Surgeons Hall Archives - North West End UK

The Dead Ducks – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

8Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

The Dead Ducks – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

You can expect the weird and somewhat wonderful as The Dead Ducks troupe take the stage for a sketch show that takes place within a dead grandmother’s funeral, acting out scenes in which said grandmother has written in her will. The Dead Ducks are a comedy sketch troupe from the University of York, bringing another one of their sketch shows to the Fringe after a successful run last year. Made up of 6 young performers, the sketch team create the kind of strange content you would expect to see in a student’s showcase relying heavily on the element of absurdity to gain laughs. Whilst there are a handful of pretty funny scenes in this show, personally the set up did not quite hit my funny bone as often as I’d have liked it to, but that’s not to say they didn’t have other members of the a...

After this Plane has Landed – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

5Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

After this Plane has Landed – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

I had to see this musical out of guilt. John McCarthy was incarcerated in Beirut while I was mourning my mother’s passing. His capture wasn’t even a teardrop amid my grief. Five years later, I gave birth to my first born. A friend sent a message excitedly proclaiming it is the day that John McCarthy is released. Who? Nothing compared to the miracle of ten tiny toes and ten little fingers. A real human being who’d lodged in my womb for nine dark months had finally escaped. Then, just 32 years later, almost to the day, this play appears. I can now pay attention. Exit Productions “After This Plane Has Landed” provides a one-hour precis of The Friends of John McCarthy, Jill Morrell’s quest to free her then boyfriend, and the pressure upon their relationship once they are reunited. ...

Great Women of Folk – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

4Aug

By Amy HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Great Women of Folk – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

Folk musician and singer/ songwriter Elsa McTaggart started of her Fringe 2023 run with a dazzling show. A few technical difficulties during this preview attested that McTaggart does not need fancy projectors and sound systems to shine, only her guitar (and Irish bouzouki). Whilst this was a showcase of great women in folk, McTaggart introduced each song with tales about the women in her own life, such as her mum and sister, which added a personal depth to her song choices. McTaggart started of slowly with “Tulsa Queen” by Emmylou Harris which foreshadowed the great show to come. As she quickened her pace, she showcased incredible playing on all three guitars. She navigated tight-turns with ease and her finger plucking on the bouzouki was especially impressive. Her voice was equally...

Leaves on the Line – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

15Aug

By Ella CatherallNo Comments

Scotland

Leaves on the Line – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

I, like many English people who’ve moved to Edinburgh but still have family down South, am very familiar with the trainline between Kings Cross St Pancras and Edinburgh Waverley. This show focusses primarily on the lives of six people on one of the trains covering this route, as they all attempt to get up North for various reasons, such as hill walking, going to a hen do or (ironically) visiting the Fringe. This feels like a quintessential, quirky Fringe show. It fits perfectly into the shorter run time and limited space characteristic of Fringe shows, never feeling limited by these restrictions but also never feeling like the show is too small or unambitious. This is a perfect fit for the Fringe when viewed from every dimension. The highlight of this show is its score. Equal blends ...

The Return of Sherlock Holmes – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

11Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

The Return of Sherlock Holmes – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

Sherlock Holmes (Nigel Miles-Thomas) the world famous detective and his partner in crime Watson (Michael Roy Andrew) are at it again but this time it’s Watson who comes across the clues. It’s been three years since Sherlock’s believed demise at the hands of arch nemesis Moriarty and Watson finds himself lost. Returning to Baker Street to wander the old flat Watson find a letter addressed to himself from a strange source warning him of a murder that just so happens to be in the paper that day. Andrew plays of the role of Watson tremendously, a man in grief who still possesses the curiosity of a detective but displaying himself as a nervous mouse of a man. His comedic timing is on point, and he never misses a beat. Nigel-Thomas is impeccable as the famous detective carrying Sherloc...

9Aug

By Kat CliffordNo Comments

Scotland

Flesh – theSpace @ Surgeons Hall

Flesh is a campy, fun jaunt through some of the darker side of Edinburgh’s history! This tale starts at the point of Burke and Hare are arrested for the Westport murders before we travel back in time and follow them on their whirlwind killing spree. Both Jeremy Fraser and Roddy Macleod did an excellent characterization of the infamous killers, and the supporting cast were fantastic! I personally highly enjoyed Anna Scott as Mag, she did a great job at portraying the kind of character you love to hate, and Alison Henry as Nell had a fantastic voice. Frank Burr was a delight in the role of Dr Knox. The costumes were well made and added to selling the look and feel of the piece. The big chorus songs were a highlight of the show, and the composition was upbeat, catchy and well perform...

War of the Worlds (On a Budget) – theSpace@Surgeons Hall (Venue No. 53)

7Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

War of the Worlds (On a Budget) – theSpace@Surgeons Hall (Venue No. 53)

Guffaw. Chortle. Grin. Giggle. Take your pick. You are guaranteed to leave this show with a Cheshire Cat smile. Lamphouse Theatre’s Tom Fox and Becky Owen-Fisher bring contagious joy and silliness to HG Wells’ War of the Worlds (on a Budget) with songs, dance and incredibly silly physical theatre… oh, and there are delightful homemade props. The child inside will love this infectious, playful condensed classic. There’s a nod to Monty Python’s screechy voiced, Eric Idle, a plethora of characters and a bucket-load of improvisation jokes. The sense of immediacy on stage leads to an anticipation of anything could happen at any time. The urgency is brilliantly uplifting. I loved the match an action to every phrase sequence. It’s a bread-and-butter improvisation game. Here it’s jam on t...