Reviews

Northern Stage, Bloody Great Border Ballads Project | Photo: Claudine Quinn

Northern Stage and Guests: The Bloody Great Border Ballad Project

August 21st, 2013 by

By the time we reach the thirteenth verse of the St Stephen’s Border Ballad, the foundling has had a child of her own, become a painter, escaped to the Highlands via the A9, and been battered by forces internal and external, but we have yet to find out where we stand on the issue of […]

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John Osborne, On the Beach

John Osborne: On the Beach

August 21st, 2013 by

70s archive footage of muscly young men in too-tight shirts, Tommy Cooper wobbling across an ice rink and Eric Morecambe clowning around with dodgems in the background play out in the orangey/turquoisey tones of the decade on a centre-stage screen as we enter the space. The Libertines swell through the speakers – it’s an old […]

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Made in China, Gym Party

Made in China: Gym Party

August 21st, 2013 by

The first night of this bizarre and darkly funny show sees a full house of mostly young people who laugh readily and seem very engaged. The simple and effective visual aesthetic, created by Clementine Keith-Roach, is comprised of neon-lit performer’s names as a backdrop, and pristine white gym outfits with colourful wigs. Yet already we […]

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Belarus Free Theatre: Trash Cuisine

Belarus Free Theatre: Trash Cuisine

August 20th, 2013 by

It starts pretty low-key, with dim lights and a mellow guitar tune (played live), then into an ensemble physical theatre scene – eight people and as many wooden stools acting out motifs of restraint, disorientation and unbalance. It revs up with the arrival of a crowd-rousing compere: ‘I said HELLO Edinburgh!’ who goes into a […]

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Action Hero: Hokes Bluff

Action Hero: Hoke’s Bluff

August 19th, 2013 by

Go wildcats! Make some noise! Let’s get out there and win – whatever it takes. And to the tune of Party Rock Anthem, here comes a great big dancing bear – or maybe it’s a lion or a tiger, anyway, something big and furry – the team mascot, HB. And a whole gaggle of cheerleaders […]

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