Pete's Quick Blog

Grit        Tortoise in a nutshell   Bedlam Theatre

A mixture of Physical Theatre and puppetry this has been getting good reviews, however it left me a bit cold and disappointed. There are some nice ideas, the show questions ideas around innocense and conflict . I have seen this company before and feel that they have potential but its the content of their shows which doesn't quite  hold together as a whole.

Briefs    Faanana Republic                           Underbelly Bistro Square

Camp Australian Circus-  not really rural touring fare as too much rigging and very risqué, If you like  sequins and g strings  then its all here.

Shona Reppe     The curious scrapbook of  Josephine Bean           Scottish Book Trust

A beautiful one woman children’s show  that is  definitely worth seeing. The show is a quirky and beautiful story about a scrapologist   - the audience are taken on a jpourney to discover whose scrap book  is being investigated. Beautiful ending and great for the adults in teh audience as well. Would work for rural touring

The Fantasist     Theatre Temoin                                Underbelly Bistro Square

I liked this a lot- which given the subject matter of depression _ I wasn’t expecting to.  Well performed, touching and great use of puppets-  could work for rural touring.

Mayday Mayday              Theatre Damfino                              Plesance Dome

Well acted one man show by Tristram of Kneehigh fame about the night he broke his back.  An enjoyable tale  and could work for rural touring. It was well done and was very watchable as he is such a strong performer but not sure I’d book it just because it didn’t treally excite me.

Tumble Circus    This is what we do for a living     Underbelly Bistro Square

Probably a bit much for rural touring as they have a trapeze and rope rigged. This was a nice idea about a duo who have performed and been in a relationship for years. So you get the mix of skills and strife of a relationship.  It didn’t quite work for me as the acting side let them down a bit and the first juggling routine had too many drops.  But nice idea.

The great Puppet Horn  The great Puppet Horn                  Underbelly cowgate

Irreverant shadow puppetry- silly and fun  like a student review-   not sure I’d book it for rural touring though

Molly Taylor       Love Letters to the Public Transport System                        Studio 1 assembly rooms

A lovely one woman show – which is told as a story   about trying to say thankyou to the train and bus drivers who helped Molly get from Scotland to London where she fell in love. Simple  but well told this was very enjoyable and could work for rural touring.

Dancing Brick     Captain Ko and the Planet of Rice                              Underbelly Cowgate

Occasionally you go to a show and wish you weren’t   sat in the middle row between numerous people so can’t leave. This was one of those-   hard work- it didn’t engage me 

The machine      Little Cauliflower                              Plesance Courtyard

Two fairly  young performers  have  built a machine  but its not working-   this was ok but their youth and limited performance experience showed and not a lot to it.

Ripstop Thetare                Luminous Tales                                 Plesance Courtyard

Simple shadow puppetry and storytelling-   didn’t really engage me and the performer was a bit weak .

The Ballad of Pondlife Mckirk     Catherine Wheels            traverse @ scottish booktrust

Well performed solo show  about friendships  - well worth a look and could work for rural touring.  This is a strong piece-  works with the audience on the floor and the action going on around us.

seven ages         Kepow theatre                 Just The toinc at the caves.

I have wanted to see this for a while as Kapow get a few bookings through the scheme-  it is a well performed improvisation show,  not breaking any boundaries  but it is a safe bet for a good comedy Night for a village hall audience

How to read minds and influence people              Doug Segal          Gilded Baloon Teviot

Dissapointed  with this – he bills himself as a funny DerrenBrown-  although a good mind reader and some good tricks he didn’t have me in stitches and felt a bit smug . Enjoyed by the audience   and could work for small halls as simple set up.   

Ali McGregor’s Alchemy  - Assembly George Square

Cabaret  singer Ali McGregor  and jazz band- a unique evening of  mash up versions of classic songs- take a classic song and add lyrics from Madonna, Salt and Peppa , Kiss.  She has a wonderful voice and great band-     does rely a bit on knowing the original songs so depends a bit on the era you grew up but  would work for rural touring.