Edinburgh Festivals, Kelly Apter

Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray

Effective storytelling makes for an adaptation with impact

29 Aug 2008

In the closing moments of Dorian Gray, a bright light shines out into the audience, temporarily blinding us. Something most people aren't used to, but those who spend their life in the spotlight are all too familiar with. It's this -- the trappings of…

Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray

Thoroughly modern Oscar

21 Aug 2008

Although no one would bat an eyelid today, Oscar Wilde’s gothic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray caused shock and outrage when it was published in 1890. The tale of an impressionable young man who becomes obsessed with his own image, had a little too…

Koko the Crocodile

A little touch of Africa

21 Aug 2008

Mara Menzies is fairly new to the storytelling game, but has taken to it like a duck to water. Or rather, like a crocodile to a riverbank – much like the wriggling, paw-waving one that appears in her charming new show. Based on Menzies’ recently…

Deca Dance 2008

21 Aug 2008

Whenever you read about Batsheva Dance Company, a few key words come up time and again; adjectives like ‘exuberant’, ‘joyful’ and ‘energetic’. This is thanks, in large part, to their choreographer Ohad Naharin. Drawing together short sections from ten…

One More Than One

Love comes in different shapes and sizes

21 Aug 2008

The thing about computer dating is that you never quite know what you’re going to get. Or, more to the point, who. Having met online, two characters meet in person to discover that along with all the things they do have in common – there are a few…

Russian Play

21 Aug 2008

These happy looking ladies are even jollier in the flesh. Journeying all the way from Russia, they deliver a joy-filled hour of song, dance and a whole lot of audience participation. Dressed in beautiful national costumes, the seven female performers…

We All Fall Down

Playing with the Plague

14 Aug 2008

Who'd have thought the Black Death could be so much fun? Or that a tale with such a strong moral heart could be so full of laughs and silliness? The story of two 17th century villages both blighted with the plague, the show explores the selfish and…

Andrew Clover's Crazy Kids' Show

Stand-up stories

14 Aug 2008

A successful stand-up comedian and novelist, Andrew Clover fuses both talents in his enjoyable new kids show. Essentially an hour of improvised storytelling, Clover draws heavily on the vivid imagination of his young audience. As such, the children are…

Heartbreak Soup

Two little boys…

14 Aug 2008

Cuddy is lying on a hospital bed, waiting. For what, we don't know, but as the play unfolds a heartbreaking story emerges of a childhood led in slow motion, due to a congenital heart defect. Which all sounds very serious and tragic - and is, of course…

Painting Music Workshop

The art of sound

14 Aug 2008

There are several enjoyable aspects to this imaginative workshop, but the best one is the gift that keeps on giving. In just 40 minutes, Rhuti Carr and her musical cohorts give you a new skill that will stay with you for life. Gathered around a giant…

Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca

Pain and passion on the dancefloor

14 Aug 2008

Noche Flamenca is less a company and more of a community. Founded in Madrid in 1993, by artistic director Martin Santangelo and his Flamenco dancing wife, Soledad Barrio, the group is far more concerned with expressing its artistry than grabbing the…

Steve Reich Evening

Music and dance pioneers in perfect harmony

14 Aug 2008

She's one of the most prominent names in European contemporary dance, he's a giant of American minimalist music. Together, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Steve Reich make quite a pair - although their partnership is a result of admiration, rather than…

The Echo Chamber

Underground antics

7 Aug 2008

Part history lesson, part scary story, this atmospheric show from En Masse Theatre is a great way to start your Fringe day. Descending down into the bowels of Edinburgh, you find yourself in one of the many caverns and passageways that run beneath the…

Andrew Mawson

Social entrepreneur takes matters in hand

7 Aug 2008

When Andrew Mawson walked into Bromley-by-Bow Centre in 1984, the voluntary organisation was neglected, under-used and falling apart, much like the East London community surrounding it. Yet both were filled with enormous potential and today, the centre…

How The Giraffe Got Its Neck

Evolutionary tales

7 Aug 2008

Full of questions about the animal kingdom, two explorers set off on a journey down-river. Along the way, they impart stories about how the leopard got his spots, the elephant got his trunk and finally, how the giraffe ended up with such an elongated…

Let The Earth Breathe

Music with a message

7 Aug 2008

When it comes to being environmentally friendly, people are full of good intentions. But few of us follow through quite so impressively as the Kenodeke Arts Collective. Their new show, Let The Earth Breathe not only sends out a positive message about…

Misterstourworm and the Kelpie's Gift

Myths, music and monsters

7 Aug 2008

If you were under the impression that the Scottish islands were formed by glaciers during the ice age, then think again. They're actually the humps and bumps of an ancient monster who curled his way around Scotland. Or at least that's what we're told in…

The Mozart Question

One man's moving memories

7 Aug 2008

Putting a target age range on a show's publicity material never guarantees who you'll find in the audience. But when the producers of The Mozart Question say suitable for ages 8+, you really ought to listen to them - because this is not a show for…

Three Billy Goats Gruff

Three is the magic number

7 Aug 2008

He's done it again. Andy Lawrence, storyteller and puppet-maker extraordinaire, has created another perfect kids show. Back at the Fringe for the third year running, following the success of The King's Got Donkey's Ears and The Elves and the Shoemaker…

Bale de Rua

Brazilian rhythm of life

31 Jul 2008

Being short of cash can lead to some surprisingly good results. Back in 2004, when Brazilian company, Bale de Rua found themselves without a costume budget, they improvised with paint instead. Covering their skin with bright colours, the effect was…

Clockheart Boy

Mechanical inventions explore life and death

31 Jul 2008

It may not seem the ideal topic to build a family show around, but grief regularly pops its head up in children’s film and theatre. As Nicola Cutcher, co-director of Clockheart Boy says, ‘even The Lion King is about death’. Cutcher and her company…

Cloudcuckooland

31 Jul 2008

When Greek comic playwright, Aristophanes wrote The Birds in 414 BC, he could scarcely have imagined where his masterpiece would end up. Although given his taste for humour and bad behaviour, chances are he would have loved Cloudcuckooland, a new…

Heartbreak Soup

31 Jul 2008

Spending time in hospital isn’t ideal at any age, but for children it’s even less appealing. It was while working with children undergoing heart and lung transplant surgery, that Laura Lindow became inspired to write Heartbreak Soup. ‘I’m not using…

InvAsian Festival

Choreography from across the Continent

31 Jul 2008

There’s no shortage of diverse dance at the Fringe, but seldom do you find it all under one roof. The InvAsian Festival, however, is priding itself on bringing together a wide range of performers from throughout the eponymous continent, and basing them…

Obong

Celebration of Nigerian music and dance

31 Jul 2008

It’s easy to lump African dance together into one big melting pot of bright costumes and tribal drums. In reality, not only does each country have a distinct style, so too does each region within it. Hailing from Cross River State in Nigeria, the Obong…

Painting Music Workshop

31 Jul 2008

We all have images in our heads when we listen to music, but capturing them on paper isn’t something many people attempt. Rhuti Carr of Painting Music, however, has made an entire career out of doing just that. Her workshops feature live music, large…

Rise

Extreme movement meets electronica

31 Jul 2008

Dry ice fills the air while hooded dancers move across a dimly lit stage. Despite the huge, wide space they occupy, there’s something oppressive and deeply atmospheric about Tom Dale’s new show, Rise. All of this is conveyed through a tiny clip on…

Tales From an Enchanted Forest

31 Jul 2008

Bright lights, big sets and fancy costumes are all very well, but sometimes it’s nice to let your imagination do some of the work. The three storytellers taking part in Tales From An Enchanted Forest are allowing you to do just that. Each day, one of…

The Factory

Theatrical technology

31 Jul 2008

A questioning of human nature and love of technology has defined Bristol-based company Precarious in recent years. Both Junction 8 and Druthers explored aspects of ourselves we’d sometimes rather forget, and presented them in a cutting-edge fashion. Now…

Wilde boys - Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray

Edinburgh International Festival

22 Jul 2008

Matthew Bourne is taking his biggest risk yet by revamping The Picture of Dorian Gray. Kelly Apter talks to him about sensuality, satire and the death of Heath Ledger.

Comedy Shuffle - New Art Club

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

22 Jul 2008

New Art Club are aiming to stretch beyond their usual crowd by injecting some daftness into dance. Kelly Apter finds out how steps and stand-up can go hand in hand.

The IT crowd - Mortal Engine

Edinburgh International Festival

22 Jul 2008

An enormous technological feat and huge physical challenge, Chunky Move’s new show has been universally acclaimed. Kelly Apter hears how choreographer Gideon Obarzanek’s dream came vividly to life. Bumps, bruises and bunions. It’s all in a day’s work…

Damned Beautiful

Edinburgh International Festival

22 Jul 2008

Kelly Apter finds another Dorian Gray show kicking about in the form of Helix Dance’s Fringe adaptation. Matthew Bourne isn’t alone in finding Oscar Wilde’s 19th century novel inspirational. Cambridge-based company Helix Dance also saw potential for a…

How the Giraffe Got its Neck - Tall Stories

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

22 Jul 2008

Choosing a Fringe show can be a pot luck affair. So it’s nice to know that year after year, Tall Stories can be relied upon to come up with the goods. The team behind The Gruffalo and The Snow Dragon are back with a new show that fuses physical…

Edinburgh International Science Festival

27 Mar 2008

Since 1988, the Edinburgh International Science Festival has proved that the words ‘science’ and ‘fun’ are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, the Festival’s extensive programme of hands-on events has become a highlight in the interactive kiddie…

Open Mic@The Globe

23 Aug 2007

Introduced by amiable host, Bill Shakespeare, four of his best-loved characters step up to the mic. Hamlet is a wild-eyed Dane angry about adverts; Richard III has a mean streak a mile wide; Ophelia’s an unhinged cockney teenager; and Katherine the…

Paria

23 Aug 2007

‘Please take off your shoes,’ said the sign by the door. So we did, expecting some form of audience participation on a delicate floor. Instead, the entire show passed with no involvement for our stockinged/bare feet whatsoever. The real reason didn’t…

The Insect Circus

23 Aug 2007

While there are many other circus troupes who can climb higher and spin faster than this lot, none of them do it with six legs and antennae. During the course of 70 minutes, we’re introduced to acrobatic ants, a beautiful dying mayfly, a juggling dung…

Trisha Brown Dance Company

23 Aug 2007

In 1962, one building in New York City became the centre of the modern dance world. Artists flocked to Judson Memorial Church to produce work, and when they left, went on to influence dancers and choreographers around the world. But when I ask Trisha…

Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians)

23 Aug 2007

Armed with a truckload of sheet music, some forgotten musical gems and a biting Jewish wit, Mark Nadler is like a male Barbra Streisand on speed. Opening with the Kurt Weill/Ira Gershwin song ‘Tschaikowsky’, featuring the unpronounceable names of 49…

The Elves and the Shoemaker

16 Aug 2007

When it comes to classic tales, The Elves and the Shoemaker is high up on most people’s lists. Just picturing those little elves beavering away, creating tiny shoes, is enough to excite little ones, and send big ones down memory lane. Well you don’t…

Bang On! - Junk Percussion Workshop

16 Aug 2007

Before you leave home to attend this workshop, take a good look around you. What have you got that’s broken, unwanted, and, most crucially of all, makes a good noise when you whack it, shake it or scrape it? Whatever it is, bring it along – because the…

Cat and No Mouse

16 Aug 2007

Dressed in bow ties and tails, a bossy cat and gullible mouse attempt to put on a show. Only trouble is, Cat is convinced she can go it alone as the star of the show – hence the title. Setting her ego aside for one minute, Cat agrees to perform the…

John Moran and his Neighbour, Saori

16 Aug 2007

First off, this is not the show we’re supposed to see. At time of reviewing, the eponymous Saori was still in New York, nursing a burnt foot. By the end of Moran’s Edinburgh run, the Japanese dancer should be on stage with him – albeit slightly less…

Scottish Ballet

16 Aug 2007

In 2005, when Scottish Ballet performed at the Edinburgh International Festival after an absence of 20 years, great excitement surrounded their return. Now that the company is back for the third year running, they almost seem old hat – yet there are a…

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

16 Aug 2007

With all of his books recently being re-published, the re-make of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and a touring production of The Twits doing the rounds, Roald Dahl is more popular than ever. So it’s quite timely that York-based theatre company…

Aesop's Fables

9 Aug 2007

Many children’s shows profess to be ‘adult friendly’, but few deliver to the same degree as this hugely enjoyable new production. Written by former children’s laureate, Michael Morporgo, Aesop’s timeless fables have been fleshed out into sharp, witty…

Claytime

9 Aug 2007

Ever since Play-Doh took over the pre-school world, few other materials get a look-in. Which is why it’s nice to see somebody championing good old clay. Placing a huge slab of clay centre stage, Steve and Sally, our friendly hosts, show us exactly what…

Maggie O'Farrell

9 Aug 2007

Imagination may be a writer’s most precious tool, but when it comes to historical novels, it can only take you so far. Having written three books set in the present day, Maggie O’Farrell journeyed back in time for her fourth, The Vanishing Act of Esme…

Modern Cautionary Tales for Children

9 Aug 2007

From the moment Murray Lachlan Young bounds onto the stage, hair wrapped in a towel, dressing gown flapping, you know you’re in for a good time. Young is clearly one of the most likeable performers not just at the Fringe, but in the world. His poetry…

Silly Billy Bum Breath Strikes Back

9 Aug 2007

The bad girls of last year’s Fringe are back, and this time they’re even naughtier. As all those who saw Laura Black and Feri Tezcan’s 2006 show, Silly Billy Bum Breath will know, the eponymous hero is in fact invisible – well, to us anyway. Only Black…

Sword in the Stone

9 Aug 2007

Spotlites theatre company works its fingers to the bone in this adventurous interactive show. Just three actors play ten characters, each with an extensive costume change. But they’re not the only ones hard at work – Sword in the Stone keeps everyone…

The Greatest Bubble Show On Earth

9 Aug 2007

Louis Pearl (aka The Amazing Bubble Man) has made a career out of blowing bubbles. Big ones, small ones, coloured ones, square ones – if something’s got a hole in it, he’ll blow a bubble through it. Using an assortment of tools and toys – many of…

The Mothers Bones

9 Aug 2007

Inspiration can strike in the most unlikely of places, and for Kath Burlinson it was inside a cave in the Dordogne. Surrounded by ancient drawings, she hit upon the idea of The Mother’s Bones, a show which explores three ages of womanhood.

5 Questions - The Amazing Bubble Man

1 Aug 2007

Louis Pearl (aka The Amazing Bubble Man) explains why his Fringe show, The Greatest Bubble Show On Earth should float your boat

5 Questions - X Factor

1 Aug 2007

Alan Greig, artistic director of Scottish contemporary dance company, X Factor lays it on the line. Give 5 reasons why people should come and see your show, Morceaux Choisis & Ragnarok - Our double bill is exciting, dynamic, physical, visual and has…

Bang on!

1 Aug 2007

Saucepans and wooden spoons may form the backbone of the average kitchen, but for Katie Stephenson and Dave Smith, they’re musical instruments. For the past five years, the duo have been wowing the crowds on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with their unusual…

Cat and No Mouse

1 Aug 2007

As one half of children’s theatre company, Tall Stories, Toby Mitchell has had a considerable amount of Fringe success.

Claytime

1 Aug 2007

Watching a performer play with a fun prop can be a frustrating business for children.

Dance Base Presents . . .

1 Aug 2007

Once again, our National Centre for Dance has assembled an eclectic Fringe programme.

Does a Monster Live Next Door?

1 Aug 2007

Druthers

1 Aug 2007

Last year, Bristol-based company Precarious Dance proved that dance, physical theatre and technology can work together in perfect harmony.

Hitlist - The best kids

1 Aug 2007

Into The Hoods

1 Aug 2007

One of the undisputed hits of last year’s Fringe is making a welcome return to Edinburgh.

Maximum Crew

1 Aug 2007

In recent years, Korea has emerged as a hotbed of breakdance talent. And one of the company’s most revered breakdance companies, Maximum Crew is about to hit the Fringe like a brick through a window. Known for its incredible synchronised routines, the…

Méli Mélo II

1 Aug 2007

To parody something, you have to know it inside out, which is why The Chicos Mambo are so good at what they do.

Sorry, Love!

1 Aug 2007

The dance world is full of labels, styles and genres. But sometimes, pigeonholing just isn’t possible.

State of Matter

1 Aug 2007

When 2FaCeD DaNcE company first came to the Fringe in 2004, their young, energetic approach to breakdance won them a legion of fans.

The Big Filling: This Time It’s Pie-sonal

1 Aug 2007

Theatrical influences come from many sources, but it’s not often you find a kids show parodying 1950s film noir.

The Enchanted Castle

1 Aug 2007

Written by Edith Nesbit in 1907 – a year after her most famous book, The Railway Children – The Enchanted Castle never received the recognition it deserved.

The Green Meanie

1 Aug 2007

Environmental problems may be increasingly obvious to adults, but teaching children about the cause and effect of modern life can be tricky.

Dance Base

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

19 Jul 2007

Teenage boys, a footballer’s wife, a sprightly septuagenarian and a man in a dress. Kelly Apter talks to artistic director Morag Deyes about this year’s Dance Base programme

Leitmotif

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

19 Jul 2007

Andrew Dawson went on a deeply personal journey for his last Fringe hit. Kelly Apter discovers that his new dance show goes straight for the entertainment jugular

On Danse

Edinburgh International Festival

19 Jul 2007

Edinburgh International Festival Animal attraction Merging choreography and video imagery does not always make for hugely successful dance productions. Kelly Apter finds French duo Montalvo and Hervieu showing the rest how it should really be done

Trisha Brown Dance Company

Edinburgh International Festival

19 Jul 2007

From rejection to reverement, Trisha Brown has seen it all. Kelly Apter speaks to the woman whose career began almost 50 years ago, and who is playing the Festival for the first time