Based on the life and career of Tennessee Williams, Jacob Storms' compelling one man show examines his unexplored years with both wit and sincerity. Jacob Storms in Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams. Thoughfully written and comprehensively researched, Tennessee Rising introduces the audience to Tom, an up-and-coming writer who is yet to be known... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: Member (Gilded Balloon) ★★★★
Blending storytelling with live music, this confronting play delves into the gay hate-crime epidemic that blighted Australia, and the relevance this piece of queer history still has today. Ben Noble in Member. Photo Credit: Deryk McAlpin. With simple and effective staging, Member takes an unflinching look at homophobia and its deep-rooted grasp. Ben Noble plays... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: Good Morning, Faggi (Summerhall) ★★★★
This charismatic, coming of age journey is skillfully performed and deftly devised. It challenges the audience to consider how liberals centre themselves in coming-out narratives, and question if tolerance is enough to end systemic oppression. Axel Ingi Árnason and Bjarni Snæbjörnsson in Good Morning, Faggi. Photo Credit: Leifur Wilberg. Good Morning, Faggi is the kind... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: Lena (Assembly George Square) ★★★★
This new musical about the life of Scottish child star, Lena Zavaroni, paints a stark picture of the dark side of living in the bright lights. Jon Culshaw and Erin Armstrong in Lena. Photo Credit: McCredie. While many will remember the diminutive singing sensation, who won Opportunity Knocks a record-breaking five times in a row... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: Fabulett 1933 (Underbelly Bristo Square) ★★
Written and performed by Michael Trauffer, Fabulett 1933 invites the audience to join him in a pre-war Berin cabaret club. A vital exploration of queer history, this is an important piece, created and presented with sincerity and heart. Michael Trauffer in Fabulett 1933. Photo credit: Georgina Bolton King. Starting with some archival footage, and introduced... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: Stuntman (Summerhall) ★★★
An exploration of masculinity, violence and physicality-over-emotion, Stuntman is an engaging piece. Rooted in action movies, 80s classics, and drawing on personal stories, performers Sadiq Ali and David Banks impress with their agility and charisma. David Banks and Sadiq Ali in Stuntman. Photo Credit: Brian Hartley. A satirical duet where two men wrestle with their... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh International Festival 2023 Theatre Review: As Far As Impossible (Lyceum Theatre) ★★★
Captivating verbatim accounts of international humanitarian workers are thoughtfully woven together in this documentary-style theatrical experience. Natacha Koutchoumov, Baptiste Coustenoble, Beatriz Brás and Adrien Barazzone in As Far As Impossible. Photo Credit: Andrew Perry. Drawn from interviews with humanitarian workers, and primarily performed and captioned in English and French (with some Portugese), As Far As... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh International Festival 2023 Theatre Review: Trojan Women (Festival Theatre) ★★★★
Dramatically performed by the National Changgeuk Company of Korea, and directed by Ong Keng Sen, this epic production of Trojan Women blends the classical with the modern. Trojan Women. Photo Credit: Jess Shurte. Adapted after Euripides by Bae Sam-sik, the eight-strong chorus remains central to this production. Working with red balls of wool that are... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: The Kinsey Sicks – Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild! (Gilded Balloon) ★★★
These are the drag queens that you were warned about! Join Angel, Trampolina, Trixie and Winnie for this irreverent romp that showcases superb songs and camp charm. Nathan Marken, Spencer Brown, Jeff Manabat and J.B. McLendon in The Kinsey Sicks: Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild! Photo credit: Lois Tema. Returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe... Continue Reading →
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 Theatre Review: Pitch (Pleasance Courtyard) ★★★★
Following the Qatar World Cup controversy and the recognition finally being given to the Women's game, Pitch is a well-timed and necessary play about the queer community's relationship to football. Elizabeth Hope, Eleanor Rattenbury, Meg Lewis, Ethan Pascal Peters and Elijah Harris in Pitch. Photo Credit: David Monteith-Hodge. If there is one area that homophobia... Continue Reading →