fri 29/03/2024

Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 2017 reviews round-up | reviews, news & interviews

Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 2017 reviews round-up

Edinburgh Festival and Fringe 2017 reviews round-up

theartsdesk recommends the shows to catch this August

Who needs theatre critics? Adrienne Truscott, Ursula Martinez and Zoe Coombs Marr, co-creators of 'Wild Bore' at Traverse Theatre

Wondering what on earth to choose between as you tramp the streets of the festival? These are our highlights so far.

STANDUP

Athenu Kugblenu, Underbelly Med Quad ★★★ Strong debut hour of political and identity comedy

Cally Beaton, The Caves ★★★★ Single motherhood, autism, sex with women, the corporate world: original and clever

Dad’s Army Radio Hour, Pleasance Dome ★★★ Scripts of born-again sitcom classic delivered with real light and shade

Darren Harriott, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★ Extrovert with strong material on politics and personal history

Elliot Steel, Gilded Ballroom ★★ Slacker lad's tales from the son of Mark Steel is definitely one for the millennials

Hannah Gadsby, Assembly George Square ★★★★ an astonishing, coruscating and original hour, avowedly Gadsby's last in stand-up

Ingrid Oliver, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ One half of comedy duo goes solo with fine satire of political speechifying

Ivo Graham, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★ Appealing and fresh-faced Etonian geek could dwell more on privilege

Jarlath Regan, Tron ★★★★ An expert storyteller and a beautifully constructed show

Jayde Adams, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★ Natural entertainer issues a battlecry for outsiders and misfits

Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Likeable and energetic comedy about working with vulnerable teenagers

Lauren Pattison, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Well constructed hour about rleationshiop break-up from promising 23-year-old Geordie

Suzi Ruffell, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Energetic and charming performer with interesting take on social mobility

Tiff Stevenson, Gilded Balloon ★★★★ Polemic and passion. A fine hour

Tom Allen, Pleasance Courtyard ★★★★ Minutiae of life brought to life with exquisite attention to detail

Urzila Carlson, Assembly George Square ★★★ Everyday gags but no-holds-barred style works a treat

 

THEATRE

Adam, Traverse Theatre ★★★★★ Energetic, swiftly moving autobiographical story of Adam Kashmiry, who began life physically as a girl in Egypt

Box Clever, Roundabout at Summerhall ★★★ Powerful show veers between slapstick and despair to tackle the bureaucratic social care system

Eve, Traverse Theatre ★★★★ A deeply personal, autobiographical work from Jo (formerly John) Clifford on the challenges of transgender

Flight, Church Hill Theatre Studio ★★★★ Vox Motus refugee puppet show quite unlike anything else in Edinburgh this year, packs an emotional punch

Meet Me at Dawn, Traverse Theatre ★★★★ Zinnie Harris's restrained but crushingly powerful reflection on love, loss, grief

Nassim, Traverse Theatre ★★★★★ Profound and warmly moving exploration of Iran-born Nassim Soleimanpour’s own identity, restrained yet quietly shattering

Pike St, Roundabout at Summerhall ★★★★ Near-miraculous telling of a panoply of Lower East Side stories by Nilaja Sun

Sugar Baby, Roundabout at Summerhall ★★★ Story of drug-dealing softie - crackling solo energy and provocative entertainment from Welsh company Dirty Protest

The Divide, King's Theatre ★★★ Alan Ayckbourn's vast dystopian fantasy feels cosy rather than alarming

The Shape of the Pain, Summerhall ★★★★ Compellingly empathetic play about a woman suffering from lifelong pain with no physical cause

Wild Bore, Traverse Theatre ★★★★ Ambitious, ferociously entertaining assault on the concept of theatre criticism

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