John Chapman ties up a few loose ends by catching up with short play/film Shielders as part of the Traverse Theatre Festival and the live stream of Stephen Beresford’s play Three Kings, starring Andrew Scott and streamed from The Old Vic.
Visual & audio treats from the Traverse Festival
There is some very promising writing talent on show in the Traverse Festival, and it is done justice both by the standard of performance and production from the venue.
NEWS: Scotland’s Capital Theatres has received £168,000 National Lottery support
Capital Theatres, Scotland’s largest theatre charity, has received £168,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its three venues – Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, King’s Theatre and The Studio – through this period of closure.
Got a few minutes? Then why not catch an Edinburgh Fringe show from The Space UK (Online review)
Welcome to the virtual Edinburgh Fringe. Here I look at the shows made available via The Space UK which run under ten minutes duration. All are available until 31 August at Online@theSpace.
‘A story that needs to be told’: FRAGMENTS OF HOME – Shedinburgh ★★★★
Fragments of Home works both as a theatrical performance and as a film, with Annie George’s performance striking a delicate balance.
‘I’m planning another “trip” soon’: Exploring the Edinburgh Fringe online-style
While an online Edinburgh Festival Fringe can hardly claim to have anything like the same degree of atmosphere, various organisers are to be congratulated with getting a variety of material online.
‘A poignant reminder of what we are all missing’: GHOST LIGHT ★★★★ (Online review)
With one of the My Light Shines On series of films, Ghost Light provides a poignant reminder of what we are all missing in this fallow year of live performance in Edinburgh during August.
New opportunities in the world of Zoom Zj-ing
Over the last few months I have moved so much of my life and work online, often using Zoom, as so many of us have. Yesterday someone decided I should now call myself a Zj…which sounds fun.
‘There is a real humanity there’: MIRACULOUS – Edinburgh (Online review) ★★★★
In Miraculous, Borderline Theatre Company and the Gaiety Ayr have created a bouncy online version of David F Ross’ comedy caper novel about an Ayrshire band that once had an unexpected number one hit.
‘Actively enhances the intimacy of the original’: THE COOLIDGE EFFECT – Wonder Fools (Online review) ★★★★
Wonder Fools have revived their intriguing two-hander The Coolidge Effect about the insidious effect of pornography, for an audio, lockdown production that actively enhances the intimacy of the original.
NEWS: Edinburgh Festival Fringe announces 2020 digital programme
Following the announcement that the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will not be going ahead as planned in 2020, the Fringe Society has unveiled alternative digital plans taking place this summer.
NEWS: Government announces £1.5 billion lifeline for UK arts & culture
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has bowed to pressure from the arts world and unveiled a £1.57 billion lifeline for the UK’s theatres, venues and museums struggling to stay afloat in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
NEWS: Edinburgh Fringe receives £1.25 million ‘life raft’ from Scottish Government
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the charity which oversees the Edinburgh Fringe, has been awarded £249,000 grants and a £1million interest-free loan to help support it through Covid-19 recovery.
‘A devastating moment for our industry’: Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre in hibernation
Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre has entered a period of “hibernation” as a building-based producing theatre, postponing all 2020 shows and entering into negotiations with all staff over redundancies.
Is anyone still watching? Relevant, am I still?
The dust has settled, the heat is fading and the chaos is being organised. People in our line of work have accepted our fates and learned to cope and, hopefully, resist the feelings of inadequacy or irrelevance we (I) felt.
‘A story about isolation has a particular resonance’: THE CROFT – Original Theatre (Online review)
This touring theatre’s new tartan gothic thriller is complex, but also a bit overwrought and conventional.
NEWS: Coronavirus pandemic – An update on theatre closures in the West End & across the country
My Theatre Mates have been collecting official announcements of theatre closures up and down the country in the Twitter thread below and will continue to add updates as they come in.
‘Does exactly what it says on the tin’: CIRQUE BERSERK – Touring ★★★
Newbury-based circus company Cirque Berserk! appears at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre as part of its 2020 tour. The company brands itself as ‘Real Circus made for Theatre’ and it does exactly what it says on the tin.
‘Funny, heart-warming & joyous show’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Touring ★★★★
A real joy to watch from start to finish. the story behind Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is one of courage against adversity, but one that is full of humour and love too.
‘Enough energy to light Hampton Court for 500 years’: SIX THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
You’ll lose your head over Six The Musical, which is bringing a new audience to the Festival Theatre just a week ahead of the show’s Broadway debut.