Reading Time: 2 minutesDNA Studio’s RTFM is a play about conflict, fear, chaos and grief. Performed by Helena Harrison and Philip Honeywell in an intimate studio space, this mixed media, physical theatre piece hit every emotion in the playbook.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEUSOG have done it once again. As one of the hotbeds for young talent, performing at a level higher than most student societies in arts or theatre, they’ve delivered yet another moving, jubilant, tearful and exhilaratingly fun show.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteLou Taylor starts her show with the best day of her life. And it’s a corker. Over the course of an hour, we’re brought into her inner confidences, with a combination of stories and short films, covering topics from unorthodox childhood career plans, eyebrow disasters, early relationships and the effect of 90s media on all of the above. We flip back and forth between the past and now, comparing generational differences and disappointing sexual encounters.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Womb, described by Co Theatre, the production company behind the work, as “an absurd play about the absurd things women that women have been going through since the beginning of the world” achieves precisely that. With each scene, the characters discover more ways in which women are subjucated by this world that was designed by and for men. These discoveries are stumbled upon by the characters - playwright Aylin Rodoplu’s clever language allows for exquisite subtlety within a theme that often lacks nuance, a pitfall considering the obstacles we face within the turmoil of girlhood are not always overtly discernible. Rodoplu’s intentionally opaque dialogue feels like poetry, heightened by its ability to connect the audience to the themes at play. While the production could easily feel inaccessible due to its absurd style, Rodoplu does an excellent job ensuring that ideas are clearly laid out, aided by a plethora of props, quips, stories, and deft physical theatre.
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn the cavernous Assembly Roxy, Wes Peden brought a juggling spectacle to life. Based on an childhood love of rollercoasters, and their pretzel shapes, we were presented with an hour of energetic movement and extraordinary skill in his ultra-modern pop-punk homage.
Reading Time: 2 minutesShowstopper! The Improvised Musical is a captivating improvised musical that attracts a large audience with its boundless creativity and originality. This performance showcases the extraordinary improvisational skills and musical talent of its actors, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained. Although it is an improvised performance, Showstopper! does not merely mimic musical theatre genres or descend into comedic antics. Instead, it seriously tries to present itself as a meticulously rehearsed musical. Each performance features six actors dressed in red and black, along with a host-like actor, The Writer. At the beginning, The Writer sets the scene for the musical: he is in need of a musical but has nothing to start with, requiring the audience’s help to provide the theme, title, and musical style. Thus, an unknown adventure begins.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIn Pleasance Courtyard, found in the Cabaret Bar, Sophie Duker energetically bursts into the crowd hyping up an already excited audience. From the moment she appeared on stage she had the audience captivated and it wasn’t long before we were all laughing.
Reading Time: 3 minutesIn Jewels, writer and performer Tanwen Stokes brings a fresh, fun, and lovingly irreverent story of mediaeval womanhood onto the stage.
Reading Time: 2 minutesBeyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow is a mesmerising fusion of art and technology, transporting visitors into the vibrant world of Vincent Van Gogh. This exhibition is divided into two main sections, each offering a unique perspective on Van Gogh’s masterpieces and his tumultuous life.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe child care system in the UK is in crisis – a 2022 report called for urgent funding increases of £2.6bn, which are still yet to materialise – and it scarcely got a mention amidst the cacophony of failing public services in the 2024 election campaign. The Children’s Inquiry seeks to redress this balance, combining a historical tour of the UK care system with deeply personal, powerful accounts of the modern looked-after-child experience. A bang-up-to-date soundtrack and clever direction unite to produce a musical that is truly a spectacle to behold.