Last Embrace

4 stars ****

An Irish folk take on Romeo and Juliet/Aida is how I would describe this.

It’s a very nicely presented story of love between opposing sides during the ‘Troubles’ with the inevitable consequences that intolerance and hate bring. … Read More

[title of show]

4 stars ****

This was an outstanding production of a show which actually wasn’t as good material as I’d hoped it would be.

First of all the cast are first class and give their all. They are obviously enjoying it, … Read More

Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens

2 stars **

‘Elegies’ is a very American song and monologue cycle about the effects Aids had when it first surfaced in America and is often done for fundraisers etc. Why then was this set in a posh area of … Read More

A Body to Diet For

Unrated

Mix the worst diction I’ve heard this year with percussion which was far, far too loud and the drunken cast of 8 Storeys Up whooping and yelling in the front row at god-knows-what and you get a production which … Read More

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

4 stars ****

The Spelling Bee makes a welcome return to the Fringe and this is an excellent production of it. A Bee is a very American peculiarity – to spelling competitions what Glee is to singing competitions.

We have … Read More

Gobsmell: The Musical

2 stars **

An unlikely story of the last remaining NHS dental surgery in Yorkshire having to be saved by a random American dentist fails to hit the mark in what was quite an uncomfortable show to sit through. It … Read More

Adam and Eve: The Musical

5 stars *****

This was a very funny take on the Adam and Eve story by a highly talented cast. The writing by Ben Hales was excellent with some very witty ideas and themes running throughout the show. Who knew … Read More

Damaged! – The Musical

1 star *

This was one of the most uncomfortable shows I have sat through and you could feel the rest of the small audience feeling equally uneasy. It started off with an audience-participation clapping number which simply didn’t happen, … Read More

Blood Ties

5 stars *****

This was an excellent new production from a Canadian writing team. Simply set in a single room the story unfolds of a surprise suicide on the eve of a wedding and how a group of friends cope … Read More

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