A mere 43 years since NewsRevue first appeared on stage, it somehow still hasn’t ceased to amaze.
Much of the material has gathered since the last Edinburgh Fringe; with three Prime Ministers, strikes across the country in many industries, and even a celebrity scandal (or two, or seven).
NewsRevue brings together the best of the Edinburgh Fringe and crams it under one roof, delighting the audience with music, song, dance – and, of course, comedy.
The show is a series of political (satirical) sketches interspersed with glorious musical numbers. If you’re a politics fan – but also love a good cheesy boyband number – then this is the show for you.
NewsRevue is fast-paced, energetic and seething with political discontent. Not one politician or political party is safe here, particularly Ed Davey, who serves as the court jester of the piece (and does a wonderful job at it, too).
The show’s tone reflects the general mood of the British population (one that is fed up and where no politician has the interests of the people in mind), as well as the ridiculousness of scandal and controversy and how the media sensationalises this.
But the most important thing to take away from this show is that it is bursting with pure, unadulterated joy.
Without spoiling too much, the best example of this would be the Mick Lynch power ballad – need I say any more?
The show would not be so fantastic were it not for the music. Each sketch was punctuated with a musical interlude, as a pianist sat on stage by a grand piano at all times, poised to play upbeat, whimsical versions of the songs we have grown to love over the last year.
This, combined with the excellent use of lighting, added to the show’s lightning-fast pacing, leaving the audience bewildered as to what on earth was going to happen next.
NewsRevue is the kind of show we need right now; in a time that feels so dark both politically and culturally, what could be better than seeing something that takes the piss out of absolutely everything?
NewsRevue is showing at Pleasance Courtyard – The Grand, August 10-15 and 17-27 at 17:30.
Image by Ross McGivern provided to The Student as press material.