Suzanne O’Brien
Hairspray
★★★★☆ Sparkling
With all the vibrant colours of the rainbow, Hairspray at the Edinburgh Playhouse delivers hit after hit, taking the audience in with its high energy and dazzling performances.
Blood Brothers
★★★★☆ Captivating
Written by Willy Russell, Blood Brothers at the Edinburgh Playhouse all week and returning to the Glasgow King’s in October, is a compelling tale filled with moving performances.
In the Round
★★★★☆ Enthralling
In the Round by Yucca Dance at Greenside on George Street for the last week of the Fringe is a captivating exploration of the circles and cycles that shape our lives.
PALS
★★★★☆ Unstoppable
Filled with banter and the odd Gaelic phrase, PALS at the Gilded Balloon Patter House is a brilliant adventure-comedy that will have you laughing one minute and holding back tears the next.
The Grandmothers Grimm
★★★★☆ Hallowe’en treat
Some Kind of Theatre’s bold feminist drama The Grandmothers Grimm explores the role of women in the creation of the Brothers Grimm’s famous anthology and acknowledges the unknown voices behind the tales.
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet
★★★★☆ Radical and inventive
Matthew Bourne’s radical reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for his New Adventures company, creates a ballet about the powerless and the powerful which highlights the madness of young love and the crazy things it forces us to do.
Mark Twain’s The Stolen White Elephant
★★★☆☆ Absurd
Performed by Andy Dickinson, this version of Mark Twain’s absurd short story The Stolen White Elephant changes the original setting of New Jersey to Manchester. It’s amusing, satirical and totally bizarre.
Traditional Tales of Scotland
★★★★☆ Magical
With a basic set consisting of a table and chair and no special effects or lights, Traditional Tales of Scotland at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, is a simple and relaxed hour of storytelling.
Plague, Poo n’ Punishment
★★★★☆ Heaps of fun
Set in an ancient courtroom, Edinburgh Storytellers’ Plague, Poo n’ Punishment is a comedy show filled with stories of Edinburgh’s gory history that is enjoyable for both children and adults.
The Real William Shakespeare… As Told by Christopher Marlowe
★★★★☆ Full of imagination
There are many debates and conspiracy theories surrounding Shakespeare’s life and work. The Real William Shakespeare… as Told by Christopher Marlowe, from Matchmaker Theatre Productions, pitches into one of those thought-provoking theories with great humour, music and lively performances.
