Kirsty Eila McIntyre
The Real William Shakespeare… As Told by Christopher Marlowe
★★★★☆ Full of imagination
There are many debates and conspiracy theories surrounding Shakespeare’s life and work. The Real William Shakespeare… as Told by Christopher Marlowe, from Matchmaker Theatre Productions, pitches into one of those thought-provoking theories with great humour, music and lively performances.
Castle Lennox
★★★★☆ Huge humanity
Originally intended to be staged at the Lyceum in 2020, Castle Lennox, playwright Linda McLean’s collaboration with Lung Ha Theatre Company proves to be well worth the wait.
12Ks of Xmas for Sick Kids
Panto stars stage charity walk for Sick Kids
A dozen Edinburgh-based panto stars are swapping their spectacular walk downs for a 12K sponsored walk for the Sick Kids in this year of no live pantomimes.
BookFest – The Final Whistle
Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Final Round-up:
The Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 closed with its customary eclectic selection of events a remarkably prescient glitch and a Playing with Books presentation that showed exactly what such an adaptation can do.
A War of Two Halves
★★★★★ Welcome replay:
A War of Two Halves, whose devastating emotion and clever staging impressed in 2018, is back again and it is every bit as powerful.
Myth making
Jim Harbourne on his Myth of the Singular Moment:
Every fringe seems to throw up its own little wonders; Shows that resonate long after the other, more flashy, immediately appealing and headline events have left your thoughts. The Myth of the Singular Moment was one such show.
Scribble
★★★☆☆ Thought-provoking:
Andy Edwards’ new play Scribble, at the Assembly Roxy, is an innovative and thought-provoking exploration of mental health.
Frankenstein
★★☆☆☆ Messy:
Well acted but confusingly adapted, Frankenstein: In Darkness We Rise at the Gilded Ballon Wine Bar is an unsatisfying hour of theatre.
The Elephant Man
★★★☆☆ Effective:
There is a straightforward effectiveness to Fringe Management and Canny Creatures’ version of The Elephant Man at the Gilded Balloon that helps it overcome its comparative lack of inspiration.
The Bruce In Ireland
★★★☆☆ Brutal:
Bleak beyond remorse, Ben Blow’s new play about Edward Bruce’s bloody foray into Ireland, playing at the Assembly Roxy until Thursday, makes for cynical viewing.
