Here is my 2nd blog post gathering another set of reviews from shows I have seen. It follows straight on from this selection https://www.chrisgrady.org/blog/edfringe-2025-reviews-blog-1/
ATHENS OF THE NORTH: My time within the Storytelling Centre just gets better and better. Mark Hannah solo play celebrates the people of Edinburgh with beautifully crafted interactions between rich characters skilfully drawn and warmly performed. Congratulations to him and director Fraser Scott and to Harriet from the SSC team who spotted this piece and championed it for the main programme. This actor, writer, storyteller will go far. Cheer him on his journey. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/athens-of-the-north
FLOAT: It is brave to offer an audience a deep personal insight into pregnancy and loss. Indra Wilson chooses to do this through the extended metaphor of preparing for a space mission. I would love, next, to hear this play as a radio drama. The choice of a mass of staging and props distanced me from their autobiographical narrative. I will follow their suggestion and remember more fully the child who tried to join us into the world before our two children. It is a subject rarely discussed because it feels as though all missions must be seen as wholly successful. This monologue allowed many in the audience to find their own personal grief. Indra sought to get us to take time before venturing back into the Fringe. For me that was a very good moment to decide to slip home and not see my next show. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/float
CABIN FEVER: This is 5 star multi role playing comedy drama offered by a new young company from Bristol University. I hope Fresh Ink Theatre Company stay together and continue to write, perform, produce and market further shows. Although I suspect they will have a producer/general manager snapping at their heels. This was a masterclass in character creation and precision transitions. Join the crew & passengers on a transatlantic voyage where truths are revealed and it is very difficult to be a solo traveller. Book a ticket fast…it is rightly on the Sold Out boards. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cabin-fever
1457 THE BOY AT REST: For anyone who wants to understand the most popular styles of Korean musical theatre then this is a finely executed example. Comedy goblins in pantomime style with the audience, leading into a deeply heartfelt tale of love and vengeance and loss. A roaring vocal style from the powerhouse dramatic actors, and soaring ballad singing from the young lovers. For those who might be hoping to develop contemporary musical theatre or theatre with Korean partners as either import or export then understanding these styles much loved by Korean audiences would help. Excellent carefully crafted subtitles coloured to denote each character helped complement high quality period costumes. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/1457-the-boy-at-rest
TALES FROM YOUR QUEER ELDER: Lucia August is a dancer who brings her heart through to meet ours as she explores her narrow pathway through life as a queer lover in the 70s whilst celebrating those who came before, often in secret, to those who are now able, if they choose/society allows, to be out and open. Three contrasting tales touch on lies, loves, loss and eldership. It is wonderful to have her spirit brightening the lives of us in Edinburgh now. Do visit but sit close to the front because floorwork and vocal levels must be challenging from the back. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tales-from-your-queer-elder
LOVE ME LIKE A CHAI TEA LATTE: Sanjay Lago is turning into a storytelling showman inhabiting his power, his joy, his vulnerability. He shares with us stories of the challenge of growing up in a straight unforgiving white bullying world. It was wonderful to share this show with his Aunty Ann who had come across from Glasgow to see him. The love he has for his family, and their love for him shines through. He’s had some awful objectifying dates. I hope he finds many cuddling loving boyfriends in his life. Maybe ‘the one’ is in the audience this festival. If you do take him out on a date please treat him with loving care. If you do want to see an artist who will fill bigger and bigger theatres, I hope, then grab a ticket now. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/love-me-like-a-chai-tea-latte
WORKS AND DAYS: Today was our first Edinburgh International Festival show with the FC Bergman collective from Antwerp playing at the Lyceum Theatre. By the time you read this they will be heading home, as happens with so many EIF shows. This was technically and physically demanding on the performers and the whole creative team. It explored the yearly cycle of the earth through the four seasons, and the ever-changing technological shifts on farming and life. They built a house. Smashed up the stage. Were showered in pieces of wood. And through all this tried to connect with the challenges of living in this world. As a feat of physical fitness the cast are amazing. But so busy building, stamping, throwing and witnessing new technology, that I found it very difficult to find the heart and feel any emotional connection. There were beautiful visual images and I’m glad I saw it, but I always find endurance theatre (my term not theirs) distancing. https://www.eif.co.uk/events/works-and-days
Have a great Week 2 of the Fringe. Over the years I have offered workshops for the EdFringe Society on taking shows forward, and focussing on attracting the key audience/guests new companies need now. I have attended loads of EdFringe Society Marketplaces. This year I keep finding the Arts Industry Office of EdFringe Society closed – not open Sundays, not open after 5pm. And no details have come through for the Marketplace/ So I am a lanyard free soul attracting flyers without the blue ribbon protection. That’s rather fun. In Week 3 I will try and catch some of the shows I have been pitched to. I continue to offer workshops to Space Venues companies, but EdFringe Society seems to have reduced its programme of artist workshops greatly – or at least it is passing me by. I am now off to the fair city centre to meet a Free Fringe company I saw on their first day, see how they are doing, and hopefully give them some thoughts on audience and promoter promotion.