Hugh Simpson
Brothers
★★★★☆ Heartfelt
Raised Voices’ Brothers, at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall for the last two weeks of the Fringe, has a praiseworthy emotional clarity.
Will Pickvance: Wonky
★★★★☆ Inviting
Will Pickvance: Wonky, at Summerhall Old Lab throughout the Fringe, is a charming, inventive and diverting show, guaranteed to cheer up even the most jaded Fringe-goer.
Murder! At the Cirque Du Banquet! The Terrible, Final Case of Detective Ace Dekkard
★★★☆☆ Chaotic
Dead Parrot Collective’s Murder! At the Cirque Du Banquet! The Terrible, Final Case of Detective Ace Dekkard, at Paradise in Augustines for the Fringe’s second week, is a cross-genre comedy romp that is a fitting late-night Fringe entertainment – defiantly silly and performed with gusto.
Joyfully Grimm – Reimagining a Queer Adolescence
★★★★☆ Hopeful
Joyfully Grimm – Reimagining a Queer Adolescence at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is a winning combination of personal reminiscence, politics and traditional tales which is understatedly poetic and utterly convincing.
Around the World in 80 Days
★★★☆☆ Enjoyable
Arkle’s Around the World in 80 Days, at the Royal Scots Club in Fringe Week Two, is a straightforward piece of family-friendly theatre. Inventive and committed, it has its drawbacks, but is always fun.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
★★★★☆ Terrific ensemble
Captivate’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Edinburgh Academy is an imposing production, full of fine singing and acting.
How I Learned to Drive
★★★★☆ Difficult
How I Learned to Drive, from Arkle at the Royal Scots Club for the Fringe’s second week, is a challenging piece staged with due care and skill.
Di(n)e
★★☆☆☆ Lacking life
There is a peculiar absence of drive in Di(n)e by Connor Rock, from Invisible Strings Theatre Co and New Celts at the Space on the Mile.
We Used To Be Girl Scouts
★★★★☆ Does Its Best
Hey Thanks! Theatre Collective and New Celts’ We Used To Be Girl Scouts is a heartfelt production that is as smart as it is emotional.
LIFE
★★★☆☆ Drawn out
LIFE from Maria McDonell at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is a production that does not always quite live up to its startlingly clever premise.
