sat 17/05/2025

Theatre Reviews

Room, Edinburgh International Festival 2022 review - decadent, extravagant, and somewhat mystifying

David Kettle

"I feel I owe you an explanation." That much James Thierrée concedes partway through his sprawling, freewheeling, dream-like, hallucinatory Room in Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre. By which stage, most of the audience was probably in agreement. It’s a proposal he comes back to again and again during the rest of the show – but, of course, no explanation ever materialises, save a few strangulated noises, which seem about the best Thierrée can manage.

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Counting and Cracking, Edinburgh International Festival 2022 review - ambitious, powerful, but sadly under-attended

David Kettle

First, a bit of housekeeping. Maybe it was the three-and-a-half-hour duration, or maybe the unfamiliar Sri Lankan subject matter, or maybe even the very un-festival-like hot weather that put people off an evening inside Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre. Or maybe (very possibly) continuing Covid concerns.

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Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Temping / Work.txt

David Kettle

Temping, Assembly George Square Studios

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Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Afghanistan Is Not Funny / Yippee Ki Yay / Eh Up, Me Old Flowers!

Veronica Lee

Afghanistan Is Not Funny, Gilded Balloon 

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Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Every Word was Once an Animal / Tim Crouch: Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel

David Kettle

Every Word was Once an Animal, Zoo Southside

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All of Us, National Theatre review - revelatory, but problematic

aleks Sierz

Has the pandemic made us more angry? Although Francesca Martinez’s debut play, which is at the National Theatre, was programmed before COVID, its belated opening has not dampened the playwright’s fiery criticism of the effects of Tory government austerity on the lives of people with disabilities.

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Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: The Last Return / Psychodrama / Exodus

David Kettle

The Last Return, Traverse Theatre

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Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! / Hiya Dolly!

Veronica Lee

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!, Summerhall 

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Burn, Edinburgh International Festival 2022 review - bold, risky, sometimes baffling

David Kettle

In retrospect, all the clues were there. A star actor embarking on a new performance genre; a fresh reappraisal of one of Scotland’s cultural icons; a hi-tech production of sumptuous video and prop trickery; a dance score from a major name in new Scottish music. In short, a solo dance show from Alan Cumming about Robert Burns. What could possibly go wrong?

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Edinburgh Fringe 2022 reviews: Boy / Intruder|Intruz

David Kettle

Boy, Summerhall

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Advertising feature

★★★★★

A compulsive, involving, emotionally stirring evening – theatre’s answer to a page-turner.
The Observer, Kate Kellaway

 

Direct from a sold-out season at Kiln Theatre the five star, hit play, The Son, is now playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre for a strictly limited season.

 

★★★★★

This final part of Florian Zeller’s trilogy is the most powerful of all.
The Times, Ann Treneman

 

Written by the internationally acclaimed Florian Zeller (The Father, The Mother), lauded by The Guardian as ‘the most exciting playwright of our time’, The Son is directed by the award-winning Michael Longhurst.

 

Book by 30 September and get tickets from £15*
with no booking fee.


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