one by one, into her home. Of course, when they are all in there, the house feels smaller than ever, but as soon as he takes them out, the old lady realises that her home has more than enough room. It’s a fable about perspective and being grateful for what you have, however the book is a quick read, and the show lasts for an hour, ...

7Aug

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

By Royal Appointment – The Lowry

The month of August in the world of theatre traditionally tends to be quiet, with eyes turned towards Edinburgh and the delights of the Festival and Fringe. It was therefore a surprise to see ‘By Royal Appointment’ drop into my inbox for review this month; a show with a stellar cast; fantastic director and written by a prominent television writer making her first foray into work on the stage. Unfortunately, the combined efforts of such talent merely result in a pedestrian, obvious and lacklustre production which reminded me of the description of the camel as ‘a horse designed by a committee’. Daisy Goodwin is no stranger to writing about the private lives of the Royal family, her ITV series ‘Victoria’ was a huge worldwide success, and she has chosen familiar ground with her first produc...

6Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Waxen Figures – Summerhall

Muto Major are described as an Audio-visual duo but there are a quartet of performers here, who provide a powerful and contemplative feast for the senses in this primal view through the lens of Scottish folklore. Their show features electronic trance music intermixed with some very beautiful live Gaelic singing, contemporary dance, laser projection bringing Pictish carvings to life and micro-filming of wax and clay figures. In truth it is not clear what messages are being conveyed, and the slow rhythmic vibe, incense filled atmosphere does have a soporific effect, on me at least. It’s reminiscent of a Body Balance routine. As if to wake us from our 21st Century sleepwalk, a dancer stops and shouts; You’ve forgotten your mother tongue You’ve forgotten your stories You’ve ...

Twonkey’s Zipwire to Zanzibar – Laughing Horse @ Dragonfly

6Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Twonkey’s Zipwire to Zanzibar – Laughing Horse @ Dragonfly

Whether it’s a night train to Liechtenstein or basket weaving in Peru, you can guarantee a Twonkey show will have little or nothing to do with the topic in the title. So, this proceeds with scant reference to Zipwires or Zanzibar and tonight doesn’t even feature Twonkey – he’s dead! A tin of contaminated condensed milk… no struggle… probably in the library, without Colonel Mustard as a witness. Fear not, his widow, Twonketta—replete with hair-bows, heels, painted nails and pop socks—is here to guide us through the labyrinthine ‘structure’ of the annual experience. Google synonyms for ‘strange’, ‘surreal’, or ‘weird’ and you still won’t find words to describe this. Upon departure, one’s head is full of ‘incidents’, just not necessarily in the right order. There was a song containing ...

Strange Young Girls – Camden People’s Theatre

6Aug

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Strange Young Girls – Camden People’s Theatre

Written by Abby Greenhalgh and co-directed with Megan Dunlop, Bossy Boot Productions presents Strange Young Girls, a bold new play inspired by the real-life friendship between Michelle Phillips (The Mamas & The Papas) and Sue Lyon (Lolita). Winner of Best Play, Best Writing, Best Direction, and Best Actor at the Durham Drama Festival, it is a coming-of-age tale as these two characters come to terms with their changing identities, the uncertainty of their futures, and whether their friendship will last. Set in Los Angeles during the swinging sixties, the play focuses on 17-year-old Michelle (played by Grace Graham) as she prepares for her new life in San Francisco. While packing, Michelle is suddenly interrupted by the return of her 14-year-old best friend, Sue (played by ...

Present Laughter – Frinton Summer Theatre

6Aug

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Present Laughter – Frinton Summer Theatre

Life can be impossibly challenging, especially when one is a celebrity. With adoring fans who know no boundaries, and friends and staff who make up their own, life is never dull. Welcome to the chaotic comedic world of Garry Essendine, an actor at the top of his game – who everyone wants a piece of! ‘Present Laughter’ by Noel Coward is a masterpiece in scripts that have stood the test of time. First staged in 1942, this production is as charming as it is action-paced and witty. Set in the week before Garry (Nicholas Murchie) is off on tour in Africa, his world collides into what can only be described as a farcical, very funny mess. The number of people, plots, subterfugical shenanigans and ironic intrigues is genius, but then this is a play celebrating Coward’s sparkling wit. W...

6Aug

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Miles – Summerhall TechCube

Recorded in March 1959 and released in August the same year, Kind of Blue consists of five tracks, totaling 45 minutes and 45 seconds of what is often considered the most important jazz ever recorded. It fuelled the progression not just of jazz, but also of soul, funk, hip-hop, and even mainstream popular music—impacting the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and beyond. And yet, Miles Davis himself dismissed the label “jazz,” remarking that “it’s just what white folks call our music.” How did he create, orchestrate, and supervise the album Kind of Blue? While no one would accuse Miles of false modesty, his explanation was disarmingly simple: they assembled the best—or most appropriate—musicians for the task. The album marked a leap from the Bebop structures of the time in...

6Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Chopin’s Nocturne – Summerhall

“10:15am — WTF?!” is Aidan Jones’s opening exclamation, and a fair one. It’s not often you’re asked to laugh — and think — before your second coffee. But by the end of his 50-minute set, this Australian comedian and pianist has the audience fully on board, combining comedy and classical music with irreverence, warmth, and surprising emotional depth.Chopin’s Nocturne is built around Frédéric Chopin’s much-loved Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2 — a piece that, for many in the audience, will stir up memories. For me, it resonated deeply. My late father used to play the Nocturne when I was very young, and hearing it live again, laced with Jones’s affection and analysis, was unexpectedly moving. While the show is pitched as comedy, for me it was not funny in the conventional sense — or ra...