Fringe Review: Bark Bark

Bark Bark is a technically difficult production which serves up a wonderful story, says Jeremy Welch. ★★★ This is technically an ambitious production. Bark Bark tells the tale of two house sitters rekindling their love affair through the eyes of a bird killing dog called ‘It’. Although the dog is a bird killer ‘It’ charms…

Read More

Fringe Review: Margolyes & Dickens The Best Bits

Ailsa Bath enjoys this ‘brilliant’ performance from Miriam Margolyes. ★★★★   Knowing Miriam mainly from her salacious chat shows, Harry Potter cameo and regular appearances with Graham Norton, I wasn’t prepared for the incredible acting skills she brought to the stage in this bravura one-woman show. Despite being a solo performance, this enthralling show truly…

Read More

Fringe Review: Gamble

A bittersweet multimedia show about addiction and its effect on families, friends and communities, says Jeremy Welch. ★★★ This play is dealing with a weighty matter, the consequences of gambling. Not the Grand National once a year flutter gamble but the compulsive, corrosive and ultimately destructive result of gambling addiction. It’s difficult to get the…

Read More

Fringe Review: 1984

Jeremy Welch praises Sofia Barvsevich’s near sell-out production as ‘brave, brutal, disturbing and absolutely relevant’. ★★★★★ ‘War is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength.’ George Orwell. Almost everyone knows this dyspotian quote from Big Brother. This production is quite remarkable as in one hour it condenses Orwell’s 1984 novel perfectly. There is almost…

Read More

Fringe Review: Forging the Swords

Adapted from Lu Xun’s novel, Forging the Swords tells the story of a naturally kind-hearted child, who is suddenly entrusted with the monumental task of avenging his father’s murder, says Megan Amato. ★★★★ One way actors can prove their mettle is to carry on in the face of adversity – and that is exactly what…

Read More

LORD OF THE DANCE: Michael Flatley’s iconic production returns to Scotland

MICHAEL Flatley’s Lord of the Dance show is due to return to Bonnie Scotland. The world-renowned Irish dancing production is poised to dazzle audiences in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow throughout the summer. ‘A Lifetime of Standing Ovations’, the 2024 show revival, comes two years after Lord of the Dance’s 25th anniversary. Flatley, the American-born visionary…

Read More

Sally Reid reprises her role as Shirley Valentine: ‘The ideas behind the story still feel very familiar to a lot of people’

It’s been nearly 40 years since Willy Russell wrote Shirley Valentine, his monologue about a middle-aged, working class Liverpool housewife and her transformational solo holiday in Greece. But as Sally Reid prepares to play the iconic role of Shirley for a second time at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, she says there is a lot about the…

Read More

Review: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Edinburgh Playhouse

Fiona Bennett relives the childhood joy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. ‘This musical marvel will leave you feeling happy and entertained. A lively and polished performance, it’s a must see.’ ★★★★   It’s been a long time since I have seen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the film, and in all honesty, I had forgotten much…

Read More