What’s in store for us in Edinburgh today?
Here’s the schedule for August 12th.
10:20 – i am george massey, theSpace on the Mile. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
“What does it mean to be English anymore?… Strawberries? Scones? Jerusalem?… What is England now? This is George’s story: powerful, shocking, radical. a story of childhood joy, passionate relationships, and how he slowly falls down the dark rabbit hole of radicalisation. Manchester born and bred, George tries to manage his loneliness and depression through his phone. A lifeboat that helps him to not feel alone. Social media can bring you to the surface, or it can take you deeper into the depths. An immersive monologue that treads the boundaries of dark comedy and tragedy.”
The rise of radicalisation, through subversive social media, is a fascinating subject and I hope that this meaty-looking play tackles the subject head on. I’m expecting this to be a very hard-hitting watch.
14:25 – Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act, Assembly Rooms.
“Revealing the man behind the myth… exposing the great detective’s fears and weaknesses, the devastating consequences of the dramas of his formative years, and unexpectedly, his cutting sense of humour. It is 1916. Drawn from two years of Sussex retirement for the funeral of his friend, Dr Watson, Holmes returns to Baker Street to resolve The Last Act. A theatrical evening then unfolds, with 14 characters, all played by Nigel Miles-Thomas. Features cross-examinations and heated arguments between Holmes and Watson. Written by Conan Doyle expert David Stuart Davies and directed by award-winning Gareth Armstrong.”
Time for a spot of dignified, traditional theatre in the company of Nigel Miles-Thomas, and the character of Sherlock Holmes, who continues to intrigue and delight us more than a century after Conan Doyle wrote his famous exploits. I think this will be smart, satisfying and tremendously well done.
16:15 – Nettles, Greenside @ George Street.
“Alyona is in her mid-twenties and has no place to settle down. She is invited to stay at Giovanni’s Sloane Square house for a night… without his knowledge. Intrigued and excited by this rich man’s world, Alyona searches through his possessions, with some of his belongings bringing flashbacks of past experiences. Now, feeling vulnerable, Alyona lets you into parts of her identity, sexuality, and daydreaming fantasy world.”
This sounds like another hard-hitting play that should expose the reality of the vulnerability of young people in desperation. Hopefully it will be well-written and acted.
18:05 – Hardly Working, theSpace on the Mile.
“Trust, truth, and tequila. Could you date someone of the opposite class? Does class actually determine politics? What happens when the patriarchy walks into a bar? Hang on, this was meant to be funny… After a preview showcase at Bristol Old Vic in June, this new play by Jessie Millson follows a queer relationship blasted apart by politics and pranks. We are placed between worker and slacker, between filthy rich and stinking poor, between staying or going as the bar between Charity and Lois becomes a bigger and bigger boundary. Do you serve to live or live to serve?”
This play poses some interesting questions! Britain is still riddled with class issues, and they’re not going away soon. I’ve really enjoyed Jessie Millson’s writing in the past and hope this will be equally as entertaining!
20:00 – Nick Schuller: Still Dry White, Laughing Horse @ Eastside.
“Dry (adjective) – a subtle, ironic or matter-of-fact joke or sense of humour. If you like dry humour, see Nick Schuller at the Edinburgh Fringe. Dry (adjective) – an alcoholic beverage that is not sweet. Depending on how the show goes, Nick may drink a lot of still dry white.”
Nick Schuller arrives in Edinburgh from Australia, where he has been making quite a name for himself in comedy festivals. I’ve seen a couple of videos of his work and I’m expecting this to be extremely funny!
Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!