Wee reminder about our recent callout! 👇 ⏰ Deadline: Friday 21st November @ 5pm.

I enjoyed @kevinpgilday.bsky.social's Gravity at Òran Mór, today. I particularly liked the strong performances from Paul Gorman as a young man who refuses to leave his flat in a condemned tower block, and Elaine Stirrat as the social worker tasked with encouraging him to move to a new home.

Going across to Glasgow today to meet a producer/friend & take in this week's @playpiepint.bsky.social production, Gravity by @kevinpgilday.bsky.social, described as 'A heartfelt and authentic Glaswegian drama about living with the ghosts of the past and the redemptive power of unlikely connections'

I'll be @cabaretvoltaire.bsky.social this evening to see Scottish singer / musician, Siobhan Wilson.

I enjoyed Shotput Theatre's production of Enda Walsh's Arlington @traversetheatre.bsky.social last night. It is a fascinating piece of theatre with an absorbing script, an intriguing set design and great performances from two actors and a dancer, but I'm still not sure what it was all about???

I'll be @traversetheatre.bsky.social this evening to see Enda Walsh's Arlington, described as 'a dark fable of surveillance, connection, and the power of imagination'. I'm not familiar with this writer's work, but I'm looking forward to it!

There was a lot to like in @dundeerep.bsky.social's Production of Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie' @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social yesterday, particularly the excellent performances from the cast, the set design and the poetic language, but for some reason it didn't quite hit home for me.

I'll be heading through to Edinburgh this afternoon for @dundeerep.bsky.social's production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, directed by Andrew Panton.

I was sorry to hear this morning of the passing of Scottish folk music legend, Archie Fisher. I met him a few times in the late 1980s/early 1990s when he was Director of the Edinburgh Folk Festival and I was a voluntary steward. He was always courteous and respectful towards to everybody he met.

I really enjoyed Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey @traversetheatre.bsky.social last night. A fascinating and moving tale of some of the thousands of Scots wo emigrated to Canada by boat in the 1920s, performed through music, spoken word and visuals by seven acclaimed musicians and singers.

I'll be @traversetheatre.bsky.social this evening to see Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey by Liza Mulholland and Donald S Murray, looking at the lives of some of the Scots who migrated to Canada in the 1920s. This has resonances for me as my parents left Scotland for Canada just after World War 2.

I loved Float when I saw it at the Edinburgh Fringe in August and now want to give Londoners an opportunity to see this witty, and moving play in December. Help get FLOAT to London! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-get-f...

I'll be back @traversetheatre.bsky.social today for the last of their current @playpiepint.bsky.social season, Righ Iasgair: The Fisher King, written by @kennyboyleofficial.bsky.social and directed by @lanapheutan.bsky.social. I'm looking forward to a spooky story, grounded in the Hebrides.

Loved Kathryn Tickell, accompanied by The Darkening @traversetheatre.bsky.social this evening. I haven't seen her perform for around 30 years so I bought her 40th Anniversary CD to help me catch up! I'll try not to wait another 30 years to see her again!

Such a great opportunity for an artist based in Scotland!

I'm @traversetheatre.bsky.social this evening to see Kathryn Tickell for the first time In about 30 years. I saw her many times in the 1980s/90s and always appreciated her brilliance on the Northumbrian pipes, before my arts focus switched from folk music to theatre in the 1990s.

A stage adaptation of Ron Ferguson’s cult classic football book Black Diamonds and The Blue Brazil will run at Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre next year, with music by Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross 👇

Do you want to find out how you can turn speech into a visual mind map? Join us on Wednesday 12th November to see ivvi Notes in action. Register to join live or catch up later on demand at  bit.ly/webinar121125 #FreeWebinarWed

Does anyone have any idea how ticket sales are currently doing for events across the country? Are people struggling to sell event tickets? Is it the time of year? Is it cost of living?

Really enjoyed 'The Seagull' @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social this afternoon. Great to see a large cast, with so many great stalwarts of Scottish theatre, e.g. John Bett, Forbes Masson, Steven McNicoll, Irene Allan, combining comedy and tragedy. Particularly liked Colin Richmond's set design.

I'll be @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social this afternoon to see their new production of Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull', directed by their new artistic director, James Brining. It will be good to see Caroline Quentin leading a large cast for this play.

I enjoyed Maybe Tomorrow @traversetheatre.bsky.social, with Liz Ewing as an ageing actress looking back longingly to playing Annie in her youth. Julia Murray provided excellent support through multiple roles and lots of quick changes. Both performers showed their musical skills throughout the show.

I'll be @traversetheatre.bsky.social at lunchtime today for this week's @playpiepint.bsky.social production, Maybe Tomorrow by the very talented combination of Hannah Jarrett Scott and Brian James O'Sullivan. I'm looking forward to "a hilarious new musical about a faded starlet" Should be fun!

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.

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!

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.

★★★★ 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.

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.

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.

My Edinburgh Festival Fringe 'Top Ten', 2025. Float by F-Bomb Theatre (Gilded Balloon) Beautifully written and staged piece of storytelling by Indra Wilson about a teenage girl whose dreams of becoming an astronaut are shattered when she becomes pregnant, and eventually loses the baby. 1/10

My summary of attendance at this year's Edinburgh Festivals: Fringe - Attended 50 shows, had a ticket for a further 5. Book Fest - Attended 9 events, had a ticket for a further 2. International Fest - Had ticket for, and attended 6 performances. Coming next, my 'Top 10' fringe shows of 2025.

After a random conversation in a queue last week, I decided to take in one last @edfringe.bsky.social show today - 'The Strongest Girl in the World' by Dark Skies Ensemble / Forgotten Ones. It was an enjoyable piece about a teenage girl losing her father to cancer while she was in summer camp.

I captured some photos of the setting sun on the outskirts of Dunbar earlier this evening.

Amy Rodgers' Jumper Bumps @gildedballoon.bsky.social is a very enjoyable piece in which flatmates Eris (Rodger) and Atlanta (Katrin Allen) face challenges to their friendship when Eris becomes pregnant by her controlling boyfriend, named 'Dickhead' by Atlanta.

I really enjoyed the latest incarnation of @rsbr.bsky.social's Lost Girls / At Bus Stops at Assembly - The Box. Iona (Leyla Aycan) and Jess (Catriona Faint) first met at bus stop during the Fringe and continue to meet every August to explore the Fringe and to further develop their relationship.

In some ways Emergency Chorus' Untapped Award Winner, 'Ways of Knowing' resembles an early Fringe production, with scenes involving giant locusts, a strange rhythmic dance, a dark cave, a babble of economic theories and more bringing a mixture of bafflement and weird fascination.

I loved Maybe You Like It's 'Down to Chance' @pleasance.co.uk, Courtyard, portraying the impact of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake of 1964, through the broadcasting skills of Genie Chance (Ellie Jay Cooper) and her assistant played by Robert Merriam in a beautifully frantic piece of storytelling.

'Lost Lear', written and directed by Dan Colley is a superb re-imagining of King Lear as an elderly woman with dementia, brilliantly represented by Venetia Bowe (and a puppet), who draws on distant memory fragments of a production of Shakespeare's play with which she had been involved.