Category: Theatre

REVIEW: The Great Gatsby | The Wardrobe Ensemble and The Wardrobe Theatre

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

If you told me that the complete story of The Great Gatsby could be told in an hour and forty minutes with only 2 people working in a small studio with red cups for props, a sofa for seating and a couple of flats for set, I’d tell you it was madness, that it couldn’t possibly be done, you must be off your rocker! But this production is breathtaking!

It is the combination of incredibly astute direction from Tom Brennan and an in-depth knowledge of how to play multiple characters in a way that is so clearly distinguishable the audience in constant complete understanding of the action which makes this show so stand out.

Tamsin Hurtado Clarke and Jesse Meadows carry this show, providing slick timing and intricate attention to detail, it’s genuinely some of the best acting I’ve seen in years.

I could gush about this show all day all guise of professionality flying out the window making way for total adoration, but basically go and get tickets… now! And later in the year, it’ll be touring so if you can get yourself to Bristol, Newbury, Plymouth, or Oxford, make the effort! You won’t be disappointed.

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • A huge shout out needs to be given to the design and technical team of this show. Its brilliance lies in its appearance of simplicity. There may be a small amount of physical stuff making this show easy to tour to a variety of venues but there is real finesse in the way it’s used to offset the action. Everyone involved in this production should be immensely proud of what they’ve worked together to create.
  • It is superbly filmed! Often theatre loses a little something when it’s cinematised but here it has been cleverly thought about how to enhance the production rather than just filming it out of necessity so it can be seen by people during the pandemic.

REVIEW: Ubu Roix | No Exit Theatre Collective

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

Ubu Roix is a perfect example of Theatre of the Absurd. It was written in the late 1800s to challenge the cultural standards and conventions of the era.

So, what better time to adapt it than when Trump’s just had 4 years presidency, the UK is still stuck in its conservative political nightmare and, oh yeah, the entire globe’s been closed for 2 years because of coronavirus?!? Pretty absurdist world right?

Another Fringe performance filmed with green screen via zoom but for some reason all the delay, glitches and pixelation just reiterates the bizarre setting being established as backgrounds are replaced with scenery which looked like a child drew them, and the cast appear in all different shapes and sizes to add to the hilarity.

No Exit Theatre Collective throws in constant references to modern pop and meme culture in order to update the play and complement our current affairs and worldwide news.

It is also some of the most perfect casting for Papa Ubu I have ever seen with Chris Gibson giving a side-splitting performance!

Basically, if Alfred Jarry was alive now struggling through this pandemic with Zoom as his only outlet for performance, I’m pretty sure this is exactly how he would have done it!

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • Discovering a way to use resources and assets you have at your disposal and adapting or manipulating them to work for your selected material has proved the best way to create work during the pandemic. For example, Ubu Roix used doctored Spongebob Squarepants slides to narrate the action. Seems pretty random, but so is the script! It has a jarring effect to jerk you out of reality and remind you that what you’re watching may be just plain bizarre, but it still has a point to make.
  • Find your people! One of the main reasons this show works so well is because of the cast both in how well they all appear to get on and are on board with the sheer haphazard retelling of this tale. So, if you’ve got a great team alongside you, chances are the work you make will be great too.

REVIEW: Sugar | Mabel Thomas

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Online@theSpaceUK | Get Tickets

 

A new writing, from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate Mabel Thomas, spanning a decade of a young girl’s escapades through puberty as she attempts to understand what it is to be empowered as a woman.

Is female empowerment the act of taking control over men? Is it found in ignoring silly, immature, little boys? Or do you need to one-up men to find the ultimate strength as a woman? And will this journey truly lead to happiness?

There’s a lot of good theatre in this show. Mabel Thomas gives an impassioned performance on a topic which is clearly very important to her. The way the piece is edited is uniquely original giving it a mockumentary, monologue feel. And the aesthetic created is perfect to universally reflect a young girl’s bedroom and could be taken from any point in the characters teenage years.

A great show for premiering at the Fringe and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

 

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • Write about what inspires you! Especially if you’re an actor. This will make it easy for you to relate and adapt to the material and generally provide a strong and believable performance.
  • If you’re stuck in your bedroom, don’t be afraid to make theatre in your bedroom. It was most definitely the perfect setting for Sugar and I imagine if it toured into venues the bedroom would be recreated for the stage, so pretty much a win all round!

REVIEW: FunBox: Back to the Fringe | DH Promotions

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 11-15 | 10.30am | Multistory | Get Tickets

 

As the only live children’s show I could find at the Edinburgh Fringe this year which is catering to kids from age 0+ I booked this primarily for my friend’s 9-month-old baby knowing very little about it, and the thing I learnt is that Funbox are an utter delight.

I’m reliably informed by my Scottish friends that FunBox bring back all the memories and nostalgia of The Singing Kettle which (for those of you as uninformed in Scottish Children’s entertainment as myself) are a folk band who have a BAFTA for Best Children’s Television Show and had multiple successful theatre tours around the whole of Scotland.

Filled with sing-a-long songs, jokes for both grownups and kids and flamboyant characters this show really caters to every age, which you could see from the active engagement of all the children present.

Whether it was the bright colours of larger-than-life Bonzo the dog mesmerising the bairns, the hilarious audience interaction enchanting the older kids or the ridicule of Dominic Cummings for the adults, this show is the epitome of fun for all the family.

Come and turn the key to open the FunBox and see what you might find!

 

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • This show is traditional children’s entertainment at its absolute best. Kevin Macleod essentially gives a masterclass in the art form so if you want to understand how to entertain children of all ages you should take inspiration from this show.
  • Funbox has created a brilliant show format that can be easily updated for new tours with new material whilst maintaining the general structure of the production. This basically means once you’ve come up with your first show the research and development is all in place for all future performances. It’s a clever bit of construction. The audience also becomes familiar with the format and keeps coming back for more!

REVIEW: My House | Without Exception Live Productions

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

In the same vein as the chicken and the egg I can’t help but wonder what came first: the house or the script. Because, well, DAMN! That is a fine house!

Set in, what I assume from the mass quantity of chick flicks I have seen, the mansion district of LA an incredible setting is established for the women of Hollywood throughout the ages and the men who have shaped their lives establishing them as empowered individuals.

But it’s not quite as simple as that, something mysterious, something surreptitious, something supernatural lies afoot.

Filmed in such a manner that creates an (almost) seamless single-shot production the audience bears witness to a story spanning across the ages of Hollywood from the early silent movie days of Charlie Chaplin to the present day where we find a badass female film producer.

The costumes and makeup are incredibly detailed adding to the storytelling in a way that completely absorbs you into this piece which spans the decades.

A feminist driven narrative, with some powerful performances makes for an interesting piece of devised theatre in which we can appreciate the triumphs and tribulations of the underrepresented women of Hollywood.

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • Taking inspiration from the location and converting that space into an arts venue for your audience to explore adds another level to events and productions. I would love to know more about the research and development process of this piece, like who’s house is that? Is it an Air BnB? Can I come and stay? Without Expression Live Productions if you’re reading this then hit me up in the comments or drop me an email at info@theartsbusiness.com, I would seriously love to learn more!

REVIEW: Gayatri the Royal Queen Consort of the Majapahit Kingdom | 7evenotes

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

A kingdom overturned, a nation on the brink of destruction, and a Princess on a mission to seek out the mysteries of her ancestory.

Having witnessed her parents rule destroyed Princess Gayatri sets out on a journey to preserve her father’s legacy and learn more about the world she will be destined to become a part of.

This fascinating production has been developed from the Nagarakertagama manuscript, a document that has aided historians in understanding past events in Indonesia with a focus on the Majapahit Kingdom. This text is so important it has been designated a ‘Memory of the World’ by UNESCO.

Mia Johannes has taken this and used it to create a beautiful musical tribute, seeped in the traditional form of Indonesian Opera and dance. By premiering this event at the Edinburgh Fringe she has (for me at least) immediately created an interest in exploring and preserving the historical legacies of Indonesia.

By filming this theatrical spectacle, she also takes the story to the next level using film techniques, like slomo dancing or overlaying the silhouette of the narrator which would either be incredibly difficult or simply not possible in the theatre.

A stunning story and artform which I’ve never really experienced but am now desperate to see more!

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • Preserving traditions and legacies can be a great starting point for creating work. By taking documents like these in the UK, protecting local stories and traditions that may otherwise be forgotten is a sure-fire way to create funding eligibility, whether through The Arts Council, Heritage funding, local councils or other smaller funding bodies.
  • When filming theatre is the only option the producer has thought about how to best optimise the new platform to enhance the performance, like how in post-production the princess is the only character seen in colour is an element that would not be achievable in such a simple way in a traditional theatre setting but redirects the focus of the action on film.

REVIEW: Dishonour | Mimi Ndiweni

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

 

A one-woman show exploring the realities of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the present-day UK.

I need to begin by saying WOW! Mimi Ndiweni performs this show superbly taking on the roles of all characters within the production. Each character is clearly distinguished with their own nuances, accents and postures in a way that allows the narrative to flow seamlessly engrossing the audience into the action.

From the 5-year-old girl who is blissfully unaware of the dark truth’s of the world, to her father who outwardly campaigns against female circumcision, to his mother who has grown up unwavering in the beliefs and customs of her tribal culture, each one is well rounded and believable.

Terrence Turner’s storytelling is so compelling as we switch from a radio interview in which the father is openly campaigning against the practice of FGM to the kidnap of his daughter to have the ritual performed on her.

I would love to see a sequel exploring the aftermath of the event discussing the cultural divide between the characters and creating a clearer understanding of all viewpoints.

A must watch, but not an easy watch.

 

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • If you find yourself a remarkable performer like Mimi Ndiweni to play all the roles in a script like this one, it can be more powerful a statement than having a full cast. Not only is it more cost-effective but from a design aesthetic it works leaving audience gripped to every word of the narrative.
  • The minimalist staging choices, for example, using limited props, instead miming items with well-timed sound effects mean this show can be taken anywhere, into any venue with a small team making it not only cheap to tour but more accessible to smaller communities who need to be educated in FGM.
  • FGM is still practised today worldwide but I’ll be the first to admit I know very little about it. Shows like this one are so important and can be used to inform and create a wider understanding of important topics. When creating work from scratch you may want to think about if there are any causes you are passionate about and would like to raise awareness for, taking this show as inspiration.

 

REVIEW: Arthur J Peabody | Amanda Dempsey-Laughlin

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

Aug 6-30 | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

A young girl admires a bird perched on her window wondering what his story might be… until he begins to talk.

Join legendary bird Arthur J Peabody as he tells the tales of his adventures in the circus, his flights around the world and just how he ended up at this small farmhouse in Canada.

Clearly created from zoom with the use of green screen and multiscreen to recreate locations from Arthur’s travels it worked well with simple animation techniques used to explain more elaborate plot points.

The show is led by talking bird Arthur, confidently played by Arthur Baxter wearing a phenomenally, elaborate magpie costume designed by Laura Vradenburg.

Something has to be said about the bravery and commitment of a man in his home office set up for a hard day’s work dressed as a bird! In the battle to create productions during covid, I defy anyone not to picture this and smile!

An original children’s play told simply but effectively.

The one thing I would consider is lowering the age range to allow for families to watch all together. It is more suited for the 4-8 age group.

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • It doesn’t matter where you or your team are in the world, using basic, mainstream technology you can bring them together completely online to tell a story together. Long may these types of performances continue post the pandemic.
  • Amanda Dempsey-Laughlin uses classic storytelling techniques to tailor this show for family viewing. If you’re creating shows for children keep in mind the rule of three, whether that be three separate stories in one (like we see here) or the importance of a beginning, middle and end.
  • If ever in doubt, stick in a minute of a dancing bird at the end! Hilarious! Including outtakes can or a credit sequence reminds audiences they are watching theatre and make them feel as though they’re a bigger part of the action.
  • This show used extras to add depth to certain scenes, for example, a sleeping passenger in the back of a train carriage waking up at various shocks in the dialogue. I loved this! Such a nice touch and a great way to evoke in the viewer how it may be performed in a theatre in the future.

REVIEW: Ain’t No Female Romeo | Lita Doolan Productions

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviews, Theatre

6th-30th August | On Demand | YouTube | Get Tickets

 

An experimental one-woman show exploring the moving journey of a woman ghosted, reaching out on Instagram to find their lost love.

Lita Doolan really pushes what a monologue is in this production integrating every art form under the sun into this performance, mixing photos and film clips with video selfies to tell the story of a woman looking for answers.

The image work is beautiful juxtaposing street scenes with abstract moving patterns filmed from life. By retaining the sound of each piece of film the footage is edited in a jarring way to reflect the emotional rollercoaster taken by our heroine.

This modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet employs quotes from the original text alongside Instagram hashtags to aid with the storytelling together with really poignant monologues and spoken word style performance.

Doolan demonstrates there is a fine line between love and obsession, as she seeks (or stalks) her Romeo and gets to the bottom of her parting with such sweet sorrow.

The Arts Business Top Tips:

  • Taking William Shakespeare as a starting point means you’re already creating a talking point with a pre-existing audience, he is of course arguably the most prolific playwright of all time. There will always be people interested in the Baird so there will always be people interested in modern-day retellings or reinterpretations. After all, everyone remembers 10 Things I Hate About You.
  • Incorporating art forms from film to photography or parlance to poetry can only add to your performance and overall vision. Ain’t No Female Romeo may not use the latest editing techniques or the highest quality film but this only adds to the overall themes found within the show. So, don’t be scared if you’re not a tech wizard, or there’s only one of you to run the entire company, you can still create something magical.

REVIEW: Corona Cutie: A Digital Quest for Love | Spotlight MT

Posted RuthEJWestLeave a commentPosted in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Music, Theatre

6th-30th August | On Demand | Fringe Player | Get Tickets

 

This new musical explores the ordeals of finding love and keeping sane in a locked-down world. It’s created using simply filming and editing techniques tied in with comic book style graphics to ask why pandemics don’t feature in romcoms?

I am a firm believer that if you write a show around current affairs along with what’s trending around you and stick it in a musical you are bound to attract a fringe audience, which is exactly what Spotlight MT has done.

Mom, that one annoying person who’s doing really well in lockdown training for 10ks, constantly meeting mates online and annoyingly optimistic tells their introverted daughter who is living alone and wonders what they can find to do once they’ve tidied their room, to get dating!

There are some catchy songs including ‘Whatever I Say,’ a dark, jazzy look at creating your dating profile and ‘Alive,’ about how it’s okay not to be okay, as long as you stand tall and keep going.

Spotlight MT has developed the perfect platform to showcase this group of new graduates with fantastic voices singing to the great score developed by Lucy Gellar. In a world with limited creative opportunities, they have made their own and show young creatives everywhere that you don’t need to be a film wizard, a sound pro or a costume designer to get your concept across, so long as you have a passionate team to work with.

Graduates should take note that this work was created with the support of the Marian and Charles Holmes Performing Arts Fund, a small funding body from Claremont College where these grads and students have done their training. These funding solutions exist so don’t be afraid to ask your college or university if they have any options you could apply for to help you show off your ideas!

A great work in progress from this inspiring group of individuals. I have no doubt you all have careers ahead of you if this is your beginning!