theSpace @ Symposium Hall Archives

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Ahhh! The youthful enthusiasm approach! Recently graduated from QMU, Rona Johnston, writer and lead performer, gathers her (5) Marys to tell the story of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots. The 6 young ladies squeeze onto the tiny stage, smirking, impetuous and ready. With a strong feminist thread and music at its heart and a SOLD OUT run, this feels close to being a hit! But SIX this is not. Not yet! Through a mixture of verse and song we follow Mary and her inner circle (known as her Marys) from France to Scotland and on to London and her ultimate demise. It is a strong story which lends itself to performance. Eight songs (soon to be released on Spotify) light up the production, ranging from Celtic ballads to grunge-rock anthems. Alli Von Hirschberg on electric lead guitar is a star ...

21: The Music of Adele – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

21: The Music of Adele – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Ella McCready comes from an early life immersed in the music of Adele, a true fan, which is very apparent in this performance. Close your eyes, and you could easily be in the front row of an intimate audience with one of the all-time greats. Her voice is remarkably similar, singing and phrasing are faultless which is obviously a good thing, right? McCready’s tender, breathy, rendition of When We were Young, which she acknowledges as one of her all-time favourites, and mine, is one of the undoubted highlights of this dedicated homage. However, there is always a fine line between mimicry and artistry, and this walks perilously close to the former. In danger of becoming the equivalent of listening to a greatest hits album, salvation here comes from an unlikely source, the skins. The...

007 Voices of Bond – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

007 Voices of Bond – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Following a brief video-briefing from M…M….Mike, we are passed into the very capable hands of femme fatale Ella McCready, resplendent centre stage in shimmering red sequin dress, supported by a full band. The scene is set for a journey through the music of Bond in the more than capable hands of Fringe music experts, Owl….. Night Owl. So, relax into the superior comfort of real leather upholstery, and the stunning acoustic of The Symposium Hall. All the expected songs are here, but also some welcome surprises. And these are not mere copies. McCready’s brilliantly Jazzy, upbeat version of Nobody Does it Better, is quickly bettered by an elastic and colourful interpretation of, For Your Eyes Only, a sure improvement on the dour Easton original. McCready’s range is exceptional, worki...

Divas of Jazz – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

11Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Divas of Jazz – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Singer Hannah Hay exudes youthful appreciation of her genre, swaying barefoot before an excellent five-piece in the comfortable and intimate space that is quite possibly the best appointed live music venue in Edinburgh in August. The great acoustic, leather seats and ample legroom usually make it an easy and clever choice for music lovers. Particularly those of a certain age! Unfortunately, the music of jazz so often borne of toil and pain and heartache, and at home in happy, low-lit backstreet bars or clandestine hotel lounges, struggles to sound authentic or nuanced in this luxurious a setting and between these so directionally well lit walls. There is no atmosphere. Which is a shame, because Hay is an accomplished singer and the musicianship behind her is also excellent. St...

Charles Dickens: The Hanged Man’s Bride – Space @ Symposium Hall

6Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Charles Dickens: The Hanged Man’s Bride – Space @ Symposium Hall

Blue Orange Arts brings the well-known Charles Dickens play: The Hanged Man’s Bride to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe in the form of one-man story telling play. After a man travels to stop in a hotel in Leicester, he hears the tale of cruel man who has been hung for murdering his wife some years back with arsenic, an intriguing tale but it is not one that provokes any real reaction from our main man. It’s not until he enters his room, the clock strikes 8 and a strange staff member appears that story is truly delved into in its horrid entirety. The play starts off rather slowly, our main character is a rather unlikable soul who’s only worry in life is when he should officially leave his wife for his teenage lover. This is the classic flawed main character with a lesson or two to ...

28Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

Scotland

007 Voices of Bond – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

007 Voices of Bond is any James Bond fan’s dream. Brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by Night Owl Shows, this hour-long concert takes the audience on a journey through the title tracks of Bond. Other than the opening number, Diamonds are Forever, the songs are performed in chronological order of release date, charting the evolving style of the music through the decades. Between each song either Maia Elsey, the truly phenomenal lead singer, or a pre-recorded video of ‘Mike’ (a hilarious yet informative M stand in), provide the audience with the context of each track. How they came to be made, what the meaning behind the song is, and its place within the wider world of music. These brief interludes were fascinating, and enhanced the experience from beyond just spectacle, to a genuine e...

A Night With Me, Myself and Bipolar Brenda – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

27Aug

By Amy HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

A Night With Me, Myself and Bipolar Brenda – theSpace @ Symposium Hall

Bipolar UK ambassador Natasha Rea performed solo in this emotive and raw show which was part autobiographical drama and part persuasive monologue. Natasha is a talented actress who cares deeply about how her performance represents and advocates for the bipolar community. The show detailed the ups and downs of bipolar disorder (BPD) and everything in-between without romanticising the mental health condition. Personal antidote was interlaced with shocking statistics such as people with bipolar disorder are 20 times more likely to commit suicide. As the end approached Natasha made an emotionally driven plea for the audience to help make systemic changes to the Mental Health system through political action. She also urged us to do more for friends and family struggling with their menta...