The much-awaited Autumn season at Scottish Ballet opens with two stunning contemporary pieces: one, Emergence from one of the world’s most in-demand choreographers Canada’s Crystal Pite, the other, Entress, a world premiere, from an equally in-demand talent, British choreographer, creative director, and dance artist Julia Cheng, known for her boundary-crossing work across dance, theatre, opera, musical theatre and founder and creative director of House of Absolute. Emergence, created by Pite for the National Ballet of Canada in 2009, and last seen in Glasgow in 2016, utilises swarm intelligence research and bee colony behaviour and “explores the tension between our craving for…
Author: The Reviews Hub - Scotland
The Reviews Hub - Scotland
The Scotland team is under the editorship of Lauren Humphreys. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. We aim to review all professional types of theatre, whether that be Commercial, Repertory or Fringe as well as Comedy, Music, Gigs etc.
Conductor: André Rieu Many Grannies have proclaimed that André Rieu is a wonderful man and “puts on a good show”. This is one of those occasions when we should trust them. What a show. From the sumptuous stage with gorgeous flowers, to the stunning princess worthy dresses of all the female singers and musicians. From the top hats to the fantastically fitting backdrops. This is a big budget production with all the shimmer and shine you can dream of in a perfect night out. The set list includes well known songs such as The Impossible Dream and I Could Have…
Book: Steven Antin Music: Christina Aguilera, Sia, Todrick Hall, and Jess Folley Based on: The Sony Pictures / Screen Gems Movie Burlesque Director: Racky Plews Choreographer: Robin Antin and Aaron Renfree Musical Director: Robert Wicks There is undoubtedly the outline of a triumphant, high-octane musical beneath the spectacle of Burlesque The Musical, but in its current iteration, the production still feels like a work in progress. Centred on Ali’s search for her birth mother, Tess, the narrative follows Ali as she uncovers her maternal connection while fighting for her place on stage at the struggling Burlesque Club. When the storytelling…
Book: Arthur Kopit Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter Director: Rachel Kavanaugh High Society as a stage musical has a pedigree as long as any wealthy New England family, having been adapted from a classic film musical which was itself adapted from a film and a play. Its latest iteration is a lavish spectacle with strong leads and some great ensemble numbers, as sparkly as the champagne that fuels much of the romantic chaos that ensues. Tracy Samantha Lord, a beautiful divorcee and socialite, is due to marry dull-but-dependable George Kittredge, but the pre-wedding celebrations at her parents’ mansion are thrown…
Writer: George Orwell Adaptor: Chris Hannan Director: Dominic Hill Framed by the real-life decline of George Orwell writing in a hospital bed, Chris Hannan’s chilling adaptation of 1984 delivers an uncomfortably visceral exploration of totalitarian control. Set in a bleak, surveillance-driven state where thought itself is a crime, the story follows low-ranking party worker Winston Smith as he secretly rebels against the omnipresent Big Brother. Directed with precision by Dominic Hill, the production draws subtle parallels between Orwell’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War and the inner workings of his terrifying dystopian vision. By having Jack Tarlton portray both the…
Following on the heels of their impressive, much-lauded inaugural Glasgow show last year, Ballet Nights is back in town. Bringing an all-new, finely curated programme of the great and the good of the contemporary ballet world. Once again hosted by Ballet Nights creator Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, a favourite of his former adopted home town where he spent the lion’s share of his professional career. The evening of dance opens with home-grown talent, the Royal Ballet’s Harris Bell and his wife, fellow Royal Ballet soloist Sae Maeda performing the Moszkowski Waltz to great acclaim. In this eclectic collection the theme, tone and…
Conductor: Kirill Petrenko Violin: Augustin Hadelich I come from a place where classical music is a luxury, and the Berliner Philharmoniker was one of the first symphony orchestras I ever knew, thanks to Todd Field’s 2022 film Tár. And it really is a magical moment to witness them playing at the Usher Hall as they close this year’s EIF. Led by conductor Kirill Petrenko, the first half of the evening is Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, performed with violinist Augustin Hadelich. Originally written for Franz Clement, the piece was not an immediate classic. It was later revived by Joseph Joachim, whose 1844…
The name Roleplay the new work by Australian writer, director and performer Hannah Reilly, captures the central idea of the show. The idea of playing other people is at the centre of performance, so much so that quite a few performers call themselves “professional pretenders” on social media. Reilly also claims before the show starts that some of what we are about to see is real, while other parts are not. Roleplay begins with Danielle, or Danni, a feminist podcaster trying to find her way to success. Her podcast uses “hey slut” as its tagline, and she initially presents herself…