Author: Rebecca Mahar
Jesus Christ Superstar
★★★★☆ It’s the buzz
Southern Light blaze onto the Festival Theatre stage with their production of the Lloyd Webber & Rice rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, tackling this modern classic with a monstrous cast and ambitious production values.
In Other Words
★★★★☆ Painfully vital
A compelling look into the life and struggles of a couple dealing with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, TBC Productions’ In Other Words pairs painful truth with the commitment of love and the power of music, in a play that strikes at the heart of humanity.
The Crucible
★★★★★ Visceral
Scottish Ballet’s revival of its 2019 production of The Crucible haunts the Festival Theatre with visceral intensity, translating its tale of 17th century American witch trials through the sharp storytelling of Helen Pickett’s contemporary ballet.
Incognito
★★★★☆ Earnest
The Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group brings Nick Payne’s Incognito to the Assembly Roxy in a production packed with lightning-fast transitions and versatile performances.
Living With the Dead
★★★☆☆ Thoughtful
Not So Nice! Theatre Company’s latest offering, Living With the Dead by Cosette Bolt at the Augustine United Church, confronts the reality of death in its many forms, reflecting on its sameness.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
★★★★☆ Delightful
Isobel McArthur’s Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) bursts out of the servants’ stairs and into the parlour with straight-talk and song, bringing irreverent Austenian charm to the Festival Theatre on the Edinburgh stop of its current UK & Ireland tour.
Death of a Salesman
★★★☆☆ Modern Tragedy
Arthur Miller’s enduring tragedy Death of a Salesman leaves no question of the play’s outcome in its title, or in this new production from Trafalgar Theatre Productions and Raw Material touring to the Festival Theatre.
Chef
★★★☆☆ Turbulent
Sabrina Mahfouz’s Chef, starring Rebecca Benson, plays the Traverse for one night only in a production that crackles with energy and is a showcase for Benson’s solo performance.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
★★★★★ Long live the Queen
The Bohemians open their limited run of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical at the Festival Theatre to a standing ovation, with a production full of glitz, glam, disco, and heart.
Piece of Work
★★★★★ Searching
Piece of Work, the second act of James Rowland’s Songs of the Heart trilogy, visiting the Traverse as part of a UK tour of all three shows, is, fittingly, about the “middle of life”.
