The results are in, the shutter down and Edinburgh, the Festival city is getting ready for whatever extravaganza is happening next – Hogmanay anyone? And the hidden things that people don’t see have had their fanfare. What has been hidden? This year during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019, 85 sensory packs were provided for autistic […]
Donald Stewart
Our reviewer and commentator in Scotland, Donald, a writer and community theatre practitioner of many years, Donald reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe as well as in Scotland year round.
Oh Theatre of Scotland – Can You Hear Me???
The last season of Silent Witness on the BBC was again heralded by the appearance of Liz Carr in a central role. Such a mainstream win for a disabled actor and activist was seen as evidence that the tide was turning; we were becoming more inclusive. For years on the Archers on Radio 4 there […]
It would be easy to over exaggerate and suggest that there is not a year goes by without yet another creative tragedy as this project, that venue or this company have folded due to THE CUTS. I have performed and directed in venues that are closed from the Civic Theatre in Ayr to the Ramshorn […]
PQA Venues have made quite a splash last year and this but uniquely bring their own youth work up with them to showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Here we catch up with her to find out why you would and why they were off straight afterwards to get a train all the way back […]
As an actress who started life creatively in the United States and who once shared a theatre with the likes of Morgan Freeman, Francesca Bartellini talks about the process of bringing a tough family story to the stage and taking on all three characters herself!
Weegie Hink Ae That has hit the Scottish stage over the last 3 years with an increasing reputation. Quick witted, fast paced and based on the universality of the Glaswegian patios, these four pals from University have forged a comedy sketch quarter being watched by those who think they might have the ability to be […]
Donald Stewart talks to Simon Weir about Benny Lynch
Donald talked to Simon Weir. Listen to Donald Stewart’s interview with Simon Weir It’s always an immense pleasure to catch up with one of the most enthusiastic theatre makers in Scotland and Simon never disappoints. Following his hit tour of The Benny Lynch Story I caught up with him for over an hour of hearing […]
The postman walked away much lighter afterwards… The letterbox groaned, just a little as it swallowed it up… Before spewing it onto a mat which became less heavy after it was lifted up… It’s here and it is hefty. We are but two months way from the opening weekend and it has new venues, new […]
Thankfully, let there be no forgiveness…
Saturday 8th June 2019 The headline did it for me. “ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID LEDDY ENDS HIS THEATRE CAREER.” Surely, say it is not so, I thought…And yet, who can blame him? I, theatrically, grew up in an age of Wildcat, 7:84 Theatre Company, Borderline and the continuation of cash that was the annual Scottish Arts […]
I Got Taken Somewhere and It Was Lovely…
There was much gnawing of teeth and gnashing of brows when the Arches closed their doors thanks to the overbearing and ridiculous decision to refuse a licence to the venue for fear of further drugs deaths when the venue had been at the forefront of trying to prevent them. It deprived the theatre world of […]
It’s that time in the frozen north, whilst FringeReview is down in Brighton, we get something like the following from those hoping to be a hit in August: – Dear Fringe Reviewer person, The company who have employed me because they have enough money to spend on me sending emails in the hope that you […]
Award season is rife for most of the arts and we have BAFTA things going on the TV. It’s exciting for people and not to be outdone, Scottish theatre have their own awards night and ceremony for the “best” in Scottish theatre coming up soon. I have best in italics for a simple reason. The […]
Subsidy Junkies or Toadies… Or Sirs of the Realm…
At what point is it all right to bite that hands that feeds you? I remember many years ago I spent a weekend in Fintry in a log cabin. It was a weekend of working as a volunteer Tory – I know… The local MP was Mike Forsyth, arch Tory and Thatcherite and he was […]
If there is a theatrical and creative equivalent of marmite, Mrs Brown’s Boys is it. I went to see it onstage at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow, many years ago and unashamedly laughed out loud and constantly. I was an Assessor for the Scottish Arts Council at the time and felt I was perhaps slumming […]
Friday 19th April 2019 My partner, Lorna, has the soul of a saint. I am quite sure that every time she hears the starting phrase, “Do you fancy going to…” that her heart sinks a little. In the last few years we have seen some cracking theatre. We have also seen some things that have […]
Last week an actress got sacked – not once but twice. Her crime? On the surface, her beliefs. Seyi Omooba was the actor, who was due to perform at the Birmingham Hippodrome as Celie in Color Purple. Those that know the book and the play know that Celie is an iconic character who escapes the […]
Thanks for accessing my blog! Here I recount tales, tell stories and reflect upon all things fringe theatre that comes my way. I hope to be able to promote things theatrical and can be contacted through my email on CommuneArts@GMail.com if people wish to take offence, make comment or offer advice! All will be welcomed… In the […]
