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Culture Literature

Drama Review: Freshwater by Virginia Woolf

Imagine a tipsy room of eminent painters, poets, and intellectuals, laughing as they wait for a play to begin. Virginia Woolf sits alongside E.M. Forster; T.S. Eliot may pop in. Clive Bell’s booming laughter can be heard above the chatter; Woolf will later describe the atmosphere as ‘unbuttoned’. In 1930s London, the Bloomsbury Group often […]

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Culture Literature

Much Ado About Nothing is the Bard at his Best

I think Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare’s best. I know that’s a bold claim, but it’s certainly my favourite. Some of his more ambitious plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth, may be technically more impressive, but this marvellous comedy remains a crowd-pleaser and truly stands the test of time in its popularity. Much Ado […]

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Culture Film Reviews

Review: The Lost King

The directing and screenwriting team of Stephen Frears, Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, who were behind the heartbreaking and bitingly funny Philomena, return to tell the story of how one woman from Edinburgh persevered to discover a King. Hawkins plays Philippa Langley, a perpetually exhausted lady who feels ground down by life. She is under-appreciated […]

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Culture Feature Film

In Memory of Robbie Coltrane

Moving tributes have been published by everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson who Coltrane starred alongside in the Harry Potter film adaptations to Steven Fry and Hugh Laurie who, in the 1980s, both shared the screen with Coltrane in two television series: Alfresco and Blackadder. Even the first minister Nicola Sturgeon added to the […]

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Culture Fringe Theatre

Fringe Reflections

Flyers are pushed into my hand as I weave in and out of the crowds on the Royal Mile, dodging children stunned by magicians’ tricks, a juggler miraculously keeping five swords in the air, a man dressed up as a Victorian dame, and a musician playing their guitar upside down. It’s all hustle, and bustle, […]

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Comedy Fringe Theatre

Fringe 2022: Hannah Pilkes: A Woman on the Verge Review

Hannah Pilkes’ debut show is jam-packed and fun-filled, all based around the premise that Hannah is running late for her show. With the show veering wildly in different directions and pulling us into comedic realms that are fantastic, it is very impressive that Pilkes manages to keep this theme woven into the show. In fact, […]

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Comedy Fringe

Fringe 2022: Film Club – An Improvised Comedy Review

Film Club is a cinematic-based comedy improv troupe that’s taking PBH’s Free Fringe by storm. Performing daily in Revolution Bar’s downstairs Function Room, the small group is introducing a fun twist on improvised theatre to their eager lunchtime audiences. Rooting a series of improvised scenes from a given movie genre, the group produced a quick-witted […]

Categories
Comedy Fringe

Fringe 2022: Sara Barron: Hard Feelings Review

Tackling head-on experiences of ageing, miscarriage, and the occasional joy in being the bitchy ones, this is a hard-hitting but hilariously honest stand-up show.