Inspector Norse

****

There is a beguiling charm about this parody of things Swedish in this detective comedy written and performed by Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding. There is one aspect of this production which makes it unique. Never have I seen … Read More

Minnie and Mona Play Dead

***

Minnie and Mona are two young adolescent girls who play games of ‘what if’ and use their vivid imaginations to take on scenes of fantasy, some life affirming, others evoking mental distress. As such and despite the dark humour, … Read More

Between Empires

4 stars ****

This show had huge production values – professional singers and musicians, all miced and very well designed.

However – it was all far too loud. So loud in fact that we lost some of the words due … Read More

Assassins

4 stars ****

This was an excellent production of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Assassins’, a surreal look at various assassination attempts of US Presidents, some successful, some not so. It is a rarely done show by companies due to the large male … Read More

Ben Verth – What’s This Place? 4 Star ****

Ben Verth is a larger than life comedian, a self-confessed fat hairy man, but surely the largest things about him are his abundant personality, stage presence and a remarkable talent of ‘finding the funny’ in some obscure places and things.

… Read More

Chris Ramsey: Feeling Lucky 5 Star *****

That a difference a year makes. Last year South Shields born funny man Chris Ramsey was playing in a small venue okay selling out every day, and now his much extended tour rolls into Edinburgh to the same sell-outs but … Read More

Mary Bourke: Muffragette 4 Star ****

Devoting a show to feminism is something of a gamble. Just use the word and it could be a turn-off, but Mary Bourke’s brand of very funny and intelligent humour in exploring this theme is a winner. Biting observations delivered … Read More

Robert Golding

****

Not having seen the play Richard Parker, I have to take this Owen Thomas sequel on its own merits. It begins in a straightforward manner and fully engages as it builds up to a remarkable and chilling conclusion.

Robert … Read More

Faileontology

*

Put together a script which is unfunny, predictable, obscure and padded out along with clichéd characters and unconvincing acting and you have the ingredients for a show which fails to impress.

Set in place whose location is unknown and … Read More

West End at the Fringe

3 stars ***

With a cast of professionals on board I would have hoped for a more rounded and polished cabaret/review style show than what we got. Don’t get me wrong, the show is very good but quite basic. The … Read More