Art is everything a high-profile touring show should be – a carefully thought out, well-directed production of a hit play featuring a big-name cast at the top of their game.
‘All the delight of the original’: THE SINGING MERMAID – Touring ★★★★
All the delight of the original picture book story of The Singing Mermaid who gets swept away in the circus is brought to the stage in this puppet adaptation from the Little Angel Theatre. And more.
‘Fun, joyous & magical show’: THE CAT IN THE HAT – Touring ★★★
Dr Seuss’ famous Cat in the Hat has been brought to life in this new version of the much-loved children’s book on at the King’s Theatre this week.
‘Musically this is properly exciting stuff’: AMERICAN IDIOT – Touring ★★★★
The tenth anniversary tour of Green Day’s American Idiot kicks up a storm as this Selladoor production arrives at the Playhouse for a week.
‘If it never convinces, it is always intriguing’: ANTHROPOCENE – Touring ★★★
Anthropocene, from Scottish Opera at the King’s, is a work that is constantly shifting its ground both dramatically and musically; while it is absorbing it never entirely solidifies.
‘Arresting & at times truly astonishing’: TOUCHING THE VOID – Touring ★★★★
There is a depth and grit to Touching The Void at the Lyceum that threatens to carry all before it.
‘Deserves to be seen by everyone’: GLASGOW GIRLS – Touring ★★★★
A thought-provoking and inspiring piece of musical theatre, Glasgow Girls at the King’s Theatre feels more relevant than ever as it returns for a new tour.
‘It has a universal appeal’: POGGLE – Edinburgh ★★★★★
There is real delight for pre-school kids to be had at the Studio of the Festival Theatre this Christmas, as the clever and playful Poggle is revived by Barrowland Ballet.
‘Remains a thing of considerable beauty’: CINDERELLA – Edinburgh ★★★★
Scottish Ballet’s Cinderella, back at the Festival Theatre this Christmas, is still a festive treat. Christopher Hampson’s celebrated production of Prokofiev’s ballet, originally seen in New Zealand and first presented in Europe by the company in 2015, has huge reserves of charm and elegance.
‘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.
‘This year’s panto won’t disappoint’: BEAUTY & THE BEAST – Edinburgh ★★★★
Beauty & the Beast comes to the King’s for the first time since 1946 in a pantomime that continues a classic run of hits and is sticking around well into January next year.
‘Bundles of energy’: YOU CHOOSE – Edinburgh ★★★
There is plenty of choice and bundles of energy at Nonsense Room Productions’ adaptation of the children’s picture book, You Choose, for Edinburgh’s Christmas at the Festival Square Spiegeltent until early January.
‘Delivers the goods & then some’: JACK & THE BEANSTALK – Musselburgh ★★★★
There’s a happy ending, beginning and indeed, middle, as Jack and the Beanstalk gets a Musselburgh makeover at the Brunton Theatre this festive season.
‘Achieves an excellent balance between old & new’: Wendy & Peter Pan – Edinburgh ★★★★
Old and new collide in Wendy & Peter Pan, a beautifully staged Lyceum Christmas production that combines originality with fidelity to the spirit of a much-loved classic.
‘High-octane, utterly feel-good show’: NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
All Edinburgh Theatre’s Hugh Simpson went along to the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh to catch Nativity! The Musical.
‘A delightful treat of a show’: FLUTTER – Touring ★★★★
Built in a flurry of snow Flutter, from Tortoise in a Nutshell and Freshly Squeezed at the Assembly Roxy and then on tour, is the charming story of young sisters who venture out into the garden after a snowstorm.
‘Witty, tuneful & life affirming’: Doris, Dolly & The Dressing Room Divas… At Christmas – Edinburgh ★★★★★
The Gilded Balloon Basement in the Rose Street Theatre hosts top-tier talent this Christmas as five fabulous female stars tell their stories… via three spookily talented backstage assistants in Doris, Dolly & The Dressing Room Divas… At Christmas.
‘Fun & outrageous’: LA CLIQUE NOEL: PART DEUX – Edinburgh ★★★★
La Clique returns with an eclectic array of outrageous and magnificent circus cabaret to Edinburgh this festive season for Noel – Part Deux.
‘Doing much more than singing the hits’: Talking to the creatives behind Motown The Musical
Big of voice and oh so slick in presentation, the West End production of Motown the Musical – which is now on UK tour through 2019 and pausing at the Edinburgh Playhouse for a three-week run – was everything I had expected.
‘Just experience the production as something elusive & unknowable’: RAMBERT: LIFE IS A DREAM – Touring ★★★
Rambert’s Life is a Dream is a peculiar, poetic piece that suffers from pulling in too many directions at once.