Traverse Theatre Archives - North West End UK

12Jun

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Firelight Trio – Traverse Theatre

Presented by Soundhouse, Firelight Trio take us on a journey through European folk music, finding unity in the sounds of a myriad of cultures from klezmer to polka. Working in partnership with the Traverse as well as other venues around Edinburgh, Soundhouse is a charity organisation with the aim of promoting live music in Edinburgh. Firelight Trio are featured as a part of Soundhouse’s Summer lineup at the Traverse which holds focus on showcasing the talents of upcoming folk artists. With weird and wonderful modifications to their instruments, an adept knowledge of their craft and a passion to share it, it is clear that Firelight Trio’s music is created with deep intentionality and expertise. The trio are highly credited, with Ruth Morris (who plays the Swedish ...

7Jun

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Lear – Traverse Theatre

Shakespeare’s infamous tragedy is significantly thinned down and reinterpreted into a one hour wordless anti-war allegory by Ramesh Meyyappan, but retains a raw power and delicate beauty and some rather unexpected humour that make it a thoroughly watchable and thought provoking addition to the Lear genre. This Lear has a worldly feel and international backing, a production by Glasgow based Raw Material in association with National Theatre for Scotland and Singapore National Festival of Arts, it looks made to tour extensively. In the hands of writer and performer Meyyappan and acclaimed director Orla O’Loughlin, we see and feel the effects of war on a father returning from the battlefield and his three daughters. The returning king of the household is welcomed with initial relief and ...

24May

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Mama’s Broke – Traverse Theatre Bar

Kicking off their first show in a five week tour of the UK, the Bar at Traverse Theatre proved an ideal intimate setting for a spell-binding performance by Canadian Folk duo, Mamma’s Broke, which had everyone leaning in and, at times, tapping along. Hailing from Nova Scotia, Edinburgh has been a regular destination for the pair, since their first Edinburgh Fringe foray eleven years ago, where they resorted to busking on the streets to survive. They have come a long way since then. Known for their haunting harmonies and genre-defying compositions, the 30-something pair served up a beautiful mixture of songs from their previous two albums, Count The Wicked (2017) and Narrow Line (2022), along with some new material heading into the recording studio later this year. The venue’s simpl...

22May

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

Blinded By The Light – Traverse Theatre

‘Blinded By The Light’ is a gem of a play which celebrates a group of miners fighting to preserve their community, their jobs and their way of life. But at the same time it shows us a future where life has become unsustainable on our planet. Playwright Sylvia Dow was teaching at Bo’Ness Academy in 1982 when the National Coal Board decided to close the town’s Kinneil Colliery on the grounds that it was no longer workable. This was disputed by the miners who believed there was a hundred years’ worth of coal left for them and their descendants to mine. Twelve of them (nicknamed ‘the dirty dozen’) decided to stage a ‘stay-doon’ in the deep pit tunnel under the River Forth. This was two years before the Miners’ Strike of 1984. Two of the actors playing miners are from Bo’Ness and the town...

The Rheingans Sisters – Traverse Theatre

20May

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

The Rheingans Sisters – Traverse Theatre

Performing the entirety of their 2024 album, Start Close in, Anna and Rowan Rheingans shared their talent with us in a continuation of their UK tour. I use the word “shared” very intentionally here - folk music is inherently a genre which is made for, and by, a collective - there is such a feeling of connection and intuitiveness within the genre that the Rheingans Sisters manage to capture and uphold beautifully. The melding of tradition and modernity in the composition, along with the sisters’ blending of Scandinavian, French, and British musical heritage truly encapsulates the collectivity of folk music. The range of instruments played by the sisters was a feat to behold, from the ancient tambourin à cordes, to a handmade banjo made from a gourd. The Rheingans Sisters d...

Soundhouse: A New International – Traverse Theatre

29Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Soundhouse: A New International – Traverse Theatre

What a joy this was! Returning to the Traverse for the first time since 2019, 8-piece Glasgow New Romantic band A New International kick up a storm in front of an appreciative packed house performing hits from their first three albums, a generous few from the soon to be released fourth (later this year) and a couple from the mythical fifth. As a newcomer to their music, it was certainly an eye opener! I enjoyed hearing their early back catalogue particularly History Will Be Ours, the wonderfully toe-tapping, Necrapolitan and the hilarious Trump love song New American, but it was their latest songs, particularly The Girls Sing Country Blue, (dedicated to Auntie Rita) and Flicker, Flicker Firelight, which hit me the hardest and show that this band is still very much on an upward trajector...

Stupid Sexy Poem Show – Traverse Theatre

29Apr

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Stupid Sexy Poem Show – Traverse Theatre

Scottish poet Rosie Jo Hunter took the Traverse theatre by storm with her unabashed, sold out, comedic slam-poetry cabaret. Having previously performed the show at the Edinburgh Fringe as well as in London, this sexy, stupid poem show still holds its freshness, ferocity and impulsivity thanks to the vigour and brazenness of Hunter’s performance. The show is almost crass in its delivery, what with the vulgarity of language and strong sexual content discussed throughout. However, that vulgarity is exactly why Hunter’s show is a success. We as the audience build an idea of Hunter’s character and of the show - it being presented as a cheeky, camp, sometimes touching comedy. Just when we think we have this show figured out, Hunter subverts our expectations throu...

A Little Inquest Into What We Are All Doing Here – Traverse Theatre

26Apr

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

A Little Inquest Into What We Are All Doing Here – Traverse Theatre

A pink bodybag wriggles and squirms its way across the stage, an opening that will live long in the memory. Dramatic and comedic, it encouraged curiosity at the same time. Eventually our protagonist emerges from the shabby cocoon to take her place at what resembles a teacher’s desk festooned with microphones. This is none other than Josie Dale-Jones, who, frustrated at the poor, nay, terrifying quality and tone of sex education tried to put together a production that might major on the positive aspects of relationships and sex, aimed at families. It was evident this might attract some criticism but what followed from the trolls and keyboard warriors far exceeded her worst nightmares. A petition was launched, garnering 41,000 signatures, leading to the production being cancelled… before any...

Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood – Traverse Theatre

26Apr

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood – Traverse Theatre

Such is the national treasure status accorded the late great Victoria Wood it’s easy to forget quite how barbed and satirical she was. It’s a great credit to Paulus The Cabaret Geek (with piano accompaniment from the esteemed Michael Roulston) for delivering a hefty reminder that the ‘gentle genius’ smuggled smut and ferreted filth by the barrow load past light entertainment audiences on a regular basis. Concealed behind the cheeky grin and homely asides was a rapier-like wit and a perception regarding peculiarly British sensibilities, but above all, it was FUN. In capitals. Paulus set about the canon with relish, employing his trademark flamboyance and exuberance, interspersing the songs with anecdotes illustrating how his own life was affected and influenced, revisiting many of th...

9Apr

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Sam Newbould Quintet – Traverse Theatre

The Sam Newbould Quintet, based in Amsterdam, arrived in Edinburgh to perform the second night of their week-long Scottish tour. Playing original jazz pieces composed by Sam Newbould, this quintet captivated the Traverse’s audience with their smooth and persistent sound. Combining both simple yet relentless licks and flowing, heavily layered textures, the Sam Newbould Quintet had the audience entranced. Xavi Torres on piano played with beautiful clarity of tone and a delicacy that was refreshing to hear - his solos were incredibly captivating, playing with a heartfeltness that really struck a chord with me (no pun intended). Keeping the pace and groove was Guy Salamon on the drum kit giving us flow and drive. Salamon’s drumming style feels incredibly intuit...