Tag Archives: Edinburgh

Review: Penelope by Enda Walsh (Druid Theatre Company)

  By Allan | August 14, 2010 - 6:09 pm | The Arts, Theatre
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Enda Walsh’s Penelope is a captivating hybrid of Greek myth and Irish characterisation. It appears to be baking under an Ithacan sun, but its characters have voices soaked in the grey of more northerly isles and names that underscore that origin. It’s not the first example of an Hibernian cowl worn over the shape of antiquity: James Joyce’s Ulysses is the most prominent one but Marina Carr, Macnas and Barrabas have also toyed with the trope in recent years. Penelope’s collision of anachronistic elements is a back story to The Odyssey: four suitors (Niall Buggy, Denis Conway, Tadhg Murphy and Karl Shiels) vie for the hand of Odysseus’ wife (Olga Wehrly) before his prophesied return, and their destruction at his hand. They reside at the bottom of a bloodstained swimming pool, listlessly discussing the taste of heat, and heat has them stripped to togs and gowns. The set, as one … There’s more →

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Preview

  By ekilko | July 26, 2010 - 10:11 am | Featured Post, The Culch
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Last year I did some posts from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and this year in an aim to get ahead of myself this is the list of shows I am looking forward to seeing this August. I’ve inserted links to the show details where possible. The Vaudevillians, The Sun Also Rises, Assembly 30th Anniversary, Jimmy Carr, Divine Comedy, Adam Hills, Andrew Maxwell, Andy Zaltmen, Axis of Awesome, BBC Comedy, Betrayal of Penguins, Bo Burham, David O’Dotherty, Dead Cat Bounce, Des Bishop, Foil Arms and Hog, GB 25th, Jarlath Regan, Jason Byrne, Maxwell Fullmooners, Newsrevue, Paul Merton, Penny Dreadfuls, Political Animal, Stand Up for Freedom, Two Episodes of Mash, Wittank, Duke Special, Eels, Magnets, Modest Mouse, Fame, Hairspray, Spring Awaking, The Author, Flesh and Blood, Freefall, Girl Yellow Dress, Breakfast @Traverse, Daniel Kitson, Ladder and Moon, La Locandiera, My Romantic Histrory, Newsrome, The Not So Fatal Death of Grandpa Fredo, While … There’s more →

Edinburgh Fringe Reviews Week 2

  By ekilko | August 19, 2009 - 1:28 pm | Comedy, The Culch, Theatre
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Week Two and there is shows coming and going with lots more to see! This week at the Traverse we have welcomed three new shows. We say goodbye to three of the easier shows and hello to The Doubtful Guest, A Life In Three Acts and If That’s All There Is. The crew were just finding our rhythm in the turnarounds and now this will tip this slightly but we will press on. However the most important arrival or creation is that of our gaff ball. All discarded gaff tape for the last week is being put together to create a gaff ball/man! One reason to see the Betrayal of Penguins is that you can say you saw John Gallagher and Matt Smyth’s first show. (To be correct it’s the second but the first stand up!) so you can brag to your friends when they become really big ala arcade … There’s more →

Edinburgh Fringe Reviews Week 1 Part 2

  By ekilko | August 14, 2009 - 4:48 pm | Comedy, Comics, Featured Post, The Arts, The Culch, Theatre
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In this blog I will be looking at Seawall, Luck, Foil Arms and Hog, Stefan Goalaszewiski, Des Bishop, Rich Hall, Sammy J and Les Infant Terrible. Two pieces of advice for anyone coming over – bring a jacket and book your shows as things are selling out! Also the awards have started. The Trav have one 4 so far including a fringe first for Orphans and Internal. This weekend some of the shows leave and new ones arrive which means the turnaround rhythm that we had will be disrupted! Seawall is a thirty minute show at the traverse that will enthrall. I had seen Simon Stephens’ work last year and clearly he has skill with the monologue, a kin to McPherson. Irishman, Andrew Scott performs this one man piece about his relationship with his father in law, his family and god. Scott has you hanging on his words only to … There’s more →

Culch.ie’s Edinburgh Fringe Guide

  By Sinead Keogh | July 29, 2009 - 12:08 pm | Comedy, Featured Post, Performance Art, The Arts, Theatre
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In his first guest post for Culch.ie, EOIN KILKENNY, Edinburgh Fringe veteran (and working at it this year *jealous*), offers some indispensable advice on where to go and what to see. Warning: this post will make you wish you were in Scotland. With over 2500 shows and events in one city, the place to be this August is Edinburgh. And with the world’s best comedy and theatre on display, in over 250 venues, just an hour away there is no reason not to go. Having been to the fringe for the last 5 years I know that there is absolutely something for everyone and for any length of stay. I’m going to take a brief look as some of the Irish artists on display as well as some recommendations on what to do. Irish Theatre Luck From the company that just finished “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”, Making Strange … There’s more →