Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. A great concert last night at the Usher Hall, including ‘the most famous symphony of them all’. 🎶 #DaDaDaDum #beethoven #beethovenfifth #beethoven5 #tchaikovsky #liszt #concertobudapest #paullewis #andraskeller (7 Dec)

The Snow Queen - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. It’s the start of the Christmas season … 🩰 🎶 🎅 (And dinner with my sister on Thursday night at Tattu Edinburgh.)

The Producers - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Still one of my favourite musicals … 🎭 🎶 #theproducers #keepitgay #springtimeforhitler @theproducerslondon.bsky.social

Titanique - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Completely, totally, ‘kooky crazy’. I loved it. 🎭 🎶 #titanique #celinedion #kookycrazy

The Xmas tree lights are now on in Dunbar! 🎄 🎅 #dunbar #eastlothian

The Sound of Music - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. A fantastic matinee today at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. As good, if not better, than last year’s, with shout outs to Maria, Captain Von Trapp and the Mother Abbess. And every actor plays at least one instrument! Get tickets if you can. 🎭 🎵 👏 👏 #thesoundofmusic

Graeme’s birthday (and early Xmas) trip to see The Sound of Music in Pitlochry. A fantastic theatre. #thesoundofmusic @pitlochryft.bsky.social 🎭 🎁 🎄

La Boheme - some you win; others you lose. This just didn’t click for me. Left at the interval so no score from me. 🎭 🎶 @scottishopera.bsky.social

Tina: the Tina Turner Musical - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Very pleasantly surprised! And, as expected, a fun night out with Graeme, Gillian and Tom. 🎭 🎶

It was woolly hat weather yesterday @edinburghzoo.bsky.social, but the swamp wallabies were still out on force. #swampwallaby #animalphotography #zoophotography #rzss

Yesterday's Dedication Service for the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance. @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social #edinburgh #scottmonument #princesstreetgardens #edinburghcastle #poppyscotland

Black hole sign - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Things unravel on shift at an under-staffed, under-valued A&E. I think I was the only non-nurse in the crowd. As senior charge nurse Crea asks, what really is the vision for our NHS? 🎭 @traversetheatre.bsky.social @trontheatre.bsky.social

Mary, Queen of Scots - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The story of two cousins and Queens, told through the eyes of a dying Elizabeth. Great to see again after its launch at the Edinburgh International Festival. (16 Oct) 🩰

Riverdance: the new generation - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Great performance tonight, looking back 30 years to the original show. 🎭 💃 #Riverdance

Autumn’s definitely arrived on the East Coast! 🍂 Graeme failed slightly sheltering my ‘do’ from the wind. 💨 #Dunbar #EastLothian

Haggis, the pygmy hippo, leaves @edinburghzoo.bsky.social in October. Here’s some pics of her earlier this month with mum and dad, Otto and Gloria. #pygmyhippo #animalphotography #zoophotography

The Talented Mr Ripley - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Strong performances by Tom and Dickie; great set. But maybe 10-15 minutes too long. Loved catching up with Laura. 🎭 #numbbum

Fiddler on the Roof - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. That feels wrong, because the performance was mostly top quality. But it just wasn’t my sort of show - perhaps too close to the truth?! I’m really glad I saw it though; and grateful for the pre- and post-show tours. 🎭 (11 Sep)

Autumn’s arrived in East Lothian. Typically, the boiler’s misbehaving. So Chunky the cat’s keeping me warm. 🍂 🌧️

A trip today to Fast Castle. It's a straightforward path, but very steep. Definitely walking / hiking boots and I wouldn't want to do it in the rain. #castle #fortress #scotland #berwickshire #borders #scottishborders #coldingham #stabbs #historicscotland

17 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe done. We finished as started - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ again for Hold On To Your Butts, the Jurassic Park parody. Other faves: Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London and The Essence of Audrey. 34 Fringe and Festival shows; 24 days. Until 2026 … #edfringe2025 #EdIntFest @edfringe.bsky.social

So that’s our Edinburgh Festival done for 2025. 17 shows in 23 days; 6 venues; at least 541 performers. Two of many highlights: Orpheus and Eurydice, and Mary, Queen of Scots. But the whole month has been fantastic. Thanks to all involved. We’ve got one Fringe show to go! 🎭 🎻 🎵 🩰 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #EdIntFest

As you like it: a radical retelling - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. My understanding of Shakespeare has not greatly improved! 🎭 #edintfest

Pop off, Michelangelo! - ⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️. A musical comedy starring him and his ‘brother’, Leonardo da Vinci. It’s not for the faint-hearted or Vatican-friendly, what with the ‘gay orgy’ references and all. Really good fun and, with some tidying, could be the next Six. 🎭 🎵 @edfringe.bsky.social #edfringe2025

Figures in extinction - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. A dance in three acts: the extinction of the natural world; the mind and needs of humans; and a requiem for life, time and the dead. A powerful performance and our last at the Festival Theatre. 🎭 #edintfest

The Essence of Audrey - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The life and times of Audrey Hepburn, speaking, playing and singing to the audience. From Holland to Switzerland, via London, Rome and Hollywood. Absolutely fantastic. Our last Fringe show at the Pleasance. 🎭 @edfringe.bsky.social #edfringe2025

Faustus in Africa! - ⭐️⭐️. Puppets demonstrating mankind’s exploitation of Africa. There was potential in the storyline and graphics, but it jumped about too much and the puppets mostly added confusion. The crowd looked relieved by the end. 🎭 #edintfest @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social

One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Two Poe thrillers; one actor. Delighted, finally, to see The Raven live. 🎭 #OneManPoe @edfringe.bsky.social #edfringe2025

Shostakovich’s 5th symphony - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Two Shosta performances at #EdIntFest 2025 and I’ve not been a huge fan. But they get better as you move into them. The highlight was #AbelSelaocoe’s Four Spirits. The full Usher Hall was singing by the end. (18 Aug) 🎻 @auroraorchestra.bsky.social

Fantastic performance of Four Spirits just finished by #AbelSelaocoe - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. He just led the @auroraorchestra.bsky.social - and audience - at the Usher Hall. Tears at this end. #edintfest

Margolyes and Dickens: more best bits - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Enjoyed the readings and story-telling; but it felt a bit of a love-in. (17 Aug) 🎭 @edfringe.bsky.social #edfringe2025

Mary, Queen of Scots - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The story of two Queens, told through the eyes of an ageing / maddening Elizabeth. Tickets now bought for the shows return in October. (17 Aug) 🩰 #EdIntFest

LSO Residency: Puccini’s Suor Angelica - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Clearly an audience favourite, but not so much for me. It would be boring if we were all the same. (16 Aug) 🎻 @londonsymphony.bsky.social #edintfest

Orpheus and Eurydice - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This performance was fantastic: opera, acrobatics, projections, love, loss, delirium, a countertenor, the Furies. All in 80 mins. Excellent. (16 Aug) 🎻 🎭 @SCOmusic @ScottishOpera @OperaAustralia @iestyn_davies #SamanthaClarke @edintfest #EdIntFest #TheTriumphOfLove

Jo Caulfield: bad moon rising - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. My first time seeing Jo on stage; surprisingly, it won’t be my last. Last of five shows today, so heading home now for a cuppa and cake. Day off tomorrow. 🎭 #edfringe2025

Great to see a friend singing today at Rock Choir Live’s sold out performance. 🎶 #edfringe2025 (She was also on top form last night for dinner.)

Fly, you fools - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. A Lord of the Rings parody, by the team that brought Hold on to your Butts (Jurassic Park). I preferred the latter, but this was still really good. Two shows left for today. 🎭 #edfringe2025

Boiler room 6: a Titanic story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Second show of five today and another powerful one-person act. The Titanic story from a below-deck perspective. 🎭 #edfringe2025

Mrs Roosevelt flies to London - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. An incredible story / life, written and performed by Alison Skillbeck. I was gripped for all 75 minutes. Get a ticket if you can. 🎭 #edfringe2025 “We all know what’s going on in the world. So let’s be more Eleanor.”

London Symphony Orchestra Residency: Beethoven & Shostakovich - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. B’s Fifth is one of my favourite’s, so it would have been a great way to finish our anniversary in Edinburgh. Sadly, it was followed by S. But hey-ho. 17 shows done. Shattered! (12 Aug) 🎻 #EdIntFest @londonsymphony.bsky.social

It’s the Glorious Twelfth today - so 14 years since Graeme and I celebrated our civil partnership at Prestonfield House Hotel. We were back there last night for dinner. Then out today for #edfringe and #edintfest. Always my favourite time of year.

Desperate wee gay boy - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Good fun, but not for the feint-hearted. My move to London was a lot less exciting! 🎭 #edfringe2025

Paul Merton and Suki Webster’s Improv Show - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Glad I’ve finally seen PM; and definitely one for the future. 🎭 #edfringe2025

An adequate abridgement of boarding school life as a homo - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. A good start to our four shows today, except for wearing the wrong clothes for a heatwave. Thought-provoking, but funny. And great use of a limited stage. 🎭 #edfringe

NFM Leopoldinum: Bizet’s Carmen Suite - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Back at the Usher Hall, this time for part of #edintfest’s Focus on Poland series. Almost dozed off at one point - in a good way! Carmen was excellent. (10 Aug) 🎻

Works and days - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Dance / drama plotting ‘mankind’ through the ages - the plough, steam, pineapples, robots. It doesn’t (necessarily) end well. (10 Aug) 🎭 @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social #edintfest

Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito - ⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️. Our first opera concert of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival. The second half saved the night. Eleven shows now done: the body’s getting tired, but we’re now off work. 🎻 (9 Aug) #EdIntFest

Paul Sinha: 2 Sinha Lifetime - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I’ve finally seen him and really glad I did. He has quite a dry sense of humour and nothing seems off bounds. One to remember for the future - but maybe not for Graeme. (9 Aug) #edfringe2025 @edfringe.bsky.social

Dance people - ⭐️⭐️⭐️. An immersive dance experience; usually I’d avoid like the plague, but the venue drew me in. It was actually a lot of fun; very different; and we got to dance. But I didn’t get the story. If I had, it would have been four stars. (8 Aug) #EdIntFest

Bruce Liu plays Ravel - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Definite highlight of #EdIntFest so far: Liu was impressive on the piano, but the highlight was Saint-Saens organ symphony. It hit me for six! 🎻 (6 Aug)