Category: Scotland Reviews

HIGHRISE – REVIEW – THE SPACE LONDON

30th August 2023

A play that leaves you questioning humanity’s rapidly unwavering trust in technology; Highrise is edgy, thought-provoking, and at times incredibly unsettling. This production stars writer and director Jacob Kay as Pepperjack, alongside producer and designer Helen Baird as Cassandra. The play follows Pepperjack, the charming, hardworking, however very much isolated maintenance worker, who works in a specific … More HIGHRISE – REVIEW – THE SPACE LONDON

ALL ABOARD! AT TERMINATION STATION – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

30th August 2023

All Aboard! At Termination Station, a show designed to de-stigmatizing the conversation around abortion and dedicated to women, is one of the most memorable things I saw at fringe, and definitely the most important. As I sat in anticipation in Bunker One, I listened to the news being played over about the Roe v. Wade … More ALL ABOARD! AT TERMINATION STATION – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

STEPH ARITONE: EXCELF-ESTEEM – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

27th August 2023

I literally have it in my Twitter bio that I like spreadsheets, so a comedy show about spreadsheets felt like compulsory viewing for me. Unfortunately/fortunately, this show isn’t entirely about spreadsheets, but Steph Aritone’s attempts to showcase aspects of her life through the medium of Excel-generated graph is nevertheless entertaining. The show has a great concept that … More STEPH ARITONE: EXCELF-ESTEEM – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

TEACHER’S PET – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

25th August 2023

Friends At The Poolyard bring two new shows to The Pleasance this year, performing Teacher’s Pet and Hot As Hell on alternating nights. Teacher’s Pet is a satirical musical that tells the story of Jane, a high school senior, and her unrequited crush on her teacher. The audience enters as the cast is warming up vocally and stretching on stage, which … More TEACHER’S PET – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

BOLTS OF MELODY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

22nd August 2023

I wasn’t a massive fan of poetry in school. However, I always enjoy seeing interesting adaptations of classic literature or poetry, mostly to see how modern artists are choosing to interpret them for the stage. It’s safe to say that the creatives behind Bolts of Melody have interpreted the poems of Emily Dickinson in a … More BOLTS OF MELODY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

EDEN SHER: I WAS ON A SITCOM – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

22nd August 2023

I may have come dangerously close to passing out, but this story of Eden Sher’s pregnancy and her reckoning with her time on ‘The Middle’, is incredibly compelling and excellently performed. You can see why it has all but sold out for the rest of its run. Evident from the beginning of the show is … More EDEN SHER: I WAS ON A SITCOM – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

GRIEF LIGHTNING: A SATIRE IN 78 SLIDES – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

22nd August 2023

When going through the Fringe programme looking for shows I was interested in, Grief Lightning was one that sold me purely on its description as it is possibly one of the weirdest ideas for a show I’ve ever heard – an academic is trying to convince an audience that the movie Grease is actually the … More GRIEF LIGHTNING: A SATIRE IN 78 SLIDES – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

ASEXUALITY! – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

21st August 2023

As a musical nerd who recently realised that she’s almost definitely asexual, Asexuality! The Solo Musical was one of my most eagerly anticipated shows of the Fringe, and it did not disappoint. The show charts the writer/performer, Rebecca McGlynn’s relationship with her aceness and her gender identity. As the only performer on stage, McGlynn delivers … More ASEXUALITY! – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

A SHARK ATE MY PENIS – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

21st August 2023

A show I was excited about purely because of its title, A Shark Ate My Penis is a one-man show by Laser Webber, that charts the mostly unpublicised history of trans men, as well as its relevance to Webber’s own gender experience. The show slots neatly between the genres of comedy, spoken word, and musical … More A SHARK ATE MY PENIS – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

LES MILLÉNNIABLES – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

20th August 2023

Les Millénniables is a pop parody musical based (very loosely) on Les Misérables. Jean Valjean (Natalie Sullivan) is fresh out of college and has racked up a lot of debt, we see her run-ins with the tax man, boomer Javert (Tony Gonzalez) over the next 10+ years. The show also features other characters loosely based … More LES MILLÉNNIABLES – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

WHAT IF THEY ATE THE BABY? – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

19th August 2023

What If They Ate The Baby? is an absurdist two-hander created and performed by duo Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland. A ‘queer take on the American 1950s cannibal housewife’, that explores the dark undertones of American Suburban life. Shirley (Roland) and neighbour Dotty (Rice) are dressed as stereotypical 1950s housewives, but there are fluorescent green … More WHAT IF THEY ATE THE BABY? – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

THE GRANDMOTHERS GRIMM – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

18th August 2023

One dark, late night in the 1800’s Marie Hassenpflug (Sophie Harris) is assisting Wilhelm (Gerry Kielty) and Jacob (Justin Skelton) with their famous anthology, Brothers Grimm. Editing out cannibalism and Pig Princes from old folk tales, they act out their ideas for the stories along with their maid Marie (Emily Ingram). Some Kind of Theatre’s … More THE GRANDMOTHERS GRIMM – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

WAITING FOR A TRAIN AT THE BUS STOP – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

18th August 2023

“How lucky am I to have all these men in my life telling me how to be a woman”. Waiting for a Train at the Bus Stop follows aspiring poet Chilufya (Yaisa); meaning ‘the lost one’, as she struggles with her sense of self, falling into an abusive relationship. The dark comedy explores themes of … More WAITING FOR A TRAIN AT THE BUS STOP – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

THE TEMP – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

17th August 2023

In this uproarious solo play, Kristina DeGiovanni delves into the whirlwind world of corporate chaos with unmatched comedic finesse. From the moment she steps on stage, it’s a riotous adventure as she seamlessly transforms into an array of characters that you’re likely to encounter in the modern workplace. Her character impressions are so brilliant you’ll … More THE TEMP – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

QUITTING COMEDY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

17th August 2023

Quitting Comedy attempts to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of the comedy world, offering a satirical take on the challenges within the industry. While the execution may not always hit the mark, there are glimpses of promise amidst the uneven delivery. The blend of strong writing and attempts at humour often waver … More QUITTING COMEDY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

MEMORIES OF THE EARLY 1950S – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

17th August 2023

Memories of the Early 1950s aims to rekindle the past, sparking discussions on the contrast between modern luxuries and a simpler era. Christine Hayward’s blend of songs and spoken word strives to capture nostalgia, but the execution leaves much to be desired. Classic tunes like “The Little White Duck,” “The Gypsy Rover,” and “Memories Are … More MEMORIES OF THE EARLY 1950S – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

KATHY AND STELLA SOLVE A MURDER! – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

17th August 2023

Having premiered at the fringe last year, where it received critical acclaim, Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder! is back – and bigger than ever. Last year the show took up residence in the Roundabout at Summerhall – with a capacity of 168, this year the show is selling out Underbelly’s big purple cow with … More KATHY AND STELLA SOLVE A MURDER! – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE