The Macbeths, the Citizens’ concentrated revision of Macbeth, supplies a charge that is so often missing in versions of the play.
‘Offers humour, emotion & political impact’: FIBRES – Stellar Quines & Citizens Theatre (Online theatre) ★★★★
Fibres, the online filmed version of the 2019 Citizens and Stellar Quines co-production, offers humour, emotion and political impact.
‘Hard to beat’: THE DUCHESS [OF MALFI] – Edinburgh ★★★★
The blood-soaked events of The Duchess [of Malfi], a co-production between the Lyceum and the Citizens Theatre, are almost unwatchably intense at times. As a depiction of timeless and timely considerations, however, this production is hard to beat.
‘Strangely fascinating but oddly frustrating entertainment’: THE DARK CARNIVAL – Edinburgh ★★★
In The Dark Carnival Vanishing Point and The Citizens (in association with Dundee Rep Ensemble) have crafted a strangely fascinating but oddly frustrating entertainment – theatre-cum-gig-cum-cabaret that impresses in fits and starts.
‘Riotous, joyous expression of the human spirit’: CYRANO DE BERGERAC – Edinburgh ★★★★★
Visually and verbally intoxicating, Cyrano de Bergerac at the Lyceum, Edinburgh is a riotous, joyous expression of the human spirit.
Oresteia: This Restless House – Edinburgh International Festival
Drips grandeur: Huge and elemental forces drive This Restless House, the version of the Oresteia by Zinnie Harris originally produced by the Citizens’ Glasgow and the National Theatre of Scotland last year.
HAY FEVER – Edinburgh
Solidly acted but only sporadically funny, the Lyceum and the Citizens Theatre co-production of Hay Fever is entirely serviceable but all too forgettable. Noel Coward’s 1925 comedy features the selfish, eccentric and theatrical Bliss family, who have each separately invited a guest for the weekend at their Thames-side Berkshire home.
CUTTIN’ A RUG – Edinburgh
As the middle section of the trilogy that begins with The Slab Boys, some may expect this to provide problems of accessibility as a stand-alone piece. However, it tends to amplify rather than progress the characters and concerns of the first play, and can easily be watched without knowledge of its predecessor.
ENDGAME – Manchester
A curtain featuring pretty painted seaside picture lifts slowly to reveal Tom Piper’s suitably grimy set – rusty, damp and closed off from the world. There are two small windows offering a peek outside, but you’ll need a ladder to reach them and a cloth to clean them. Samuel Beckett’s Endgame is an extraordinary piece of writing, a classic of modern theatre and this collaboration between the Citizens Theatre and HOME is as vital and as macabre as it should be.
LANARK – Edinburgh Fringe
✭✭✭✭✩ The unstageable, staged:
A world of hugely entertaining possibilities is on display in Lanark. The co-production between the Citizens Theatre and the International Festival has all of the excitement and weight of a capital-letter Theatre Event.