On Stage Mon 13 – Sun 19 Feb 2023
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week…
It’s a big musicals week for Edinburgh’s amateur theatre companies with no less than three big musicals hitting the stage this week, along with touring theatre from the Citizens.
First though, Zinnie Harris’s new version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth (an Undoing) continues at the Lyceum for its second of a three week run. Our critic was more intrigued than impressed (“★★★☆☆ Intriguing” he said), although some other critics have been more generous.
A scene from Moonset, touring to the Traverse. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic
So to the musicals. First opening on Tuesday are the Bohemians Lyric Opera Company, up at the Church Hill Theatre with the Elvis musical, All Shook Up, and EU Footlights at the Pleasance with the cheerleading musical Bring It On: The Musical, then on Wednesday the Forth Children’s Theatre are setting sail in Cole Porter’s Anything Goes up at the Edinburgh Tabernacle on Ferry Road.
Kirsty Tomassi, Chairman of The Bohemians told Æ: “We chose All Shook Up because the music and harmonies are out of this world, the script is very comedic and there are lots of principal parts, which gives more of our talented members a chance to shine.
“The harmonies throughout the show allow our 37 strong cast to create pure magic. They have really worked together as a team to bring this show to you.”
The story follows a small, repressed town that is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of good looking, motorbike riding roustabout Chad who shakes things up. It’s a heart-warming tale about the power of music, opening up to love and following your dreams.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, All Shook Up is a jukebox musical comedy using Elvis Presley’s music. It plays the Church Hill, Tue 14 – Sat 18 at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.
The cast of the Bohemians’ All Shook Up. Pic: The Bohemians.
Bring it On: The Musical is a the musical adaptation of the movie of the same name, centred around the world of competitive cheerleading.
Campbell Davis is set-up for success: handsome boyfriend, a killer squad and she has just been crowned cheer captain. Nationals seem to be in the bag. However, when Campbell is unexpectedly reassigned to inner-city Jackson High School, her dreams are seemingly ripped from her grasp.
Out of her bubble and out of her depth, Campbell befriends the school’s dance crew, led by the headstrong and hardworking Danielle. Together, they may have what it takes to take on Truman at Nationals and make Campbell’s dream come true.
Producer and production manager Tom Beazley told Æ: “Part of what makes this show so exciting, both for an audience to come and see and from our side putting it together, is just how much it’s pushing all of us into exploring new areas.
“We’ve got a hugely talented cast who have worked so hard to turn themselves into cheerleaders with the help of our two fantastic choreographers, Rose Roberts and Emily Bealer, and the Edinburgh Vixens. We’re hoping audiences will get something from seeing Bring It On that they haven’t seen before.
“We’re also lucky to have music by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Next to Normal’s Tom Kitt – I know it’s been a lot of fun for or MD, Eric Roberts, and the cast to go from classical-musical theatre singing into rapping into chanting all in the space of one show!”
Bring it On: The Musical plays the Pleasance Theatre, Tue 14 – Sat 18 at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.
Some of the Eu Footlights cast of Bring It On. Pic: Andrew Perry
Anything Goes is a musical comedy set aboard an ocean liner bound for London from New York. Beautifully wrapped in one of Cole Porter’s magical scores, including the title number and such songs as You’re the Top, and I Get a Kick Out of You.
The remarkably silly plot was originally written by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse but was heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy Number 13, “Moonface” Martin, aid Billy in his quest to win Hope.
Debs Anderson says that she is thrilled to be taking the helm in this production. She has worked as an actor both on screen and in theatre for a number of years and also has a strong background in teaching dance and drama.
“The tap numbers in Anything Goes inspired my enthusiasm for dance at a young age,” she says. “I remember listening to and watching all the great musicals growing up which makes directing this production even more exciting.”
Anything Goes is at the Edinburgh Tabernacle on Ferry Road, Wed 15 – Sat 18 Feb at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
The Cast of Anything Goes on the Britannia. Pic: Michael Bryant.
Moonset from the Citizens Theatre Company and touring to the Traverse, is a blazing, coming-of-age tale filled with love, rage and self-discovery, as these young women search for the power they were promised.
A bold piece of new writing by Maryam Hamidi it has the voices of five strong, diverse, powerful women at its heart, Moonset addresses challenging and relevant themes with skill, humour and empathy.
Living on a housing estate on the outskirts of Paisley, and lost somewhere between the bonfire of girlhood and the sharp edge of womanhood, fifteen-year old Roxy gathers her friends Gina, Bushra, and Joanne to begin meddling in witchcraft in the hunt for answers.
But shadows are lurking, ready to swallow those she loves most in the world… And as friendships fray, fire crackles and blood bubbles, the group unravel the bonds that unite and the secrets that surround them.
Writer Maryam Hamidi says: “Moonset is my attempt to explore that bone-cracking transition into womanhood and the shifting ground of relationships between mothers and daughters and teachers and friends at that precipice.
“I wanted to capture the messiness, rage, hope and hunger we feel at that age as well as the ache we have as older women looking back.”
Moonset plays the Traverse, Thurs 16 – Sat 18 at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
And finally, the Playhouse has a tour from the evergreen Showaddywaddy (Fri 17), while Saturday brings the intriguing prospect of the Festival of The Dead’s brand-new show, an evening that brings a glorious mashup of head-banging hits, classical instruments and an abundance of candles in The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight.
Listings
Church Hill Theatre
33 Morningside Road, EH10 4DR.
All Shook Up
Tue 14 – Sat 18 Feb 2023.
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat Mat: 2.30pm.
The Bohemians with the Elvis Presley jukebox musical with a plot inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. A repressed town is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of good looking, motorbike riding roustabout Chad who shakes things up… Book here.
The Edinburgh Tabernacle
41-42 Ferry Rd., Inverleith Gardens, EH3 5PR.
Anything Goes
Weds 15 – Sat 18 Feb 2023
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat Mat: 2.30pm.
Forth Children’s Theatre with the hilarious shipboard romp wrapped in one of Cole Porter’s most magical scores. It’s delightful, delicious and de-lovely! Book here.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Janey Godley – Not Dead Yet
Sun 19 February 2023
Evenings: 7.30pm; Matinee Sat: 2.30pm.
Janey Godley is ‘still alive, by popular demand’ with a brand-new show for 2023 and can’t wait to be back doing what she does best! Janey will be supported by Ashley Storrie, the award-winning comedian best known for hosting BBC Radio Scotland’s Friday Nights, and a guest slot on Breaking The News. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Macbeth (an undoing)
Zinnie Harris, in a new version after Shakespeare
Sat 4 – Sat 25 Feb 2023
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Mats Weds & Sat: 2.30pm.
Æ review: ★★★☆☆ Intriguing
Shakespeare’s iconic Lady Macbeth is ruthless and driven, unstoppable in her pursuit of power, yet she quickly descends from strength to despair. Zinnie Harris’ thrilling new version revisits that trajectory asking if we have really heard the full story. Book here.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014
Showaddywaddy
Friday 17 February 2023
Evening: 7.30pm.
‘The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World’ is a bold statement but Showaddywaddy has lived up to that title as they celebrated their 45th anniversary in 2019 and show no signs of slowing down. Their live show is dynamic and uplifting featuring all of their biggest hits, many of which reached number one in the pop charts of Europe. Book here .
The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight
Saturday 18 February 2023
Evening: 7.30pm.
Get ready to be moved with Festival of The Dead’s brand-new show, an evening that brings a glorious mashup of head-banging hits, classical instruments and an abundance of candles! Featuring the classical reimagining of some of the best-known and well-loved Rock & Metal songs from the last 40 years – by 13-piece Chamber Orchestra. Book here .
Pleasance Theatre
60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ.
Bring It On (EU Footlights)
Tue 14 – Sat 18 Feb 2023
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat Mat: 2.30pm.
Campbell Davis is set-up for success: handsome boyfriend, a killer squad and she has just been crowned cheer captain. Nationals is in the bag for Truman High School! But, when Campbell is unexpectedly reassigned to inner-city Jackson High School, her dreams are ripped from her grasp… Book here
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
Moonset
Thurs 16 – Sat 18 Feb 2023
Evenings: 7.30pm, Sat mat: 2.30pm. (Traverse 1)
Citizens Theatre on tour
Fifteen-year-old Roxy is burning. Lost somewhere between the bonfire of girlhood and the sharp edge of womanhood, she gathers her friends and begins meddling in witchcraft to search for answers. By Maryam Hamidi. Book here.
ENDS
