Kelly Apter
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3D Hamlet: A Lost Generation
12 Aug 2011
Strong acting secures the Bard a place in the 21st century
Were this show set in a different venue, with decent sight lines, a proper projection screen and space bigger than a postage stamp for the actors to perform on, it would be a shoe-in for five stars. Abridged, but retaining all the salient points and key…
The Wheel
11 Aug 2011
Innocence lost in war-torn Spain
When we think about war, it is the civilian casualties or soldiers who lose their lives we remember. The children whose innocence is stripped from them, observing the horrors that surround a war zone rarely, if ever, get a mention. In the west, we worry…
Last Orders dance piece based on Sawney Bean
10 Aug 2011
Al Seed Fringe piece on 16th century Scottish cannibal
Anthony Hopkins’ quivering lips, as he extols the fava beans, Chianti and human liver combo, is one of the most disturbing yet compelling images in Silence of the Lambs. For while serial killers might be scarily fascinating, they’re ten a penny compared…
Christopher Brookmyre set for Edinburgh Book Festival appearance
9 Aug 2011
Name-shifting Scottish scribe retains his trademarks
When Christopher Brookmyre has three syllables thrown at him, he knows he’s done something wrong. Despite his full first-name appearing on every book jacket since his debut novel in 1997, those around Brookmyre have called him Chris for years. ‘I tend…
Interactive children's shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2011
8 Aug 2011
Our tips on the best shows to get children up and moving
The Enormous Turnip, Magic Porridge Pot, Peter Pan on Dinosaur Island, Robinson Crusoe the Lost Jedi Knight Spotlites Theatre Productions don’t just dabble in interactive theatre, it’s their raison d’être. ‘Little ’uns come onstage!’ is the…
Soweto Entsha
8 Aug 2011
South African songs from the heart
In 2008, Morgan, Lwazi, Jabu and Zensele were ekeing out a living, busking on the streets of Soweto. Hearing that a French producer was dining in a nearby restaurant, the a cappella singers headed down there to try and impress him. They did. Three years…
Silent
8 Aug 2011
Witty and moving portrayal of life on the streets
Shuffling across the stage under a blanket, Pat Kinevane slowly makes his way towards the audience. Peering out from underneath the dirty and torn material, glittery eye shadow adorning each lid, he starts to speak. What are we expecting him to say? A…
Simon Callow in Tuesday at Tescos
8 Aug 2011
Transgender monologue that’s dressed to kill
Anything performed by Simon Callow comes with a certain guarantee: that you’ll be entertained, impressed by the Shakespearean actor’s masterly skill, and perhaps moved to laughter and/or tears. Almost all of which Tuesday at Tescos achieves. Emmanuel…
Under The Baobab Tree
8 Aug 2011
Animal tales from Africa
Do you know how the hyena got its laugh or the ostrich got its long neck? The answers in this show may not be entirely true, but they’re certainly fun. Performed by Edinburgh-based Toto Tales and Singapore’s I Theatre, Under the Baobab Tree is an hour…
Bagpuss
7 Aug 2011
Stage adaptation that’s just about purrfect
In 2001, Bagpus came fourth in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Kids’ TV Shows opinion poll – and for good reason. Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin’s 1970s programme had a warm simplicity that hooked you in with imaginative tales, then rocked you gently in its…
The Tim Bat Trick Show
7 Aug 2011
Slickness and silliness in equal measure
Tim Bat has been doing the Fringe for so long, he could probably deliver his act with his eyes closed. Which is actually not a bad idea it might make the tricks he delivers a touch more daring. In an age when circus performers push the boundaries of…
Mr Benn
5 Aug 2011
Tall Stories bring iconic 70s children's animation to Edinburgh festival
It’s 40 years since David McKee first turned his series of picture books into a TV series. In an instant, shop dressing rooms became the doorway to potential adventure, where anything could happen. For an entire generation, Mr Benn signified the…
Fringe 2011 theatre - Five issue-based shows
3 Aug 2011
Shows based on 60s teenage pregnancy, infanticide, bullying and HIV
Be My Baby with Amanda Whittington A moving comedy about pregnant teens in 1960s Manchester who are sent away to a heavily religious hiding place where their only sense of freedom comes through pop music. Zoo Roxy, 662 6892, 7–13 Aug, 6.30pm, £8…
Fringe 2011: Five dance shows based on true-stories
29 Jul 2011
Real life events provide inspirational for several Fringe shows this year
Falling Man. Who can forget the horrific image of a man falling to his death from the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks? This haunting solo by Dundee-based dance company Smallpetitklein was inspired by the ubiquitous photos capturing the…
Circolombia bring Urban show to Edinburgh Festival
29 Jul 2011
South American acrobats and anecdotes
Their lives may have started in adversity, but when the performers of Circolombia step on stage at this year’s Fringe, it’s as fully fledged professionals. All the members of the troupe grew up on the streets of Cali in Colombia, facing a daily round of…
Snow Play bring snowball fight to 2011 Edinburgh Festival
29 Jul 2011
Children's show features interactive battle of the seasons
When Snow Play enjoyed a sell-out run at the Lyric theatre in London last December, the timing was perfect. Outside, children played with snow on the ground – then stepped inside the venue to find the same weather conditions represented on stage. The…
Mr Benn brings 1970s TV classic to Edinburgh Festival stage
29 Jul 2011
Kids show from makers of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom
Anyone who has seen The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom or any of the other wonderful shows Tall Stories has staged over the years, will know that the company is no stranger to adaptation. This time, however, they’ve moved away from children’s picture books…
Bubblewrap and Boxes turns cardboard boxes into children's show
29 Jul 2011
Playing around with the post at 2011 Edinburgh Festival
As any young child will tell you, there’s no end of things you can do with a cardboard box. Melbourne-based theatre company Asking For Trouble discovered it too, when they turned a pile of unwanted boxes into packages and parcels to create award-winning…
Cloud Man combines puppetry and storytelling for 4-7-year-olds
29 Jul 2011
Edinburgh Festival children's theatre show based on clouds
Sometimes they’re white and fluffy, more often than not they’re full of rain - but there’s something about clouds that holds our interest. The latest in a long line of artists to be inspired by the natural phenomenon is puppeteer Ailie Cohen, with her…
Soy de Cuba brings Havana dance, music and song
28 Jul 2011
The sound of contemporary Cuba visits 2011 Edinburgh Festival
With influences from South America, Spain and Africa dating back centuries, it’s fair to say Cuba is a melting pot of styles. So it stands to reason that the latest music and dance sensation to come out of the Caribbean island is equally diverse.
Rock the Ballet incorporates multiple dance styles
28 Jul 2011
Ballet gets a rock and pop makeover at 2011 Edinburgh Festival
If the word ballet leads you to thoughts of starched white tutus and tight buns, then Rock the Ballet is here to disabuse you of that notion. For although there will indeed be tight buns on stage, they’re considerably lower down than your average prima…
Surge Family Circus Weekend
22 Jul 2011
A chance for the whole family to pick up some juggling, clowning and trapeze skills
Time was, you had to run away and join the circus if you wanted to experience the thrill of the tightrope and trapeze. These days, you can stay safe in the bosom of your family and still swing through the air and show off your sense of balance. Open…
Project Y
22 Jul 2011
Annual summer programme by contemporary youth dance company Y Dance
From the Shetland Islands down to the Borders, the prospect of spending a summer with Project Y entices young dancers from all quarters of Scotland. Now in its sixth year, this unique programme, run by Y Dance, gives 16-21-year-olds a chance to work…
Fringe for (around) a fiver: Kids
22 Jul 2011
The affordable kids' shows appearing at the Fringe this year
Taking the whole family to a Fringe show can be an expensive business these days. So it pays to get out there early and soak up some previews. Here are just a few of the top shows that are charging £5 for their opening performances on 3-5 Aug.
Brazilian dance highlights at Edinburgh 2011
20 Jul 2011
Now and at the Time of Our Turn, Parallel Memories, My Voluntary Punishments and Another Cappadocia
Long known for its rich dance tradition, Kelly Apter finds Brazil’s contemporary dance companies responding to all aspects of the country’s diverse culture
