Reviews by Margaret and Gerry Card - CRTA Promoters Name of company	Shed Theatre
Name of show	A Funny Thing Happened on the way to The Forum
Genre	Musical comedy
Venue	Chambers Street
Date	14:08:2012
Review
Very enthusiastic and colourful college type production
Not suitable for touring in small venues.  At least 24 cast members
There was no definitive characterisations,  they all were of the same age group so the older characters
were only apparent by the dialogue
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	?
Would you book them ?	No
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Not for this show
consider work in the future Name of company Sparkle & Dark.  Chatham Kent Name of show The Girl with No Heart Genre PG Venue Bedlam Theatre Date 14:08:2012 Review       Good puppetry and shadows.   Without reading the programme about the children of Hiroshima, the storylinewould be  difficult to follow. The musicians were too far forward  on stage which was distracting to the  audience because it drew attention away fromthe action.  It was a pity that the puppeteers were dressed in similar colours to the puppet, had they been in a contrasting colour the puppet would have stood out better.                                                           Suitable / ready for rural touring? Yes Would you book them ? ? Would it be worth pursuing this company to Possibly consider work in the future   Any other comments   The subject matter is difficult to put over Name of company Tortoise in a Nutshell   Edinburgh Name of show Grit Genre PG Venue Bedlam Theatre Date 14:08:2012 Review       The storyline about children affected by wars did'nt completely come across.  The use of such tiny toy soldiers by two of the actors did not work for anyone seated more than two rows back from the stage.  The table top puppets did not work well and the projected images onto hand held screens was unnecessary, Would have worked better on a big screen Cast of two musicians and 4 actors   Suitable / ready for rural touring? No Would you book them ? No Would it be worth pursuing this company to Maybe other work by this company consider work in the future     Name of company Side by Side   Stourbridge Name of show Dream On Genre U Venue Paradise in Augustines Date 15:08:2012 Review       This show was by a cast of all "down syndrome"  members who were incredibly well focused on thier work.  They obviously  enjoyed  themselves, did'nt forget thier lines and witha little   ad libbing they pulled it all together giving a thoroughly enjoyable performance. Dream On was thier adaptation of "A Midsummer Nights Dream" in rehearsal, and it was easy  to follow and funny all through.    The set and Coreography was superb and the show obviously  thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.     A cast of about 20.    Worth 5 stars   Suitable / ready for rural touring? Could be with some limitations Would you book them ? Yes ( if some problms re. Accommodion addressed) Would it be worth pursuing this company to Yes consider work in the future   Any other comments   More suitable for large venues  and best done on a stage

Name of company	Wordsmiths Theatre Factory.  Capetown
Name of show	The sewing machine
Genre	U
Venue	Assembly  George Square
Date	15:08:2012
Review
This is a one woman show about her life in South Africa but now resides in an old peoples home
and is waiting for somone to come regarding the sale of her sewing machine which has been her
companion for many years.  The actress was brilliant and held the audience attention throughout the
piece. During some of the long pauses, when she made tea and moved slowly around the stage,
There was dead silence, (you could have heard a pin drop), The audience were so involved.
The actress was given a standing ovation at the end.
Excellent theatre
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	Tes
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Yes
consider work in the future
Any other comments
We would be interested to see other work by this company

Name of company	Whitebone Productions
Name of show	Bane 1-2-3
Genre	U
Venue	Pleasance Dome
Date	15:08:2012
Review
Very cleverly contrived one man show. The actors ability to change character rapidly
portraying several different characters just by body language and facial expressions was very
amusing and surprising.  The actor provided the sound effects orally and the music supporting the
piece gave a good atmospheric background.
There were some bad language in the dialogue, but this was in the spirit of the content, although
some people may find it offensive.
On the whole it was very energetic and very entertaining.
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	Yes  (with some modifications)
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Yes
consider work in the future
Any other comments
Very watchable, but For some audiences may need some discussion regarding content.

Name of company	Act 1 Theatre Company
Name of show	Wuthering Heights
Genre	PG
Venue	The Space on the Mile  High Street
Date	15:08:2012
Review
This was an abridged version of a well known story.  It was condensed into a small space and
performed by a cast of about 10 actors with minimum props.
There was a lack of light and dark contrast in the dialogue and delivery of the lines which
spoilt the production. The use of the Window as both window and door spoilt the illusion
they were trying to create and there was lack of passion in the portrayal of some of the characters.
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	No
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Depends whats on offer, but doubtful
consider work in the future
Any other comments
The whole play was let down by inadequate acting

Name of company	Jimmy Greaves Magic Puppet Company
Name of show	The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart
Genre	U
Venue	Pleasance Courtyard
Date	16:08:2012
Review
Enjoyed this show very much. The operation of the Boy puppet was excellently handled, and the
pathos  shown was very good.  The change of the character from puppet to man wrked well
and was done expertly with minimum props  the use of which was very cleverly contrived.
This was a story of a boy born with a disfunctional heart who needed a "pacemaker" which was not
available and was given a cuckoo clock in its place.  He was told he must never fall in love because
This would make the clock race and may break up.
Based on a very imaginative bittersweet tale by Mathias Malzieu.
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	Yes
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Yes
consider work in the future
Any other comments
No Programme was given explaining  the story and where it came from, which is a pity.

Name of company	KCHB
Name of show	Anything But
Genre	14+
Venue	Pleasance Courtyard
Date	16:08:2012
Review
This is a one woman show about people and attitudes in life and was centred around a funeral wake
Stand up comedy, slick and amusing at times  (for some of the audience, very funny), but
not very enjoyable for us
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	No
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Depends what else they have on offer
consider work in the future
Any other comments
Stand up comedy has to make me laugh

Name of company	Horse and Bamboo
Name of show	Angus Weaver of Grass
Genre	PG
Venue	The Netherbow
c	16:08:2012
Review
Although this show had some interesting effects, we found it very confusing and difficult to follow
Some of the puppetry was poorly done and the projection of images confusing at times.
A programme giving some basic information about the main character needs to be given at the start
The show follow the life of Angus MacPhee and we have since obtained a programme by post.
This clarifies some of the sequences used in the show, but since the songs were in Gaelic the
story (if contained in the songs) could not be followed.
An interpretation of the songs should have been given somehow.
Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	No
Would it be worth pursuing this company to	Yes
consider work in the future
Any other comments
Good effects but rather confusing