Not to let a decade of theatre bloggery go by without marking the occasion, to kick things off, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite play for each year I’ve been blogging. It has been fun revisiting my best-of lists but absolute agony narrowing each list down to just one.
NEWS: Edinburgh Fringe & International Festival announce ‘heartbreaking’ decision to cancel world’s largest arts festival in 2020. Full quotes
For the first time in over 70 years, the five festivals that transform Edinburgh into the world’s leading cultural destination every August are not going ahead this year due to concerns around the covid-19 pandemic.
FEATURED SHOW: What have audiences said about Could it be Magic?
“I howled with laughter,” “pretty excellent,” “brilliant magic and very entertaining characters” – audiences love the marvellous mix of character comedy and mindblowing magic in Paul Aitchison’s Could It Be Magic? Take a look at what they said, then book your tickets for the final performances of his short London run at Chiswick Playhouse!
GALLERY: Meet the quartet of conjurers competing in Could it be Magic?
As Paul Aitchison’s hilarious tale of a magic competition, Could It Be Magic?, arrives at the Chiswick Playhouse, meet the four quirky illusionists vying for its very special trophy. Book your tickets now!
WATCH: Be enchanted by the new trailer for one-man comedy Could it be Magic?
Who wouldn’t want to start 202o with a lot of laughter and something a bit magical? That’s exactly what’s in store with Paul Aitchison’s Edinburgh hit, Could It Be Magic?. Check out the trailer, then book your tickets!
NEWS: Edinburgh hit asks Could it be Magic? at Chiswick Playhouse
Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Paul Aitchison’s hit show blending character comedy with phenomenal tricks, Could It Be Magic?, comes to London in 2020, playing a short season at the Chiswick Playhouse. Time to book your tickets!
‘Falling under its spell’: ISLANDER – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
Islander most certainly isn’t a rehearsal, it’s a perfectly finished piece, like a stone polished by the waves.
‘I always take the motherly role in whatever cast I’m a part of’: Amanda Bailey on treacle tarts & reprising her role in The Good Scout
Glenn Chandler’s latest Edinburgh Festival hit The Good Scout now transfers to London’s Above the Stag Theatre, and Amanda Bailey is once again relishing being the only woman in the cast and reprising her acclaimed performance as “the epitome of an English mum”. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Cast announced for the London transfer of Glenn Chandler’s The Good Scout
Casting is now confirmed for the London transfer of The Good Scout, the latest Glenn Chandler Edinburgh Festival hit to transfer to London’s Above the Stag Theatre. Time to get booking!
The Crown Dual Q&A video: How do you tell the Queen’s life story with a cast of two?
We were all madly checking our phones for news in the bars afterwards, but while Westminster dramas were going on, at Wilton’s Music Hall this week, we were getting to glorious grip with the (affectionate) comedy potential of the monarchy with The Crown Dual.
‘A deeply alarming message’: SEA SICK – Edinburgh Fringe
In Sea Sick Alana Mitchell tells, in an engaging lecture, the story of how she, as a journalist, came to be investigating this little known, devastating climate change phenomenon.
‘One of the most lovely & intimate shows going on at the festival’: THE WILD UNFEELING WORLD – Edinburgh Fringe ★★★★★
The Wild Unfeeling World is a wonderful, warm and emotive tale that personifies how it feels to be battling depression and the truth around mental health in young people in the UK.
NEWS: The Good Scout transfers direct from Edinburgh for four-week London run
After ★★★★★ success at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, The Good Scout becomes the latest Glenn Chandler festival hit to transfer directly to London’s Above the Stag Theatre. Time to get booking!
‘A brilliant concept’: ROCK ‘N’ ROLL GIRLS – Edinburgh Fringe ★★★★
What on earth can be the connection between ‘Brown Sugar’ by the Rolling Stones, ‘Lola’ by The Kinks, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ by The Beatles, ‘Roxanne’ by The Police and… Monica? The five characters in Rock ‘n’ Roll Girls explain all.
‘Some moments that really hit home’: HOT FLUSH – Edinburgh Fringe
Hot Flush is a great idea and there are some moments that really hit home, but while Hot Flush is far from a complete washout, it’s hard to be fully engaged.
‘A true delight’: Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch – Edinburgh Fringe
Fat Rascal brings its usual comedic flair to this brilliant musical parody that exposes the untold truth of Ursula The Sea Witch of The Little Mermaid fame.
‘A beautiful & heartbreaking story’: SUCH FILTHY F*CKS – Edinburgh Fringe
Such Filthy F*cks is a two hander written by Oli Forsyth that examines strangers who have nothing in common, except their porn addiction.
‘Extremely moving performance’: THE WORDS ARE THERE – Edinburgh Fringe ★★★★
Ronan Dempsey’s one-man physical performance in The Words Are There brings to the Fringe a powerful play about a male victim of domestic violence.
‘A gorgeous, messy experience’: Bryony Kimmings: I’m a Phoenix, Bitch – Edinburgh Fringe ★★★★★
Performance artist Bryony Kimmings brings her trauma to the stage through this harrowing and brilliant musical, horror film-esque one woman show.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★★ reviews are in for Glenn Chandler’s The Good Scout in Edinburgh
“Much more than a history lesson, The Good Scout exemplifies what the Edinburgh Fringe is all about.” What else have critics been saying about Glenn Chandler’s latest festival premiere? (With reviews like these, is another London transfer in the offing?)