What do a writer famed for the creating perhaps the world's best known detective, and a magician most known for his daring escapology have in common? The answer? Spiritualism. But there is one major difference. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a believer, pining his hopes on mediums to reconnect him with his deceased son. Harry Houdini was a debunker, horrified by the rise in fake spiritualists playing on the emotions of grievers. He spent the later years of his life exposing liars

Years ago, libraries acted as community hubs, abuzz with activities and much loved by their visitors. Now, for the most part, they are lonely long forgotten relics of time gone by plodding along and clinging to life as the modern world moves on without them. And this idea forms the premise of The Librarians A Very Serious Comedy written by Matthew Howell and Jack Michael Stacey, a brand new show from A. Cabbage Presents, fresh off the back of their previous fringe success Sp

In a festival that sees magicians performing daring feats, grand illusions and disappearing acts, you would think it would be difficult for a magician to keep the attention of his audience for a hour with little more than a pack of cards as his tools of the trade, but Andrew Frost does exactly that all with a cheeky glint in his eye and friendly demeanour that welcomes everyone in. Andrew Frost has become a firm favourite of the fringe over recent years and now calling the Pl

Take a walk down the road between George square gardens and bristo square and I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear something along the lines of ‘improv comedy tonight’ and ‘do you like improv’ maybe every five paces. Therefore, an improvised comedy troupe needs to stand out from the crowd, needs to present something different to lure in an audience, and this is something that Austentatious has down to a fine art. A big name of the Edinburgh Fringe, calling the majes

Flighty - ‘someone who is silly, irresponsible, and not serious’. That is how Philomena McGuinness is described, and the way in which she has been described since birth. With her cheeky smile, bright eyes and determination to state that she is, in fact, a poet despite having never written a thing, Philomena never pictured herself as a nurse. But that is exactly what she becomes, moving from Dublin to London, helping her patients and moving from hospital to hospital throughout

Four princesses, Piper, Carmella, Faye and Holly, are locked in a tower by their overprotective father taught to fear the outside world and focus instead on their rigorous academic training. Their bright young minds yearn for something more beyond the palace walls, and when astrology lover Piper (Akshara Gunda) wishes to see a once in a life time comet, the sisters make their escape only to discover that their wishes, desires, loves and quirks may not be accepted beyond the

Picture the scene, you’re walking towards the doors of a large purple inflatable upside down cow and a pastor decked out in gold, with silver heels and a sparkling beard is dapping glitter upon your cheeks with a broad and welcoming grin. It sounds like the start of a strange dream but this is reality, this is the Edinburgh Fringe and this is The House of Life, the enlightening experience that will guide you towards new heights of happiness. Now on its third year at the fring

We are used to fairy tales wrapping up with the big white wedding, the smiles and the happily ever after, but have you ever given any thought to what happens next to the people left behind? But, here we are with Apparently Ugly, a musical for families and fairy tale fans. Cinderella is married now, away from the home where she was the servant, and left her stepsisters, Agnes and Olga bickering over the brides bouquet. What are they to do now that their sister is gone, especia

A man wearing a giant papier mâché head stumbles through the crowded audience desperately trying to find his mates in order to hand over his mate, he’s overexcited, so much so that if he had a tail he’d be wagging it, drinks going everywhere and no one seems to mind. This is Spencer Jones: Dogs, and it’s his chaotic exciting world and we’ve just fallen into it hook, line and sinker. Surrounded by puppets, masks, paintings and an hilariously scruffy remote control dog that may

Darcy O’Shea is an octogenarian, who has lived a full and interesting life of ups and downs, career changes and love, both found and lost, whilst Maddie is in her thirties not quite sure where her life is headed as she tries to build a career as a writer and embrace that whole new year new me mentality. Their paths cross when Maddie joins Run Relate, where exercise meets elderly community support. But Darcy doesn’t want any help. Nevertheless, an odd but beautiful little frie

Ben Stone is a detective inspector, praised, celebrated, young and at the top of his game. But he’s ready to leave it all behind, much to the shock of his friends and family. As they gather for his murder mystery themed 25th birthday party, the candles are not the only things getting snuffed out. Ben suspects that someone in his circle is lying, and plots to stage his own murder to find the foe, but a black out, a brief moment, and Ben is dead for real in the chair. The third

Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Mulan, Moana, Aurora, Anna and Elsa. All princesses who have had their story told, their songs heard and their happily ever afters granted. But what about the princes? Or, in particular, Prince Charming, left to be a side character with barely any voice and barely any chance of ever being listened too? Well, this Prince Charming has had enough of that nonsense and he’s taking matters into his own hands, with the help of a magical genie of the lamp. G

Did you know that you can travel from London to Patagonia by train? No? Well neither did the cast of Pinch Punch Impro’s Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit. Based entirely on suggestions by the excited and more than happy to be involved audience, the five person cast improvise a thrilling murder mystery full of twists and turns where even they don’t know whodunnit until the the big reveal. You only have to walk a few paces over the cobbles to find a band of impro

I was invited to review this production on behalf of Musical Theatre Review. Thirty years on from its European premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, the iconic Fame returns to the West Country venue in a brand-new production that transports audiences to the gritty, rundown, New York High School of Performing Arts (PA) where young hopefuls dream of success and fame. Read the full review here https://musicaltheatrereview.com/fame-the-musical-theatre-royal-plymouth/

‘But I feel what’s to happen all happened before’. It was 1964 when Dick Van Dyke sung those famous lines as Bert the chimney sweep. 54 years later, that line could have been applied the long awaited, and perhaps massively overdue 2018 sequel Mary Poppins Returns. A new story with familiar characters and elements we all loved in the original as we return to Cherry Tree Lane with the magical, wonderful nanny. Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) is all grown up, with three young childr

In the Deep Dark Wood, a fairy tale baddie lives with his villainous cronies. But their days are not spent hiding in the shadows, no, instead this Big Bad Wolf is rocking out and enjoying life far away from the goody-goody townsfolk. And if you want to learn what really happened to Little Red Riding Hood and know whether or not the Three Little Pigs went on to have thriving careers in techno music, then you need to join The Plandits in the Actors Church, Covent Garden to see

Walking with their heads held high in knee high boots, spandex and rhinestones, one musical has strutted its way across London's glittering West End, spending time at three different theatres, over 27 years. Mamma Mia! jumped from the Prince Edward, to the Prince of Wales and now to Novello, and as of 2024, became the fifth longest running show in West End History. Its lasting appeal continues to pull in the crowds, all delighted to enjoy the light-hearted fun, the fabulous c

Oh, the ordinary life of Buck Creek, wooden cabin village in the shadows of the Smokey mountains, all harvest moon celebrations, couples chosen and promised to each other by their parents and there’s silver in them there mountains. Quaint, simple, and oozing with superstition. There’s a rumour of strange magical beings in the mountains, and a story from long ago of a mountain man with magic and exceptional guitar skills coming into town. Barbara Allen (Lauren Jones) doesn’t w

The story of little orphan Annie is one that many of us have grown up with and if you are of a similar age to me (1995 babies raise your hand), the 1999 film adaptation by Disney may have been your first introduction to the famously optimistic little redhead. Personally, I remember watching this a lot as a kid. Annie, played by Alicia Morton, is determined to find her parents and get away from the horrible orphanage she currently calls home. When she is incited to spend Chris

Do you remember the days of being a teenager when music and the pop area you loved meant so much more than you could ever imagine now? Do you remember rushing home to watch Top of the Pops, or turning up the volume in attempt to block out everything that is happening around you? Do you remember the friendships built on that adoration of that one band you loved more than anything? That was Rachel, Claire, Debbie, Heather and Zoe, and their love of The Boys, with Greatest Days