theSpace @ Niddry Street Archives

Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story – theSpace @ Niddry Street

12Aug

By Charles PipeNo Comments

Scotland

Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story – theSpace @ Niddry Street

“I think God looks like a horse: big and beautiful.” With their imaginations ignited by dime novels and magazines about “Wild West” legends, two young boys in Gonzales, Texas, in 1889 decide to escape their quaint, unexceptional lives to pursue the excitement of life in the “Wild West” as cowboys. Theorising that legendary outlaw Billy the Kid is still alive and out there somewhere – either literally, or as a metaphorical symbol of the West – they head towards New Mexico to find him. They soon learn that adventuring in the West isn’t as glamourous as the stories would have you believe. Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story wears its influences proudly on its sleeve. It includes a diverse array of references, from Cormac McCarthy’s grim Western epic novel Blood Meridian, via John Ford ...

I Was A Teenage She-Devil – theSpace @ Niddry Street

10Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

I Was A Teenage She-Devil – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Nancy Nelson (Faith Pasch) is the classic unattractive high-school loser (ie, girl with glasses), with unpopular friends Debbie (Lee Beka Harper) and Doobie (Matt Bader, filled in for by a producer on the night we attended) and persecuted by the popular kids: Heather (Charis Stockton) and Big Rod (Louis Hearsay) and their leader, Tiffani (Caitlin Anderson). Until one day when they take their humiliation too far and the Devil (Sean Arkless) offers Nancy a deal, a makeover and an opportunity for revenge... It is, in short, the classic American high-school setup combined with horror elements, in this case the Faustian pact, and an 80s setting. All three aspects are archetypes in their own right and, to different degrees, also combined; with high-school horror stories like Carrie and Fa...

3Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Ah-Ma – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Produced by Cathy Lam Arts Creative, Ah-Ma (meaning grandmother) is a one-woman show in which our main character recounts fond memories of her grandmother who has since been diagnosed with dementia. Written and directed by Cathy Lam Patrie, this show is based on her experience with her own grandmother. Ah-Ma features as a part of Asia Base at the Edinburgh Fringe - a project that highlights talent from Hong Kong and Taiwan - aiming to share Asian art with an international audience. Kasen Tsui performs as our main character, using storytelling and movement to act as both the grandmother and the granddaughter. Kasen plays this role with dignity and thoughtfulness, basking in moments of quiet and taking her time to really take in her imaginary surroundings...

19Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Tartan Tat – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Having gone into this show with a vague idea of the plot, I could have never predicted what was to come. While I knew it was about the employees of a tourist shop in Edinburgh, I did not know it would be the sardonic, LGBTQIA+, pop culture spoof that it was. It is always refreshing to see local theatre in the sea of Fringe, and Shark Bait Theatre executed this piece with an in-touch, tongue-in-cheek attitude that all Scottish folk can resonate with. The writers, Lex Joyce and Isla Campbell, have produced something that is both hilarious yet compelling in today’s political climate. Each character had a strong personality that was communicated well by the cast. The line delivery left me in stitches – the actors played off each other excellently, further addi...

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – theSpace @ Niddry Street

15Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Young innocent children attending a spelling bee competition, what could go wrong? Well, these children are competitive and under pressure, pressure that may just come to a boiling point in this wonderfully feel good and nifty musical. Meet the contestants of the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, or perhaps even become one of them yourself, but one thing is for certain you’ll be in for a right treat and a few emotional roller coasters. Prepare yourself for almost 2 hours of pure laughter, charm and talent with this fun little musical. It’s true to say that when the cast is having fun so is the audience, you could tell that the team thoroughly enjoy the show and in doing so never miss a beat. We find ourselves watching the classic “odd balls” of societies youth: the nerd, the perfecti...

20Aug

By Amy HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Dazzling – theSpace @ Niddry Street

One-woman show ‘Dazzling’ is a drama exploring themes of love, addiction, and mental health through a queer lens. Sexuality and gender were naturally integrated into the storyline (especially the use of they/them pronouns for character Fi) which gave the show an innate inclusivity that felt naturally written and performed. I would like to see more fringe shows break social norms in this supportive way. Holly Sewel’s writing used poetic technique to convey emotion in a beautiful and thought-provoking way. The use of poetry was especially effective during the manic runs of monologue where Alix’s bounding speech created a sense of loss of control. The final metaphor of the putting a pillow in-between two people to create a boundary whilst also allowing them to lean upon each other was ...

Crash and Burn – theSpace @ Niddry Street

16Aug

By Christina SchmidtNo Comments

Scotland

Crash and Burn – theSpace @ Niddry Street

Set on a private jet, heading to the climate conference COP26 in Glasgow: Oil Baron James Johnson with his employee and daughter are forced to share the plane with eccentric actor and activist Amodius Vassano and his personal manager. After take-off, they find out that this and other planes have been hijacked by a group of radical environmental activists and they are being held hostage, only to survive if Johnson confesses to his crimes. ‘Crash and Burn’, a new play written by Will Leckie, who also plays Amodius Vassano, aims to be a political comedy that wants to ask the question of how far activism can or should go. Whilst this is a great premise, although an unoriginal idea, the execution of it was rather poor. The play lacks structure, trying to tackle too many topics at once...