Assembly George Square Archives

Beats on Pointe – Assembly George Square

27Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Beats on Pointe – Assembly George Square

Beats on Pointe is undoubtedly one of the standout shows at the Fringe this year, delivering an exhilarating blend of dance, music, and humour that captivates the audience from start to finish. The production, by the Masters of Choreography team, is a vibrant celebration of movement and music, showcasing a dazzling array of dance styles, all performed to perfection. From the moment the show begins, the energy is palpable. The opening sequence features a thrilling competition between hip hop and ballet dancers, with hip hop ultimately emerging as the victor. This set the tone for the rest of the performance—a dynamic fusion of classic and commercial music, paired with choreography that seamlessly blends different dance forms. One of the most striking aspects of "Beats on Pointe" i...

Dylan Mulvaney: FAGHAG – Assembly George Square

26Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Dylan Mulvaney: FAGHAG – Assembly George Square

As someone eager to explore a variety of shows at the Fringe Festival, I knew I had to cover one with an LGBTQ+ theme. FAGHAG by Dylan Mulvaney turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. This show is a brilliant blend of storytelling, stand-up comedy, and musical performance. Dylan Mulvaney uses her humour to share her deeply personal journey of transition to womanhood. The story begins in a delightfully imaginative way, with Dylan as an angel. God tells her it’s time to be born as a human, complete with funny details like where she'll be born and that she'll wear a size 7 shoe. Dylan's excitement about coming down to Earth had the audience laughing right from the start. However, the humour is balanced with deeper themes. After her birth, she realizes she’s in a male body...

Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow – Assembly George Square

26Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow – Assembly George Square

The stage is set with Tez Liyas and Viraj Juneja, performing as DJ Pali and his roadie Jay, two men bonded by family ties and with generational differences set about reflecting on past and current life challenges whilst DJ’ing at an Asian Wedding. The wedding guests are provided by the audience seated with tables and chairs inclusive of a bar to replicate being at a wedding, simplistic and effective. Pali reminisces his youth when he was a top DJ with his decks and was cheated out of winning a competition by a rival DJ. He is a shy respectable man who loves his Corsa, Chi tea and dreams that one day he will have an LED dance floor. In contrast to his nephew young Jay who likes drinking when working, is self-absorbed and very dismissive of Pali’s life. Jay thinks of Jay and their rel...

Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0 – Assembly George Square Studios

24Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0 – Assembly George Square Studios

Georgie absolutely nailed it with this show! From start to finish, the laughter was non-stop, and I wasn't alone—everyone in the audience was in stitches. She had us all howling with laughter, barely giving us a chance to catch our breath. This performance easily ranks in my top three comedy shows of the Fringe this year. Don’t worry if you’re not in healthcare; you don’t need to be in the medical field to find her material hilarious. Her humor transcends professions and speaks to something everyone can relate to. That said, if you are in healthcare, especially the NHS, you're in for an extra treat. About half the audience seemed to be in the medical profession, and they were practically falling out of their seats, laughing so hard. Her stories, especially about giving the wrong dru...

Rahul Subramanian: Who Are You? – Assembly George Square

23Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Rahul Subramanian: Who Are You? – Assembly George Square

Rahul Subramanian’s comedy show was an absolute delight—a perfect blend of humour and insight, making it a total entertainer from start to finish. He kicked off the evening with a hilarious take on Indian parents and their expectations, particularly their classic line about not wasting food because "kids in Africa are suffering." Rahul then twisted this familiar statement by imagining a child’s response: "What about Indian kids?" The punchline— “That’s for African parents to tell”—was both unexpected and brilliantly funny. Rahul steered clear of sensitive topics, keeping the show light-hearted and accessible to all. His observations on the journey of becoming a software engineer and the reactions of nosy relatives had everyone in stitches. Another highlight was his bit on sales c...

19Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Deadheads – Assembly George Square

Miriam (Maria Pointer) hasn’t seen her sister, Jade (Gráinne Dromgoole) for two years. Their mum is about to remarry, and the sisters awkwardly reconnect while sorting through boxes of memories in the loft. The conversation is interwoven with scenes from their childhood. The sisters have a five-year age gap, and nearly-four-and-a-half-year-old Jade looks up to big sister Miriam. Miriam nurtures Jade and gives her advice. Sometimes she messes with her, like when they play hide-and-seek and Miriam pretends that Jade is invisible. As they get older, Miriam becomes the rock of the family, supporting their mum when times get tough. She’s strong in public, but vulnerable deep down. No wonder she moves away to focus on her career. When the sisters reunite, Miriam is outwardly more successf...

Out of the Blue – Assembly George Square

18Aug

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

Scotland

Out of the Blue – Assembly George Square

Out of the Blue, as always and forever, parade a cacophony of happy harmonies, joyous jingles and merry melodies. They stem from Oxford university, and they’ve been coming annually year in, year out to the Edinburgh festival to raise money for their chosen charity. It is an explosion of joy and a wonderous, marvellous experience. 20 young guys with perfect harmonies, a great sense of joy, a great sense of fun and a vibrancy that makes the building shake. The tone, the attitude, the approach is irresistible, endearing and beguiling. These guys know what they're doing. They've been residents of the festival for years. I first saw them in 2007 and was blown away. It's simple. It's clean. It's family fun with joyous songs from across the years and a smorgasbord of music! And the voca...

In The Sick of It – Assembly George Square

17Aug

By H.S. BakerNo Comments

Scotland

In The Sick of It – Assembly George Square

In the interest of transparency, I must declare from the start that I worked as a nurse in the NHS for over forty years. But this show, which I will struggle to define adequately, is by no means of interest only to NHS workers. We all use the NHS, we all care about the NHS, we all complain about the NHS and we all agree with the values of the NHS – “free at the point of need, providing care from the cradle to the grave.” Not only would everyone be entertained, amused, informed and moved by this show, but I almost feel attendance should be mandatory! “In the Sick of it”, presented by Wake the Beast, is a fusion of laugh out loud comedy, serious drama, audio newscasts, recorded interviews, audience participation, and some pretty cool music and crazy dancing. Th...

Bronwyn Kuss: Sounds Good – Assembly George Square Studios

15Aug

By Triona ScullyNo Comments

Scotland

Bronwyn Kuss: Sounds Good – Assembly George Square Studios

Bronwyn Kuss makes her highly anticipated solo debut at Edinburgh, bringing her signature dry charm and sharp wit to the stage. Known for transforming everyday misadventures and questionable life choices into comedic gold, she captivates audiences with her deadpan delivery and wry observations. A writer and comedian celebrated for her masterful storytelling, Kuss has already earned accolades like the Director's Choice Award and Pinder Prize at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. With her sharp and perceptive observational comedy, Kuss is sure to leave you laughing long after the show ends. The X-rated music playing before she takes the stage gives Kuss her opening gag, setting the tone for a deep dive into her past traumas. She scrutinises memories of her younger self, including her enco...

9Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

The Last Laugh – Assembly George Square

A standing ovation at a Fringe show speaks volumes. Paul Hendy's (writer and director) The Last Laugh deserves loud applause and whoops of appreciation. It is funny and touching. The set is perfect, the lighting spot on and the performers are wonderful. Bob Golding as Eric Morecambe has that lovely little bounce perfected; Damien Williams channels the late Tommy Cooper brilliantly and Simon Cartwright’s Bob Monkhouse looks and sounds just like the man himself, right down to the mahogany tan. The warm-up music is a sound bath of Bernard Cribbins, which my neighbour joyously sang along with. Songs about a man digging a hole or Ernie and his horse and cart … there are few silly comedy songs these days, if any. Aimed at a predominantly baby boomer audience with money to spare and...