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 Daniel Williamson as Juan Perón and Monica Reeves as Eva Péron George Watson’s College
By Thom Dibdin
There is a genuine tune-hummer of a production of Evita up at George Watson’s College this week, one which is strong and forceful where it needs to be – but is also fully-rounded on the musical front.
Minimal and unfussy staging makes good use of side-projected slides and video to help give the whole a well-judged political edge. It shows, without pulling its punches and while exploring the cult of Evita, where Perónism lies on the totalitarian spectrum.
It is music which lies at the heart of the production’s strengths, however. Having a large orchestra is something of a luxury in musical theatre circles and the company makes full use of the depth and texture a 32-strong band can provide – despite the odd wayward note in the more complex parts of the arrangement. … Continue reading Musical Review – Evita
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 Brendan Cole and Nicole Cutler Festival Theatre
By Thom Dibdin
It was strictly entertainment at the Festival Theatre on Sunday night when ballet badboy Brendan Cole brought his big bro, big band and a quartet of fellow Strictly Come Dancing professionals to Edinburgh.
That Cole is a passionate, gifted and generous ballroom and Latin dancer is in no doubt after eight series of Strictly, during which he has risen from being just another of the professional dancers who partner the celebs to being a celebrity in his own right.
A Festival Theatre packed with Strictly fans, dressed to impress and gagging for a sight of Brendan, certainly knew so.
When he put the question “what would you like to see now?” during the evening’s first pause it was purely rhetorical, given that this is a scripted and choreographed show. The answer from the front of the dress circle was not in the least rhetorical, however.
“You!” came the shout for all to hear. There can’t have been many in the audience who did not agree – and for those who didn’t, Nicole Cutler, Hanna Haarala and Izabela Hannah were more than adequate compensation. But the loudest screams of delight were reserved for Brendan, not least when he made his buttocks shimmy while demonstrating the Salsa a few dances later. … Continue reading Dance Review – Brendan Cole: Live and Unjudged
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 Matt Hall as Billy Elliot, Louise Hunter as Mrs Wilkinson and ensemble. Photo credit: company publicity Festival Theatre
Review by Thom Dibdin
Bright, exuberant and boasting a cast that mixes the singers from the Edinburgh Gang Show with the dancers of the Manor School of Ballet, the second Billy Youth Theatre version of Billy Elliot to hit Edinburgh is a thoroughly entertaining production.
This is a show which plays straight to its participants’ strengths. Having made a big name for himself by giving the Gang Show’s variety-style format a 21st century outlook, director Andy Johnston now brings those abilities to a full-blown musical on the vast expanses of the Festival Theatre stage.
It sets off with great deliberation and a big, strong telling of scene-setting number The Stars Look Down, which speaks of the unity in the miners in the face of adversity – now standing together against Thatcher in the great miners’ strike of 1984.
The whole company is in fine, clear voice. First hearing of Matt Hall as Billy Elliot with Ian Sutherland as his best pal Michael confirms that singing has been Johnston’s priority in casting the lead roles, while the direction and choreography of the ensemble set the story up perfectly. … Continue reading Musical Review – Billy Elliot
By Thom Dibdin
Morven Donald, aged 13, from Park Mains High School in Erskine has been announced as the winner of the Edinburgh Fringe’s annual schools competition to design the Fringe poster.
Morven’s design was judged the best from over two and half thousand entrants to the competition, which is now in its [...]
The Festival party season comes early for younger culture-vultures
By Thom Dibdin
 It's Bliss in the EIF IN crowd - Opera Australia's 'Bliss'. Photo credit: Branco Gaica The Edinburgh International Festival is staging a pair of free pre-Festival events this month, aimed at stimulating interest in its year-round education programme – and appealing further to the under-40 year-old Festival goer.
The first of the events takes place on Friday June 18 at the Hub when Sally Hobson, the EIF’s Head of Programme Development, will talk about the festival’s year-round outreach work. Titled New Worlds, New Horizons, the lecture will also be attended by EIF Director Jonathan Mills, who will be talking about his thinking behind this year’s EIF programme.
The second event is being held on June 23rd at the Roxy Art House, when the EIF launch IN, their new initiative for culture lovers in their 20s and 30s. The scheme will augment the existing 50% discount on all tickets for under-18s and those in full-time education, as well as the £8 on-the-day tickets for under 26 year-olds.
Although the club costs £20 to join, members of IN will be offered a whole raft of offers, from “hot tickets to exclusive VIP parties and behind the scenes events” to invitations to preview performances and discounts on selected performances. … Continue reading Be IN with the EIF’s Party People
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 Sandra O’Malley as Man With No Name Traverse Theatre
Review by Thom Dibdin
There were an inordinately complex number of bicycles tethered outside the Traverse theatre for the opening of Blue Raincoat Theatre Company’s short run of their touring version of The Third Policeman.
Which will come as little surprise to fans of Flann O’Brien’s wonderful, crazy, infuriating, hilarious and generally downright brilliant novel. It contains, after all, O’Brien’s expansions on the Atomic Theory of particle migration. A magnificent piece of bunkum theory by which it is explained, with a completely straight face, that cyclists will, over time, turn into their own vehicles.
The surprise is that the bicycles had not succeeded in securing seats in the auditorium, leaving their owners tethered outside. Although it must be pointed out that there were a number of smokers lingering around the outside ashtray, in close proximity to the bicycles. … Continue reading Theatre Review – The Third Policeman
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 Kathryn Howden and Lewis Howden as Sadie and Bill. Photo credit: Richard Campbell Traverse Theatre
Review by Thom Dibdin
Thunderous in its dark, brooding intensity and emotionally sapping outcome, Linda McLean’s pair of conjoined plays for the Traverse is a twisted night of theatre which explores our fear of the unknown with a chilling eye for detail.
This is not fun-show, good-times entertainment. Indeed, in some ways, it is quite a hateful piece of theatre, one that becomes uncomfortable to watch at times.
Which is all to the good, as it is the power and emotional punch of the whole production which makes it so. McLean’s intricately structured script would be as nothing without impeccable performances from Kathryn Howden and Kate Dickie, lucid direction from Dominic Hill and a set, by Jonathan Fensom, which is meticulous in its detail. … Continue reading Theatre Review – Any Given Day
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