Reading Time: 2 minutesAs part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s (JLCO’s) residency at Usher Hall, Artistic Director and world-renowned jazz trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis decided it was time Duke Ellington’s epic suite Black, Brown, and Beige was performed as a whole again.
Reading Time: 2 minutesGunpowder, treason and plot. This is what Guy Fawkes’ attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 is best known for, yet two of the three are bafflingly missing from Emma Howlett’s The Plot. Fawkes is the subject of not one, but two shows at this year’s Fringe. Remember, Remember is a musical fizzing with camp energy and catchy songs; in stark contrast, The Plot is a straight-faced, humourless exploration of truth and the power of propaganda.
Reading Time: 2 minutesSeeing Edinburgh’s own Captivate Theatre’s musical production has become something of a regular Fringe routine. This year, amongst the company’s shows is Into the Woods, Sondheim’s timeless classic that feels even more timely nowadays.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEntering the theatre to an EDM-corrupted bridal waltz (and, I guess, from the title of the show), it’s clear Charlotte’s wedding might not go ahead.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIsabella Thompson’s Plaything is a wonderfully joyous piece of theatre that invites its audience into a world of clever comedy, playful characters and brilliantly unexpected moments
Reading Time: 2 minutesRosie Holt is everything wrong with British politics, or at least she can make fun of everything wrong, while she plays everyone in British politics, simultaneously, in the same scene. It’s non stop, its clever, its stupid at times, and it has it in for everyone in a light hearted satire of what it’s like to be even vaguely wired into UK politics these days. Rosie Holt mainly plays a labour MP who upon receiving the news of an alien sighting - sets upon her plan to achieve first contact, smash question-time and improve her polling numbers. Events following over the next 24 hours play out on stage, from bumbling question time appearances, protests and even a theatre critic pondering the shows ‘deeper meaning’, with every character played by Rosie Holt.
Reading Time: 2 minutesAt the side of a motorway is an empty diner-style cafe. It is quiet, until the aliens arrive. In this Lynchian, absurdist play you really do not know what is coming next. It constantly keeps you on your toes until its maddening, thrilling ending.
Reading Time: 2 minutesAndrew Frost is a wonderful card magician, that is clear from very early on. As we enter, we are all invited to shuffle a deck of cards. There is a further deck of cards shuffled before we start the show. These moments of chance from random audience members all come back to amazing effect.
Reading Time: 2 minutesWe are greeted, upon entry, to a large sculpture in the middle of the stage. A beautifully crafted tiny planet, that becomes the focus of this sweet puppeted story. Darcey O'Rourke then begins to play us music as we are transported into the world of Alma, who must deliver a cake for a wedding.
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs the pan pipes play the Titanic theme for the umpteenth time, the audience prays for Phil Ellis to arrive. Unfortunately, when he does, he holds that tune over the audience for the rest of the hour and subjects us to it a good few more times.