Published: December 20th, 2013
 EPT’s principals stand up for inspection. Photo © Graham Bell Church Hill Theatre
Thurs 19 – Sun 29 December 2013
Review by Hugh Simpson
Cheerful, traditional and heart-warming, Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s production of The Sleeping Beauty is a pantomime with the broadest possible appeal.
There is a good balance of music and comedy, while the script, which was originally written by former EPT member David Swan, scores over many pantos by actually telling the story in some detail rather than assuming it is already known to the audience.
Director Irene Beaver marshals a large cast with skill and … Continue reading Review – The Sleeping Beauty
Published: December 19th, 2013 Festival City Theatres Trust board seeking new directors
 John Byrne with his King’s dome mural, part of the theatre’s ongoing refurbishment. Photo © Colin Hattersley By Thom Dibdin
The Board of the Festival City Theatres Trust has announced that it is looking to appoint two new directors in early 2014.
The two positions are falling vacant as directors stand down in March 2014, having competed their statutory five year stint.
The board is particular keen to find one new member with financial experience and another with experience of arts administration or fund-raising at a senior level.
FCTT manages the 1,300 seat Edinburgh King’s, 1,900 seat Festival theatre and the 200 seat Festival Studio.
… Continue reading FCTT board needs new blood
Published: December 18th, 2013
 Matt Swift as Sick Boy. Photo © Edinburgh Photographic Out Of The Blue Drill Hall
Mon 16 – Sun 22 December 2013
Review by Thom Dibdin
Wild and unruly, In Your Face Theatre’s production of Trainspotting makes interesting use of the open space of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall for its immersive, promenade format.
This is Harry Gibson’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh, which retains the episodic nature of the original novel and premiered at the Traverse in 1994.
Almost 20 years later, directors Christopher Rybak and Craig Boyle rekindle the fresh, visceral tension of that production. They capture some of the scuzzy futility of life in Leith and Edinburgh in the … Continue reading Review – Trainspotting
Published: December 17th, 2013
 Will Pickvance with Woodstock the Horse. Photo © Tim Vincent-Smith Summerhall
Mon 16 – Sun 22 December 2013
Review by Hugh Simpson
Frothy but lacking any real drive, Pianomime is a diverting but ultimately unsatisfactory hour at Summerhall.
Billed as ‘the long-overdue antidote to today’s pantomime’, most of the performance features pianist Will Pickvance narrating a stop-motion animation containing characters made from the components of a piano.
Pickvance combines undoubted musical talent with a likeably diffident, self-deprecating demeanour, while the animations, courtesy of Tim Vincent-Smith, are accomplished and inventive, reminiscent of Jan Švankmajer but with a considerably … Continue reading Review – Pianomime
Published: December 17th, 2013 EPT’s Beauty made panto debut aged just 9 months
 Maureen Cochrane (Bad Witch), Mairi Beaver (young Beauty), Pauline Chambers (Beauty), Mary Charleton (Queen) in EPT’s 1985 production of The Sleeping Beauty. Photo © Mairi Beaver By Thom Dibdin
When Beauty takes to the stage in the Edinburgh People’s Theatre production of The Sleeping Beauty at the end of this week, it will be in the role in which she made her panto debut aged just nine months.
It was back in 1985 when, as a babe in arms, Mairi Beaver had a cameo role as the young Beauty – being cursed at her christening by the bad witch to prick herself on a spindle before her 18th birthday. But not, of course, to die, as she is saved to sleep for a hundred years.
This year, Mairi steps out onto the stage as the grown-up Beauty, all ready to fall for her handsome prince. And in a nice twist of fate, it is her own mother, Irene Beaver, who is directing the production. … Continue reading Sleeping Beauty returns after 28 years…
Published: December 17th, 2013
 The Leithtivity cast: Matthew Leonard, Liz Strange, Sarah MacGillivray and Paul Cunningham. Photo © Thom Dibdin The Village Pub
Mon 16 – Wed 18 December 2013
Review by Thom Dibdin
Broad swipes and accurate strikes make the Village Pub Theatre’s first venture into pantomime a mixed bag, as it retells the nativity with a scabrous, 20th century Leith twist.
The Leithtivity is a first on several counts, being written by the six VPT writers: James Ley, Catherine Grosvenor, Morna Pearson, Colin Bell, Sophie Good and Louise Knowles, as a collective effort over a month.
All VPT’s previous outings have been the work of an individual. But this doesn’t feel as if it were written by committee – although different writers’ thumbprints are evident in various scenes. … Continue reading Review – The Leithtivity
Published: December 16th, 2013 Where can (Wordly) Wisdom be Found?
 End-of-year round-up? Not for J. A. Sutherland. Well not yet: There were too many precious gems around last week – and more coming up in this one too. Maybe he will put a lid on the poetry jewellery box next week. But for now, this is where the wisdom is.
According to the Book of Job: wisdom “cannot be gotten for gold; neither shall silver be weighed’. Attending literature events certainly solicits the silver from my pockets, not least because so many are held in pubs, clubs, cafés and bars.
The same Biblical passage says: ‘No mention shall be made of … Continue reading Wordly Wise: Lacking Wisdom
Published: December 13th, 2013
 Blythe Duff in Ciara. Photo © Jeremy Abrahams Traverse Theatre
Tues 3 – Sat 21 December
Review by Hugh Simpson
A towering performance by Blythe Duff marks out the Traverse’s revival of their Edinburgh fringe hit Ciara, which plays until the 21st.
The Ciara of the title of David Harrower’s play is the daughter of a feared Glasgow criminal. Shielded by her father from his world while he was alive, she now runs a gallery.
Her husband Brian, who was previously one of her father’s trusted associates and is now in charge of his empire, introduces her to fading artist Alan Torrance, who seems to represent a chance for her to put her business on the map. Instead … Continue reading Review – Ciara
Published: December 13th, 2013 Three night stand for the Village Pub Theatre
 By Thom Dibdin
The Village Pub Theatre has announced its Christmas offering, to be staged at the Village Pub on Monday-Wednesday next week.
And there is a guarantee that – what ever the weather – the legendary VPT home baking is also certain to make an entrance.
The show is being described as a “Leithtivity”: a retelling of the Christmas story in a Leith vein. Uniquely, it has been written by the six VPT writers together: James Ley, Catherine Grosvenor, Morna Pearson, Colin Bell Sophie Good and Louise Knowles. … Continue reading VPT goes Panto-crazy
Published: December 12th, 2013 Forth Children’s Theatre to cast Easter show
 By Thom Dibdin
Forth Children’s Theatre has secured the rights to stage Hairspray as its 2014 Easter production, and has announced that auditions for the show will take place this Sunday, 15 December.
Hairspray will run Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 April 2014 at the Edinburgh Academy. Direction will be by Ronan Radin, who excelled with this summer’s production of Godspell and the spring 2012 production of … Continue reading FCT auditions Hairspray this Sunday
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Listings this week: Sunday 15 - Sunday 22 Dec
The Brunton:
• Sleeping Beauty (Mon-Sat, ends Jan 4)
• The Singing Kettle (Fri-Sun)
Church Hill Theatre:
• The Sleeping Beauty (Thurs-Mon, ends Dec 29)
Discover 21:
• The Night Before Christmas (Mon-Thurs)
Edinburgh Playhouse:
• The Lion King (Tue-Sun, ends Jan 18)
Festival Theatre:
• White Christmas (Mon-Sat, ends Jan 4)
Fettes College:
• Brave Macbeth (Fri/Sat, 2.30pm)
• A Night At the Musicals (Fri/Sat, 7pm)
King's Theatre:
• Peter Pan (Tue-Sun, ends Jan 19)
North Edinburgh Arts:
• The LicketyTale of Molly Whuppie (Mon, Wed, Fri/Sat)
Out Of The Blue:
• Trainspotting (Mon-Sun)
Paradiso Spiegeltent, St Andrew Square:
• LIMBO (Tue-Sun, ends Jan 4)
• Little Red Riding Hood (Tue-Sun, ends Jan 4)
Royal Lyceum Theatre:
• A Christmas Carol (Weds-Sun, ends Jan 4)
The Studio at Festival Theatre:
• The Selfish Giant (Wed-Sun, ends Dec 24)
Summerhall:
• Pianomime (Mon-Sun)
Traverse:
• Ciara (Tue-Sat)
• The Polar Bears Go Wild (Tue-Sat)
The Village Pub:
• VPT Present A Liethtivity (Mon-Weds)
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