Allan Wilson

I loved Black Hole Sign @traversetheatre.bsky.social last night. Uma Nada-Rajah's powerful script, supported by Gareth Nicholls' direction and an excellent cast, skilfully combined wit and emotion to highlight so many of the issues underlying problems affecting the UK's National Health Service.

There was so much to enjoy in War Horse, including the individual solo and ensemble performances, the writing and the AV effects, but I particularly enjoyed the magnificent puppetry provided by Handspring Puppet Company and John Tams' traditional songs, beautifully performed by Sally Swanson.

A well-deserved standing ovation for @nationaltheatre.org.uk's production of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre yesterday afternoon.

Looking forward to a theatre double-bill in Edinburgh today, starting with 'War Horse' at the Festival Theatre this afternoon, followed by Uma Nada-Rajah's 'Black Hole Sign' @traversetheatre.bsky.social tonight. I loved War Horse in 2014, while Black Hole Sign is a new production for me to enjoy.

I've seen Richard III (A One Person Show), and Hamlet (An Experience), and now have a ticket for Timon(opoly). Hoping for a fabulous feast, help from some good friends, and maybe overthrow the government of Athens

I'll be @traversetheatre.bsky.social tomorrow for this week's @playpiepint.bsky.social presentation, Cheapo by Katy Nixon, directed by Brian Logan. Set around a chess match between two teenagers, I think I saw a scratch version last year (or the year before?) as I recognise the notes for it.

I loved Fraser Scott’s ‘Common Tongue’ at The Studio in Edinburgh this evening. It is a beautifully written - and witty - exploration of attitudes to the Scottish language, featuring a superb solo performance by Olivia Caw - passionate and totally engaging.

I'm looking forward to seeing Fraser Scott's 'Common Tongue', performed by Olivia Caw at The Studio in Edinburgh this evening, as part of a Scottish tour. I am hoping my bus / train journey won't be affected by Storm Amy - it is already getting a bit blowy in Dunbar!

Emerging artists smiling at Framework Festival 2024. The text ‘Scottish Emerging Theatre Awards’ with three narrow arrows. 

The Scottish Emerging Theatre Awards are back for 2025! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎭✨

The awards are for emerging theatre-makers based in Scotland, chosen by emerging theatre-makers based in Scotland. We want to celebrate the amazing work by early-career & emerging artists that often goes unrecognised by larger awards.

I really enjoyed 'The Glasgow Poisoner', this week's @playpiepint.bsky.social presentation at Oran Mor yesterday. Tom Cooper and @jenbitespeople.bsky.social's musical cleverly explores the story of Madeleine Smith, whose 19th Century murder trial ended with a Not Proven verdict.

Thanks for the reminder, Jen, I'll be travelling through to Oran Mor today.

The Glasgow Poisoner review at Òran Mór, Glasgow Read our review of The Glasgow Poisoner at Òran Mór, Glasgow: Witty, revisionist take on a Victorian murder case

★★★★ Review: The Glasgow Poisoner – Witty, revisionist take on a Victorian murder case 👇

I enjoyed Anna McGrath’s Feis @traversetheatre.bsky.social today, with Leah Balmforth, Julie Coombe and Louise Haggerty in a slightly over-the-top comedy focused on competitive Irish dancing, family relationships and lies. Props to Brian James O'Sullivan for composing and performing the music.

I'll be @traversetheatre.bsky.social today for this week's @playpiepint.bsky.social presentation, Feis by Anna McGrath, directed by Laila Noble. Described as "a dark comedy about Irish dancing, mothers and their daughters, and the importance of securing a win at any cost" it should be fun!

Colourful sunset near Dunbar, this evening.

It made a welcome change from the usual comedies that have dominated PPP for the last couple of years. I like comedy, but it is good to have variety! I introduced myself to the actor who played the Pol Pot character in the bar afterwards - a lovely guy.

Really enjoyed @jmacr.bsky.social's Our Brother @traversetheatre.bsky.social in the @playpiepint.bsky.social season. A hard watch, based on Pol Pot's genocidal regime in 1970s Cambodia. Great performance by David Lee-Jones as the dictator, switching readily between amiability and cold ruthlessness.

Looking forward to it!

I'll be @traversetheatre.bsky.social tomorrow for this week's @playpiepint.bsky.social presentation, Our Brother by @jmacr.bsky.social. Weirdly, I got an email from one of my London friends today, saying that cast member, David Lee-Jones, lives in the same London building as she does. Small world!

I enjoyed Wallace, today’s @playpiepint.bsky.social presentation @traversetheatre.bsky.social, a clever rap on the life of William Wallace, presenting the good, the bad and the ugly, before turning into a group therapy session. Also enjoyed the pint, but, sadly I was too late for a pie.

I'm looking forward to seeing 'Wallace', the new musical by Rob Drummond and Dave Hook, @traversetheatre.bsky.social today to open their autumn @playpiepint.bsky.social season. I usually go on Tuesdays, but I delayed to allow more recovery time after cataract surgery on Monday.

I'm looking forward to receiving treatment this morning for the cataract in my right eye. Assuming all goes well, my distance vision will be better than it has been for over 50 years, though I may have to get reading glasses for close-up vision.

Lost Girls / At Bus Stops Genesis Theatre Productions (Assembly)
Third iteration of Róisín Sheridan Bryson’s love letter to the Fringe takes on a new level of confidence as the relationship between two girls who meet at a bus stop during the Fringe gradually blossoms.
10/10

Down to Chance by Maybe You Like It, Theatre Royal Plymouth (Pleasance)
Beautifully frantic production portraying the impact of the Alaska Earthquake of 1964, through the broadcasting skills of Genie Chance and her assistant. Both actors take on multiple roles as they bring history to life.
9/10

Lost Lear by Matt Smith, Riverbank and Mermaid Arts Centres (Traverse)
'Lost Lear', written and directed by Dan Colley is a superb re-imagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear as an elderly woman with dementia, who draws on distant memory fragments of a production with which she had been involved.
8/10

Nowhere by Fuel (Traverse)
Khalid Abdalla’s ‘Nowhere’ is arguably the most significant piece shown across any of the Festivals in of the Edinburgh festivals this year. It skilfully, and with humour, brings context to so many of the problems in the Middle East over the past century.
7/10

Jeezus! By Alpaqa (Underbelly)
Written by Sergio Maggiolo and performed with Guido Garcia, it is described as, “A blasphemously bold and unrepentantly queer musical that collides Catholic guilt with Latin heat." Great fun!
6/10

Anthem for Dissatisfaction by SkelpieLimmer Productions (Summerhall)
Working class brother and sister in Belfast explore issues that challenged them in their lives through a soundtrack of favourite music from Oasis and The Manics in the 2000s to Sam Fender in the 2020s. Emotion, energy, fun!
5/10

In the Land of Eagles by Natalie Allison Productions (Pleasance)
Sublime piece of storytelling from writer / performer Alex Reynolds as a teenager whose grandfather wants to return to his Albanian homeland before he dies and volunteers to accompany him in a moving attempt to make a connection.
4/10

Ordinary Decent Criminal by Paines Plough (Summerhall)
A prison story from the UK, written by Ed Edwards, with an amazing solo performance from Mark Thomas as a drug dealer who finds himself incarcerated. Some lovely descriptions of the various inmates.
3/10