Tag Archives: Aulos Productions

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Antigone na h’Éireann, 22nd August 2018

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Our next play is a must-see because we’ve always enjoyed Aulos Productions’ plays up till now and I see no reason for that to stop! It’s Antigone na h’Éireann, at Paradise in the Vault, at 18:00 on Wednesday 22nd. Here’s the blurb: “Driven by faith to resurrect the IRA, Annie battles to bring her family the honour they deserve. A new Northern Irish adaptation of the myth by multi award-winning writer James Beagon. In the not too distant future, a hard-border Brexit has severed Ireland in two once and for all. Annie and her siblings will not let this stand. An unshakeable shadow lingers over their journey as faith, family and factions collide: the shadow of their father and the memory of the Disappeared. Inspired by Sophocles and other sources. ***** (Families Edinburgh). **** (FringeGuru.com). **** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

A Northern Irish version of the Antigone story in a post-Brexit scenario. Sounds fascinating – and rather disturbing. Check back around 7.15 pm to see just how disturbing it was. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

My memory of the Antigone story is a little rusty but I reckon that was a pretty clever re-siting of it to Northern Ireland and a resurrected IRA. Fantastic use of masks to eerie and powerful effect and a terrific ensemble made for a gripping hour’s drama.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Lest We Forget, 22nd August 2016

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Next up I’m hoping for some meaty drama in the form of Aulos’ Productions’ Lest We Forget, at the Studio @ Paradise in Augustines, George IV Bridge, at midday on Monday 22nd. This is how the website describes it: “From award-winning Edinburgh writer James Beagon, one family struggles to reconcile memories of their son with the truth in the aftermath of WWI. When Harry Ashwood died in battle, he was hailed as a hero. Yet his surviving siblings strive to cast off his shadow as they take care of their ageing mother. Meanwhile, Edith relentlessly campaigns against the army for the right to bring her beloved boy home to rest. But is the boy she remembers the same man she lost at the Somme? ‘Breathtakingly ambitious’ **** (FringeGuru.com). ‘Very satisfying’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Fascinating’ **** (AllEdinburghTheatre.com).”

This will be the third time we’ve seen an Aulos Production, having really enjoyed First Class in 2014 and Women of the Mourning Fields last year. Once again the play is written and directed by James Beagon and arrives at Edinburgh by way of the Buxton Festival. The cast comprises Sophie Harris, Grace Gilbert, Andrew Weir, Heather Daniel and Rob Younger; and I’m expecting this to give emotional and rewarding insights into the scars left by wartime loss. Check back about 1.15 to see how moving it was and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Very intense and emotional play that specifically deals with a family coming to terms, not only with their son and brother dying in the First World War but also with the fallout with the Imperial War Graves Commission and the debate over where their final resting place should be. An extremely elegant production, with all five roles immaculately and sensitively performed; thought-provoking and very rewarding. Congratulations to all!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Women of the Mourning Fields

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One of our favourite productions from last year’s all too brief visit to Edinburgh was Aulos Productions’ First Class, and on the strength of that show I was happy to book for this year’s Aulos offering, Women of the Mourning Fields. From the promotional blurb: “Slandered by history. Forgotten as women. Rome’s final curtain has fallen, yet three women still linger in the wings. Tainted by Emperor Nero’s legacy, Agrippina fights against the injustice of history. Forced onto the stage with Octavia and Poppaea, another unwelcome performance is imminent… But scripts can always be rewritten. From the writer of First Class (Best New Writing, Buxton Fringe 2014) comes a tale of intrigue, desire and ambition. What happens when you pry the real people from between the pages of history? What happens when the story of these women is finally told?”

To be honest, I don’t think I would have chosen this play were it not for the brilliance of First Class last year, but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt and I’m delighted to see that this play has also been nominated for an award at the Buxton Fringe. I’ve read a review that suggests the play might be hard to follow if you don’t have a good knowledge of the history of Rome… that slightly worries me. Still, I’m sure we’ll be fully alert for the challenge when we see this on Monday 17th August in the morning at 10:30 at the Paradise at the Vault. Please check back shortly after half-past eleven when I will be able to give our instant reactions to the play. And you will also find the preview for our next show.

Update:

What a fascinating and intricate play! Ideally you’d see it at least a couple of times to understand fully all its ins and outs, but it really holds your interest and asks loads of questions about rewriting history and the creative experience. And there are seven fantastic actors’ performances to appreciate! Highly recommended.

Looking back at Edinburgh Fringe 2014 – three excellent plays – No 1 – Review – First Class, Aulos Productions and Relief Theatre, at the Pravda Room, Laughing Horse @ Espionage, 9th August 2014

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It’s been a few weeks now since Mrs Chrisparkle and I had our first ever foray into the Great Artistic Thing that is the Edinburgh Fringe, and we’re already planning next year’s jaunt. In the meantime, there were a few plays we saw that we really enjoyed and that I thought merited a little more consideration than the brief mini-reactions that I only had time for during the Festival. So here goes with the first.

First Class by name, first class by nature. James Beagon’s exquisitely crafted little play held me spellbound from the start. Three lives intricately woven over the decades, set against the same backdrop of a train trip to Manchester Piccadilly. Each character reflected the attitudes and problems of their own respective era, and the three performers – Erin Elkin, Joe Walsh and Maddie Haynes – inhabited their roles so completely and conjured up other passengers and the train setting so successfully that I never for a moment noticed that it was just three people perched on three small chairs on a tiny stage.

The minimalist environment really helped the whole experience to work on your imagination. It’s only fifty minutes long but that time flew by. There’s one scene where you think Lydia is going to commit a terrible atrocity, and, I kid you not, my heart was absolutely in my mouth fearing that she was going to do it. When she didn’t, I felt a sense of massive relief. There’s another riveting and sadly hilarious sequence where tennis “almost-star” Rachel is cornered by an insensitive “fan” on the train who unwittingly gives her a good verbal kicking in a scene worthy of Ayckbourn at his best. The text does not shy away from giving us three different insights into mental instability, providing each cast member with a great opportunity to explore how each character deals with intense pressure in a world full of difficult people.

There’s something of a plot twist at the end, which Mrs C predicted but I didn’t, and when that twist became apparent, everything fitted together so perfectly that I could feel my face positively beaming. This won the best new writing award for the 2014 Buxton Fringe, and quite rightly too. I hope it’s not the last we see of this moving, funny, scary one-act play, and I trust producers Aulos Productions and Relief Theatre will be giving us more riveting drama in the near future.

And if you weren’t lucky enough to see the production – you can here!