Reviews
Rapunzel – A Hairy Tale Adventure
★★★☆☆Festive fun:
The National Theatre of Scotland’s Rapunzel is full of enjoyment and impressive performances. Although it never quite stakes its claim as a compelling work in its own right, there is plenty to satisfy those missing their annual helping of seasonal entertainment.
Rapunzel: The Pantomime
★★★★★ Towering achievement
The Brunton’s panto is a little different this year – Oh yes it is! Covid means the Brunton’s 2020 offering was filmed, with smaller audiences able to watch Rapunzel in the venue’s cinema. As it turned out, tier changes meant that plan was abandoned, but a web link ensures kids of all ages don’t have to miss out.
The Secret Theatre
★★★★☆ Christmas treat
The Secret Theatre may not entirely make up for missing a Christmas trip to the ballet but succeeds impressively on its own terms.
Lyceum Christmas Tales IX – XII live
★★★★☆ Creative Joy
The final four stories in the Lyceum Christmas Tales, presented live from the theatre, put the seal on what has been an enterprise suffused with goodwill, invention, care and Christmas cheer.
Lyceum Christmas Tales V – VIII
★★★★☆ Fresh
The last four of the pre-recorded Lyceum Christmas Tales provide another helping of laughter, reflection and hope.
Lyceum Christmas Tales I-IV
★★★★☆ Tasty selection
With festive theatre lacking like so much in 2020, the Lyceum’s online Christmas Tales go along way towards compensating.
Fibres
★★★★☆ Emotive
Fibres, the online filmed version of the 2019 Citizens and Stellar Quines co-production, offers humour, emotion and political impact.
Lament for Sheku Bayoh
★★★★★ Essential
Lament for Sheku Bayoh, the Lyceum’s online co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland and the Edinburgh International Festival, is a work of huge impact on many levels.
shrapnel
★★★☆☆ Timely
There is a timeliness and emotional truth to Shrapnel, Production Lines’s online play by CMFWood, that is enhanced by being presented live.
In Someone Else’s Shoes: Edinburgh’s Unexpected Summer
★★★★☆ Poignant:
In Someone Else’s Shoes, the Traverse’ immersive online presentation conceived and directed by Hannah Price, is a thought-provoking and wistful evocation of Edinburgh without its festivals.
