Reviews
Going Postal
★★★★☆ First Class
Strawmoddie’s Going Postal, their fourth production of a Terry Pratchett novel adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs, is delivered with all due care and attention to detail at the Pleasance Theatre to Sunday.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
★★★★☆ Pure imagination
Balerno Theatre Company’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Church Hill may not be a traditional Christmas show but certainly provides a large helping of festive cheer.
Aladdin
★★★☆☆ Olde gold
There’s some vintage panto magic happening at Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre this week, as St Serf’s Players stage Aladdin written by Norman Robbins and directed by Jack Paterson.
4Play 2024: One
Fuckers: ★★★★☆ Scabrous
Colours Run: ★★★☆☆ Promising
Edinburgh-based new writing showcase 4Play returns to the Traverse this week. This time round, the plays are described as full-length developed pieces, although there is still an air of the unfinished at times.
A Noble Clown
★★★★★ Essential
Michael Daviot’s A Noble Clown – Scenes From The Life Of Duncan Macrae, is on a short run at the Storytelling Centre as part of the weekend celebrating Scottish theatre linked to Edinburgh 900. If there is any justice in the world, it will be seen again very soon.
Treasure Island
★★★★☆ Creative
Treasure Island, the Lyceum’s family Christmas show, is an enchanting production whose energy and visual invention compensate for the occasional mis-step.
Little Red Robin Hood
★★★☆☆ Clever
Little Red Robin Hood from Happy Sad Productions is a clever mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood, Robin Hood, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with elements of other pantos thrown in for good measure.
Keeping in touch with PenPals
Script-in-hand performance
PenPal Productions’ Drama@TheDepot has established itself as a showcase for work by Edinburgh playwrights and performers in 2024.
Cinderella
★★★★☆ Sparkling
Cinderella at the Festival Theatre is yet another example of a spectacular family pantomime featuring the familiar talents of Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young.
Amanda: A Horror Comedy Musical
★★★☆☆ Unique
New horror comedy musical Amanda, from Shock Horror Theatre, brings this quite specific and difficult genre to the stage at a fitting venue in The Banshee Labyrinth, for two nights only.
