Listings: Mon 16 – Sun 22 May 2022
What’s on Edinburgh’s stages this week?
The answer is, sadly, not a lot. Maybe people are beginning to gear up towards their Fringe offerings, but the first flush of Covid-postponed shows seems to have passed.
Not that there aren’t a couple of pieces worthy of our attention, with Red Ellen finishing its run at the Lyceum, the EGTG staging Hay Fever at the Roxy and Company of Wolves bringing its Julius Caesar to Summerhall.
The EGTG company for Hay Fever. Pic: EGTG.
The Julius Caesar sounds fascinating. Five actors perform Shakespeare’s play, creating a world on the brink of crisis, teeming with crowds and politics: a wild ride from the streets of Rome to the steps of the Capitol, from whispers in the night to outright war.
Featuring Company of Wolves’ signature physicality, this contemporary staging revisits themes which remain as relevant now as they were in 1599.
The classic tale follows Brutus and Cassius who fear Caesar will crown himself king. But when they kill Caesar to prevent him taking the throne, they unleash forces that threaten to tear their world apart. What happens when we trust the wrong people? When we confuse conspiracy and reality? What happens when we cannot see ourselves?
classic farce
Hay Fever from the EGTG is Noel Coward’s comedy of a grotesque, self-centred, self-satisfied family, called Bliss – of course. Each of the four family members invite a guest down to their country residence for the weekend, without telling any of the others. It’s classic farce and, in the right hands (here Martin Foreman is at the helm), can be a hilarious take-down of the entitled classes.
Red Ellen is pleasing its audiences at the Lyceum – with a seat in the stalls seeming to provide the best views. In Hugh’s review he said it has an abundance of compassion and an excellent central performance from Bettrys Jones as Ellen Wilkinson.
This is certainly one for those who want a bit of politics with their theatre, as Wilkinson was one of the first female MPs (and only the second female Cabinet Minister) and a local MP during the Jarrow March. She was also a fighter for women’s suffrage, campaigner against fascism, sometime Communist and advocate of wider access to education.
Listings
Click on the name of the show to go to its ticketing site.
Assembly Roxy
2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
Hay Fever (EGTG)
Wed 18 – Sat 21 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Roxy Upstairs).
Meet the wealthy, self-obsessed and eccentric Bliss family; grande dame of the stage and mother Judith, novelist and father David, and their two children Sorel and Simon. Each has invited a guest to spend the weekend at their country house in rural England – and each has neglected to tell the others. Friction and hilarity ensue in Noel Coward’s classic comedy. Book here.
The Brunton
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA. Phone booking: 0131 665 2240
Rock n Roll Paradise
Sat 21 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Venue 1)
Backed by the dynamic Paradise Band, we pay tribute to the greats of that era, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee, Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Big Bopper, Ricky Nelson, and some very special guests who will join us as we tour the UK. 2 hours of rock and roll magic, brought to you by the very best tribute artistes, that’s Rock n Roll Paradise. Book here.
Lyceum Theatre
Grindlay Street EH3 9AX. Phone booking: 0131 248 4848.
Red Ellen
by Caroline Bird
Wed 4 – Sat 21 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm: Mats: Thur 5, Weds 11 & 18, Sat.
The Scottish premiere of the untold story of revolutionary socialist politician and journalist Ellen Wilkinson, who became a national figure when she played a prominent role in the 1936 Jarrow March – a protest which had a formative impact on post-Second World War attitudes towards unemployment and social justice. Tickets and Details.
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, EH1 1SR. Phone booking: 0131 556 9579
Summerhall
1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL
Julius Caesar
Thurs 19 – Fri 20 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Old Lab).
Brutus and Cassius fear Caesar will crown himself king. But when they kill Caesar, they unleash forces that threaten to tear their world apart. In Company of Wolves version, five actors immerse us in Shakespeare’s play, creating a world on the brink of crisis, teeming with crowds and politics: a wild ride from the streets of Rome to the steps of the Capitol, from whispers in the night to outright war. Book here.
Traverse
10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED. Phone booking: 0131 228 1404
The White Chip
Wed 18 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Traverse 2).
Sean Daniels’ autobiographical confessional is a laugh out loud poignant tale of a life spinning hideously out of control. He strips bare the truth behind an enabling industry and guides us through the pitfalls of a self confessed “recovering Mormon” who turns repeatedly to the AA for help. In association with SMHAF. Book here.
Young Writers’ Scratch Night
Sat 21 May 2022
Evening: 7.30pm (Traverse 2).
Eleven brand new, specially created pieces from this season’s cohort of Young Writers, developed with a team of professional actors and directors. These Scratch Night performances give each writer the opportunity to gather feedback from members of the audience, industry and their peers. Book here.
ENDS
