Edinburgh Festival
It may only be one month of the year, but we always have some of our team eager to head North and see what’s happening. So we thought we should collect all of our Edinburgh content into one convenient place for you.
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Shift, Circus Hub on the Meadows, Review
Pros: Playful and inventive acrobatics from award winning circus company Cons: Transitions between set pieces were sometimes meandering, and spoken text got lost in the large tent space. Award-winning circus company Barely Methodical Troupe’s latest show has a cool, other-worldly…
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Bag for Life, Greenside @ Infirmary Street (Olive Studio) – Review
Pros: The topic is weighty. Cons: The show didn’t make me feel any wiser. Suicide is a particularly important issue in Britain, where it is the leading cause of death for men under 45. That’s why it has become an increasingly…
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The Spider Glass, TheSpace Triplex, Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Review
Pros: A topical issue – men’s mental health and the influence of toxic masculinity – that invites further discussion and suits a one-man play dynamic. Cons: The first 20 minutes feel less tight and less thematic; some sub-plotting could be…
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Portraits in Motion: Volker Gerling, Summerhall, Edinburgh – Review
Pros: Accessible storytelling by a fascinating creative. Cons: The simple format can often feel more like a lecture, so might not appeal to everyone. This is a show about the moments when we’re caught off guard: the photos taken when…
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When the Friendship Has Sailed, C Venues: C Aquila, Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Review
Pros: A versatile cast, clever props and a well-rounded piece that delivers lots of humour alongside the take-home message. The cast and crew should be proud. Cons: None. Loneliness is a hot topic that can leave you out in the…
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Mad Women in My Attic!, PQA Venues @Riddle’s Court (PQA One) – Review
Pros: The fin-de-siècle atmosphere generated by a superb combination of production elements. Cons: The raked stalls tend to obstruct Salvi’s flamboyant interaction with the audience. Often typecast in the role of a mad woman, Royal Academy of Music graduate Monica…
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The Vanishing Man, Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Two) – Review
Pros: Simon Evans’s close-up magic tricks are brilliant. Cons: Those who are led to believe that there will be a vanishing act performed on stage might feel disappointed. Drawing from the life of Edwardian magician Hugo Cedar, theatre veterans Simon…
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Angry Alan, Underbelly, Big Belly – Ed Fringe Review
Pros: Fascinating glimpse of real-life misogynists Cons: The narrative is not always convincing A large projection screen in this cavernous venue scrolls through cherry-picked Twitter tweets of anti-feminist whinges. It’s an effective – if rather un-nuanced – way for writer…
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BLUE HEART @ C Venues, C Too Ed Fringe Review
Pro’s: Two exceptional Caryl Churchill scripts Con’s: Committed but inexperienced actors With thousands of shows competing to make an impact in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it’s a bold move for a student ensemble to dive into the fray, pitching their…
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My Land, Assembly Roxy – Ed Fringe review
Pros: Jaw-dropping acrobatics Cons: Turgid music and relentless po-faces sapped the energy I went to see My Land on a word-of-mouth recommendation, and I’m really glad I did. The seven performers of Hungarian company Recirquel were awe inspiring. In the…