Reading Time: < 1 minuteA comedy play about AI taking over the music industry was my first pick when booking in reviews. The concept is fully in the zeitgeist as becoming more and more fraught. The show centres on Dave, a House Band Musician/Receptionist whose only ambition (he doesn’t have dreams) is to become…. A full time receptionist. On the way he ends up swallowing a music algorithm intent to take over the world.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEden Sher's I was on a Sitcom is a show well worth watching, even if you have never seen the sitcom the marketing is based on.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteOpening their show with a song about Cucks is a strong start for the duo who’s show explores archetypes of 2010’s men. What the duo have in spades, is charm and crazily intelligent humour, some of which is translatable, some less so. You just need to be careful if you’re not a 2010’s male archetypes fan - you may get lost in the insanely specific references.
Reading Time: 3 minutesFrom the get go, I had goosebumps. Opening with Prokofiev's terrific 'Dance of the Knights', the show continued with passion and astounding elegance. Not having adapted Shakespeare before, Matthew Bourne has done so with success in his reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet, showing at Sadler's Wells now until 2nd September. Bourne reimagines the classic story and turns it into something utterly modern, compelling, and inventive.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt seems like everywhere you turn in Edinburgh you could find a sketch comedy duo trying to put their stamp on the form. Myles and Dan are no different - aside from the fact that it seems they’ve achieved it. Having worked together for 10 years the chemistry and connection between the pair is undeniable. It fizzes from the stage and embraces the audience - helping them buy into the theme. Kind of what it says on the tin, the pair try to break a specific world record, 50 sketches in 50 minutes.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe show follows Dr Bubble as his puppet Milkshake comes alive - across the hour they discover that to have good friends you must be a good friend. The pair are seamless - picking up issues and adapting in the moment (bubbles are fickle) and with joy and character. The show is non-verbal so accessibility is impressive. The physicality and clowning from the duo is a joy to watch and again slick and professional.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteLena is the brand new ‘play with music’ written by BAFTA and Olivier award-winner Tim Whitnall showing at Assembly this August. It follows the Rise and Fall of Lena Zamboni and child star who’s journey was in contrast to the glittering shine of Opportunity Knocks. The show is hosted by Hughie Green - the Simon Cowel in the story although it is also narrated throughout by the Father.
Reading Time: 3 minutesDrawing inspiration from the classic fairy tale Cendrillon (or as most of us know it, Cinderella), La Cenerentola tells the tale of a young woman compelled to serve her cruel stepfather and unappreciative stepsisters as a lowly servant. Meanwhile, Prince Ramiro embarks on a quest to discover the most beautiful woman in the kingdom to be his future wife.
Reading Time: 2 minutesIt’s hard to make theatre that feels fresh. To really grasp at a conversation that should be told and tell it in a way that makes people want to listen. Salamander does all this and more in this fantastic piece of theatre running at Assembly Roxy this August.
Reading Time: 2 minutesWe spend a third of our lives in bed.... If only beds could talk! Is the tagline for this 60 minute musical showing at Gilded Balloon Teviot this August. The concept is simple and quiet, no showy big numbers, just human connection and real stories.