Edinburgh Fringe Archives - Page 8 of 16

3Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Coffee Kid – Underbelly Cowgate

If you have a free afternoon this Fringe ditch the overpriced coffee and indulge in Coffee Kid. Nominated for Best Performer and the Spirit of Wit award at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2022, Coffee Kid is a one-woman play exploring the absurd character Beanie Clooney (Síomha McQuinn) the love child of George Clooney and a Nespresso machine. The show was unsurprisingly whacky but also relatable: the familiar coming-of-age themes of identity, love and belonging were revitalised by the originality of the protagonist. It also brought together classic Fringe comedy and new ideas in a refreshing way: satirical jokes towards Womanhood, Hollywood and patriarchy were complimented by more niche puns about the unique character and plot. Despite moments of depth the storyline was kept light-hearted ...

2Aug

By Louise PennNo Comments

Scotland

Gethsemane – Edinburgh Fringe Online

Gethsemane is a new musical by John Richmond which tells the story of Nadi and Chloe, who were contemporaries of Jesus. This piece in currently in development as a full show and so plays out as a visual album in its current 100-minute form, with songs and narration. Although the images are often simply complementary to the narration or songs, they are sometimes set out of their time - I can see why the parallels are being made (for example, with the homeless in a 21st century London). There are no actors and no on-screen performances. The leading characters are Nadi, a carpenter who works with Jesus in the workshop and based on the “naked disciple” referenced in the Gospel of Mark, and Chloe, the daughter of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich merchant. Must Nadi fight the Romans with his br...

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! Returns to Edinburgh Fringe and on Tour

26Jun

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! Returns to Edinburgh Fringe and on Tour

As rehearsals begin today, Francesca Moody Productions, Kater Gordon, Wessex Grove and Fiery Angel announce the full cast and creative team for the new expanded version of Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!, the sell-out smash-hit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022, which returns this summer for a four week run at Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe from 2nd – 27th August before touring to Bristol Old Vic from 13th – 30th September and HOME Manchester from 5th – 21st October. The acclaimed original cast will reprise their roles in the hilarious murder mystery musical including Bronté Barbé (Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre) as Kathy, Rebekah Hinds (Oklahoma! Young Vic/ West End) as Stella, Jodie Jacobs (Rock of Ages, West End) as Felicia, TJ Lloyd (Guys and Dolls, Sheffiel...

23May

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

We need YOU at Edinburgh Fringe

It is that time of year again and Edinburgh Fringe is fast approaching playing across the Scottish capital from the 4th to the 28th August with the promise of 1000’s of shows to see at the most famous celebration of theatre anywhere in the world. Last year our team of reviewers who are based in the city or travelled up from parts of the UK to see shows for us managed to cover an impressive number of shows, but that was a fraction of the 3,334 shows performed. North West End UK are looking to make substantial additions to our team for the 2023 Fringe and it could be you! We are looking for people who love theatre based either in Edinburgh or who are travelling to Fringe this year. Whilst there is no minimum number of fringe shows we ask you to review, we have a minimum of 4 shows we a...

Horse Country – Assembly George Square Studios

29Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Horse Country – Assembly George Square Studios

Roll up! Roll up! Let’s talk car sales, magic tricks, Piaget, coercion and bedroom slippers. If you like your theatre slick, then Horse Country, directed by Mark Bell and featuring Daniel Llewelyn-Williams and Michael Edwards of Flying Bridge Theatre Company is for you. Fast paced and jam-packed with allusions to well-kent faces, films, songs and writers (Samuel Beckett, Arthur Miller and F.Scott-Fitzgerald come to mind), this ode to The American Dream with all its frailties is crafted for speed and requires quality performers to do it justice. C J Hopkins has written both character, Sam and Bob, with boundless energy and buzz. They spend their time trying not to address the underlying issues of a macho, capitalist society while constantly talking around the issues of oppression, domina...

28Aug

By Ella CatherallNo Comments

Scotland

Boom Town – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

‘Boom Town’ is billed as a story of family, morality and feminism. Set during the Gold Rush in a town named Crimson, the show focusses primarily on Beau Barton, the daughter of the town’s sheriff, as she tries to find where she fits in her hometown. The main selling points of this show are the performances by the actors, and the score. Vocally, it is very difficult to fault the actors, who effortlessly knock out incredible solos and ensemble numbers, with some really nice-sounding harmonies. This was also all done while singing in an accent, that was well-executed and consistent both throughout the show, and with each other. With regards to the score, Matilda Booth has managed to effectively fuse classic musical theatre with country-and-western influences, to give an end-product that do...

Kelty Clippie: The Musical – Greenside @ Nicolson Square

27Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Kelty Clippie: The Musical – Greenside @ Nicolson Square

This lively musical, set in Fife, returns to the Fringe and with memorable characters, delightful songs and plenty of laughs. The show is based on John Watt’s folk song of the same name and written by Willie Logan and John Murray. The Kelty Clippie is Maggie Blair (Jacqueline Hannan), who follows her dream and becomes a bus conductress in 1970s Fife. She is excited to wear her uniform and blows her whistle with gusto. On her first day she meets Boab the Driver (Linton Osborne) and finds herself going weak at the knees when he puts on his sunglasses and serenades her with a sensational performance of Are You Lonesome Tonight – who wouldn’t fall in love with such a man! The bus makes its way through Fife, from Kircaldy to Kelty. The plot is simple, with a se...

24Aug

By H.S. BakerNo Comments

Scotland

Earwig – Assembly Rooms

Impeccable timing, fine acting and sustained energy are what make this short play well worthy of a five-star rating. Too short really, I couldn’t believe an hour had passed so quickly and left the venue wanting more. This perky play, set in the silent movie era of the roaring ‘20s, tells the story of Marigold. Now a young woman, Marigold has been deaf since the age of five after contracting meningitis, she now lip reads and speaks perfectly. Although never formally qualified, Marigold has a passion for insects and has become an expert in the field of entomology. She lives with her mother, a snobbish northern woman with aspirations for herself and her daughter that have nothing to do with Marigold’s passion for creepy crawlies. She marries Marigo...

24Aug

By Dylan MooneyNo Comments

Scotland

I am Gavrilo Princip – Army @ Fringe

I am Gavrilo Princip follows the true story of the infamous, or forgotten, assassin responsible for the death of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the beginning of the First World War. A war where between 15 and 22 million people lost their lives. This play puts Princip in purgatory asking if he was really as bad as history makes him out to be. The production features two live musicians, a guitarist and a trumpet player, who, at various points, looked as bored as the audience felt. Both musicians underscore the piece, often playing far too loudly meaning writer and actor, Oliver Yellop, cannot be heard. In addition, sometimes the music is used in a very cartoonish style, such as the guitar mimicking gunfire, which detracts from the more serious themes explored in the play. Ye...

Absurd: A Live Cabaret Panel Show – PBH’s Free Fringe @ Roti

24Aug

By Kat CliffordNo Comments

Scotland

Absurd: A Live Cabaret Panel Show – PBH’s Free Fringe @ Roti

Absurd: A Live Cabaret Show was good, old-fashioned, silly fun! The show sprang into action right out of the gate and began with a good helping of audience participation! There were plenty of lighthearted, good humoured jokes about finding high quality cabaret in the basement of a restaurant. This variety show was an upbeat romp through a wide variety of acts. We had magic, stand- up comedy, sketches and singing (sort of) all loosely held together by the semblance of a TV panel show. There were heaps of audience participation with games and gentle ribbing of those chosen for various antics. The acts were random and varied either the standouts were Nira Tal who was a very funny lady and Aaron Jones was very enjoyable to watch with his mix of humour, jokes and magic and of course hi...