Red Ellen, at the Lyceum, co-produced with the Nottingham Playhouse and Northern Stage, suffers from many of the faults that affect biographical drama, and is far too long for its own good. Nevertheless, it has an abundance of compassion and an excellent central performance from Bettrys Jones.
‘A powerful watch’: MOUTHPIECE – Soho Theatre
Following an acclaimed run at the Traverse Theatre, Fringe First winner Kieran Hurley’s Mouthpiece has transferred to Soho Theatre for a limited run.
‘Written with an intense energy & great pace’: MOUTHPIECE – Soho Theatre
Metatheatre rules okay in Kieran Hurley’s account of ethical tangles in his Edinburgh tale of two cities in Mouthpiece at the Soho Theatre.
‘Tantalises rather than delivers’: MOUTHPIECE – Edinburgh ★★★
There is much to admire about the staging of Mouthpiece at the Traverse, and even more about how it is acted. In the end, however, the play tantalises rather than delivers.
‘Moments of stomach-tightening tension’: GUT – Touring ★★★
There are moments in Gut – presented by the Traverse in association with the National Theatre of Scotland – where it is difficult to breathe, such is the power of Frances Poet’s psychological thriller.
TABULA RASA – Touring
Tabula Rasa at the Traverse is a collaboration between Scottish Ensemble and Vanishing Point that contains moments of heartfelt beauty but never coheres.
EVE – #EdFringe ★★★★
Warmly fierce: There is a deep humanity to Eve, at the Traverse, that makes it both challenging and reassuring, giving it an ultimate message of hope.
CHARLIE SONATA – Edinburgh
Three friends from university in the 1990s occasionally stage reunions that show how two of them – Gary and Jackson – have moved on to careers and respectability (or something approximating to them), while Chick remains a drifting figure, wedded to alcohol.
TRACKS OF THE WINTER BEAR – Edinburgh
“Two winter’s tales”: Tracks of the Winter Bear, the Traverse’s pre-Christmas show which plays up until Christmas Eve, is an odd beast.
Full winners and critics’ citations from Scottish theatre awards
The winners and the critics’ citations in full:
The Royal Lyceum dominated the awards at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland, held at the Glasgow Tron theatre on Sunday 14 June 2014.
Edinburgh dominates Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland
The Royal Lyceum has triumphed at this year’s Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland, with three productions winning a total of six gongs between them. Further nods for Edinburgh-based companies have gone to two Traverse co-productions and to Catherine Wheels Theatre Company.