Educating Rita

****

Willy Russell’s Educating Rita began as a stage comedy in the early 1980’s but it is the film starring Michael Caine as Open University English Literature tutor Frank and Julie Walters as Rita, his mature student, that is best … Read More

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

***

Based on John Gray’s best-selling self-help book, Ian Houghton’s witty discourse brings out the essential differences in the mental characteristics between men and women in long standing relationships. Located in a university lecture theatre, this is entirely in keeping … Read More

As Ye Sow

***

Stewart Pringle’s play will leave the viewer with more questions than answers. It is set in a home for the elderly where Clifford (Jeffrey Mayhew), a retired farmer, is a resident. The action takes place in his room.

The … Read More

Dr Seuss I Love You

****

This show is brought to you by The American High School Theatre Festival. It centres around a shy student who rarely speaks but who has her head forever within the pages of her beloved Dr Seuss books. The … Read More

The Half

*****

Richard Dormer’s solo performance play is an intimate and dramatic study of a 50 year old actor about to take the stage on a first night performance. Guy Masterson as the actor gives a commanding performance under the direction of … Read More

Dirty Paki Lingerie

***

Aizzah Fatima is an actress and writer based in New York. Her solo performance play explores the issues of Pakistani women living in America caught between traditional Islamic culture and western liberal, city culture. Most immigrants come from a … Read More

Cloud Man

*****

Wow! This show was simply beautiful, and the desire to now adopt a Cloud Man of my own is overpowering. The simple manner of the storytelling is so effective, the actress/puppeteer had the children and the adults in the audience … Read More

Mr Carmen

****

Russian Engeneering Theatre Akhe’s production is wordless. There is much symbolism and as such it is curious and strange, but completely mesmerising. For a start, take the name of the play. There is the combination of a male title … Read More

I, Tommy

****

Like him or loathe him, Tommy Sheridan with his ego, impassioned fist clenching sound bites and fake tan complexion, has been good TV and newspaper copy for more than two decades. Ian Pattison, writer of the Rab C Nesbitt … Read More

Peter Straker’s Brel

4 Stars

****

Peter Straker has been around for almost as long as I can remember mostly I have seen him as a musical theatre performer, but the show he is doing at the Fringe this year is more an … Read More