This week 19 – 25 Feb 2018
On Edinburgh’s stages this week
A busy week on Edinburgh’s stages, with big circus, a bordello, Burns, a spot of ballet, a ghostly tale and the youth section of the SCDA’s one-act festival.
The big news for new writing fans is the return of the Village Pub Theatre, however, which has an evening of plays inspired by all things literary this Tuesday – following on, no doubt, from VPT co-founder James Ley’s Love Song to Lavender Menace.
Scandal in Georgian Edinburgh: Nicola Roy, Helen Mackay and Pauline Knowles in The Belle’s Stratagem at the Lyceum to March 10. Pic Mihaela Bodlovic
You have three weeks to see The Belle’s Stratagem, which is at the Lyceum until March 10. Directory Tony Cownie excels himself, as Hugh noted in his review (★★★★☆ Exemplary comedy), and word of mouth is likely to be very strong on this one, so the advice is a to book a ticket early.
If you missed Conor McPherson’s chilling, modern classic The Weir when it was at the Lyceum in 2016 (“★★★★☆ Quietly affecting”) the usually excellent English Touring Company is at the King’s to Saturday with a production that originated at the Mercury Theatre Colchester, directed by Adele Thomas.
There are three companies taking part in the SCDA’s youth event on Sunday 25 at the Church Hill Theatre. It should be something of a blast – with one production featuring a cast of 38, no less. There are more details of the event, which starts at 5pm, here: SCDA One Act Festival Preview.
If you missed Natasha Gilmore’s Barrowland Ballet last week at the Festival Theatre Studio, they are continuing their tour of Wolves to the Brunton on Friday night. We didn’t see the show ourselves, but we had great reports from our friend in the stalls, who said she: “loved the performances by the very talented, intergenerational cast. It has lovely, whimsical moments; funny and moving with a wonderful score.”
Phone worms!
She didn’t like the fellow audience member who sat looking at her phone for the whole performance, however. And worse, who boasted at the end that she was friends with members of the cast. Some friend!
Incidentally, that is the second report this week of people looking at their phones during a show and, if not ruining the performance, at least reducing its impact. We think that this is the height of theatre bad manners and have started keeping a note of instances. If you have experienced phone screen light pollution in an Edinburgh theatre, do drop us a line.
Back to events on stage, and Lucy O’Byrne who is returning to town as Maria in The Sound of Music – at the Playhouse all week. The runner up of BBC One’s The Voice in 2015, she certainly impressed our critic the last time she was here (★★★★☆ No problems with this Maria).
Also back in town, but riding a somewhat different wave, is David Leddy with The Last Bordello. We ran a preview of this intriguing show back in December (Leddy’s Bordello Edinburgh Bound) in which he said he “finds myself writing about the abuse of power again and again because it disturbs me so much”. This was before his company, Fire Exit, controversially had its RFO status removed by Creative Scotland. It will be interesting to see the production in the light of these subsequent events.
Listings: Mon 19 – Sun 25 Feb 2018
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
Ae Fond Kiss
Friday 23 February 2018.
Two performances: 2.30pm & 7.30pm.
Nonsense Room Productions with a musical journey through the major events of Burns’ life from birth to death. Rabbie Burns is your guide with quirky commentary, amusing and poignant interactions with key characters along the way, and renditions of several famous poems and songs.
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
Barrowland Ballet: Wolves
Friday 23 February 2018
Evening: 7.30pm.
Wolves explores the stories that have been told through time to different generations, from grandparents to children, keeping us all in place. With live music by Mairi Campbell set to an evocative score by Luke Sutherland.
Church Hill Theatre
33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
SCDA YOUTH One-Act Festivals
Sunday 25 February 2018.
Afternoon: 5pm.
Three teams compete to represent Edinburgh District at the Youth Divisional Final in April 2018:
Girls Like That by Evan Placey. (Indelible Arts Youth Theatre 1).
Ticket To Hitsville by Bill Tordoff and David Dougham. (St Kentigerns, Blackburn).
Three by Harriet Braun. (Indelible Arts Youth Theatre 2).
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Cirque Berserk
Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 February 2018.
Evenings 7.30pm | Matinees Sat 2pm and 5pm
Showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, Cirque Berserk! celebrates the 250th anniversary of the invention of Circus by bringing this treasured form of live entertainment bang up-to-date in a jaw-dropping spectacular – created especially for the theatre. Æ review of 2016 tour: “★★★★☆ Runaway success“.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
The Weir
Tuesday 20 – Sat 24 February 2018
Evenings 7.30pm; Matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
In a small Irish town, the locals exchange stories round the crackling fire of Brendan’s pub to while away the hours one stormy night. As the beer and whisky flows, the arrival of a young stranger, haunted by a secret from her past, turns the tales of folklore into something more unsettling. The English Touring Company with Conor McPherson’s chilling, modern classic.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848
The Belle’s Stratagem
Saturday 17 February – Saturday 10 March.
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees from 21st: Weds, Sat: 2pm.
A witty riposte to Farquhar’s The Beaux Stratagem, Hannah Cowley’s rediscovered gem, adapted by Tony Cownie and now set in Georgian Edinburgh, turns the tables on the farcical goings-on and has the women coming out on top. Read Æ’s review: ★★★★☆ Exemplary comedy.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014
The Sound of Music
Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 Feb.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Matinees Wed, Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm.
One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to tell the true story of the world famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom at the start of WWll. With Lucy O’Byrne and Neil McDermott.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
The Last Bordello
Wednesday 21 – Saturday 24 February 2018.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
There’s one bordello left in a brutal war zone and inside the atmosphere’s like an X-rated mad hatter’s tea party. David Ledy’s Fire Exit with its biggest production to date. Æ preview: Leddy’s Bordello Edinburgh Bound.
Project #1
Friday 23/Saturday 24 February 2018.
Evenings: 8pm.
The first development piece from the brand new Edinburgh-based company Wildfire Theatre, formed by theatre veterans Molly Innes, Pauline Lockhart, Wendy Seager and Natalie Arle-Toyne.
The Village
The Village Pub, 16 South Fort Street, Leith, EH6 4DN.
VPT Book Club
Tuesday 20 February 2018.
7.30pm (doors) for 8pm. Entry £3.
New short plays adapted from, inspired by or somehow tenuously connected to a book by Tim Barrow, Giles Conisbee, Sylvia Dow, Sophie Good, Jonathan Holt, Corinne Salisbury and Sara Shaarawi. Featuring your fave fiction, non fiction, nibbles and a second hand book stall.
ENDS
