Listings 23 – 29 April
On Edinburgh’s stages this week…
Looks like it’s doubles week this week, with a pair of pairs of one act plays at the Roxy and the Wee Red, while Messrs Gray and Stott’s Double Feature sets off on tour.
The biggest noise is clearly the first of the returning summer blockbusters. War Horse is at the Festival – go see if you haven’t already says Hugh in his review (click here for a read) – but there are other returning hits, albeit of a less high-profile variety.
The cast of Sweeney Todd. Pic: Captivate
Down at the Brunton, Captivate is reprising its take on Stephen Sondheim’s dark and chilling musical Sweeney Todd. Well worth a trip on the number 26 if you are not already in Musselburgh.
The first of the double bills is at the Roxy where The Edinburgh Makars have a contemporary version of Sophocles’ Oedipus followed by Hands Across the Sea, a Noel Coward comedy about the gossiping Lady Gilpin.
Then new(ish) company Twelve Twelve Theatre present their second double bill of new writing with the playwright directing their own work. There’s Ronan Jennings’ weighty play about war Valkyrie and Emma Harley’s more farcical Sex, Drugs and a Cup of Tea.
The big new writing tip, however, is at the Traverse. For lunch there’s Rob Drummond weighing in with Eulogy for PPP, while in the evening – and on for a three week run – there is Frances Poet’s Gut.
farmyard adventure
Not forgetting that the Village Pub Theatre is going for fandom with an evening of short plays provoked by the sometimes creepy concept of the Number One Fan.
For younger audiences there’s the stage version of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ brilliant farmyard adventure What the Ladybird Heard at the Kings. The Brunton has previews for the latest Catherine Wheels show, Eddie and the Slumber Sisters, aimed at a slightly older audience and a coproduction with the NTS before it goes on tour.
Finally, we are rather torn for Saturday night pleasure. The ever weird and wonderful Clown Cabaret Scratch Night is at the Roxy as a bit of a warm up for next week’s clown festival, while Aulos Productions is taking over the Fireside Pub for what they are billing as a Monologue Slam. Pity the two events are not in a double bill themselves!
Listings:
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
‘Oedipus’ and ‘Hands Across The Sea’
Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 April 2018.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
The Edinburgh Makars with a varied double bill. First up – A contemporary version of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. Then a sparkling comedy by Noel Coward, following a hilariously confusing evening among the social elite when Lady Gilpin (Piggie) is more focused on gossip than her bemused guests.
Clown Cabaret Scratch Night
Saturday 28 April 2018.
Evening: 7.30pm (Upstairs)
A beautifully bonkers offering of Scotland’s finest up and coming Clown performers to put a spring in your step and a smile on your face. From hilarious He-Men to supernatural silliness our clowns will alight your April with laughter, hope, absurdity and outrageous clown fantasy.
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
Captivate Theatre: Sweeney Todd
Thursday 26 – Sat 28 April 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm (Theatre).
Captivate reprise their 2017 EdFringe, “★★★★☆ Bloodily brilliant” production. Barbaric barber Todd and his pie making accomplice Mrs Lovett come up with an unusually grotesque business plan in Stephen Sondheim’s dark and chilling musical.
Eddie and the Slumber Sisters
Friday 27: 6.30pm & Saturday 28 April: 5pm
(Brunton Venue 2)
Catherine Wheels and the NTS with a new interactive show that, with warm heart, songs and humour, explores grieving through the eyes of a child. Meet the Slumber Sisters. An all-singing trio whose job it is to monitor our dreams and ensure that our night time wanderings remain healthy and sage. Armed with an infinite supply of remedies, they arrive to create dreams that will help us through difficult times…
Double Feature
Friday 27 April 2018
Evening: 7.30pm (Brunton Venue 1)
Grant Stott and Andy Gray tour their EdFringe 2017 hit – we said: “★★★★☆ Double the Laughs“. Mikey and Davy are charged with clearing out the cinema where they spent much of their childhood together, prior to its demolition for executive flats. Cue musings on the power of movies, the power of friendship, and the gaps between Hollywood and real life.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
War Horse
Wednesday 18 April – Saturday 12 May 2018
Evenings: Tue – Sat: 7.30pm, matinees Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm; Sun 2pm only.
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, this powerfully moving and imaginative first world war drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company. Hugh’s review is here: ★★★★★ Magnificent.
Fireside Bar
Cranston St, Edinburgh EH8 8BE
Monologue Slam
Saturday 28 April 2018.
Evening: 7.30pm.
In the style of a poetry slam, this is competition between actors to be crowned Edinburgh Monologue Slam champion. Fundraiser for Aulos Productions.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
What the Ladybird Heard
Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 April 2018
Two shows Daily: 10.30am & 2pm.
Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But they’ve reckoned without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: the Ladybird, who has a plan of her own… A new stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ colourful farmyard adventure.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848
Creditors
Friday 27 April – Saturday 12 May.
Previews: Fri 27/Sat 28, Mon 30; Opens Tue 1 May.
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees Weds, Sat: 2pm.
Stewart Laing directs David Greig’s new adaptation of August Strindberg’s play. Young artist, Adolph is in love with his new wife, the successful novelist Tekla, and why would he not be? Charming, vivacious and experienced, she has been his passion, his inspiration and his education.
Playhouse
18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA. Phone booking: 0844 871 3014
Sheridan Smith
Thursday 26 April 2018.
Evening: 7.30pm.
BAFTA and Olivier Award winning Sheridan Smith hits town on her first UK tour.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
A Play, A Pie and A Pint: Eulogy
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 April 2018.
Six years ago Sandy ruined his daughter’s wedding day with a speech for the ages in Rob Drummond’s Top Table. Well, the joke’s on him now, because he’s dead. Rob cordially invites you to Sandy’s memorial service and his big brother Andy’s Eulogy. Here’s Thom’s review: ★★★☆☆ Surprising.
Gut
Friday 20 April – Saturday 12 May 2018.
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm; Matinees: Thurs 10, Sat 12: 2.30pm.
Frances Poet’s new play is a taut psychological thriller that explores who we can trust with our children. And whether it’s more dangerous not to trust at all. Here’s Hugh’s review: ★★★☆☆ Gut-wrenching.
The Village
The Village Pub, 16 South Fort Street, EH6 4DN
VPT: No. 1 Fan!
Wednesday 25 April 2018.
Evening: 8pm. Tickets £3 on the door.
The Village Pub Theatre with an evening of short theatre pieces performed script-in-hand. This month’s theme is Number One Fan!. With fan-fiction from: Alison Carr, Grace Cleary, Sylvia Dow, Sue Gyford and James Ley, all performed with fan-tastic acting from Sarah MacGillivray, Saskia Ashdown, Nicola Jo Cully and Neil John Gibson. Guest direction comes from Tom Birch, Fiona Mackinnon ans Jairus Obayomi.. There is a very strong prospect that home baking will be available.
Wee Red Bar
Lady Lawson Street, EH3 9DF
Valkyrie & Sex, Drugs and a Cup of Tea
Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 April 2018.
Evenings: 7.30pm.
New Edinburgh-based theatre company Twelve Twelve Theatre present their second double bill of plays. In Ronan Jennings’ Valkyrie Europe is at war – Siegfried, a general, and Eloise, a revolutionary, are caught on opposite sides of the conflict, but just how far are they willing to go? In Emma Harley’s Sex, Drugs and a Cup of Tea, a Shrek related drinking game, no clean dishes, and some misplaced bodily fluids result in a fast-paced modern farce with a dark core for four young flatmates.
ENDS
