Category: Brett Herriot at the Festivals

**** (4 stars)

“Gripping and Taunt”

Award winning Canadian based contemporary arial dance company Corpo imago bring “Imago” to the 2025 festival in a performance that is gripping and taunt as it is capturing and engaging. Directed and Choreographed by Fabrielle Martin and Jeremiah Hughs, both formerly of the acclaimed Cirque Du Soleil, Imago is an exploration of the space between humanity of hanging on letting go between two souls tapped in dark netherworld.

Deploying an original cinematic Score by Nicolas Bernier combined with an expressive and dark lighting design from Sophie Tang this is a tour de force performance from Eowynn Enquist and Isak Enquist whose ariel work captures the audience from off as does their sublime physicality.

Its an engaging 40 minutes of work that takes the physical possibility of the human body to its extremes although for those who are claustrophobic this isn’t the show for you as the darkness envelopes both the performers and the audience and at times feels suffocating but that adds to the overall production that draws the audience in both visually and physically which is a real achievement.

The performance runs at 1pm and makes for transient lunch time treat and as you renter the sun filled light of the city once more it does leave you pondering what you have just watched, and its clear Imago is show that will long in the memory.

For lovers of physical theatre this is a show which will enliven you as much as entertain you and that’s why the company are packing them into the dark recesses of the assembly Roxy so be sure to grab a ticket and explore the realms of physicality yourself! Wonderful Stuff!

Imago, Central at Assembly Roxy Venue 139, for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/imago

**** (4 stars)

“Drag with a tender heart!”

Arriving on the professional Drag circuit branded as “Scotland’s Youngest Drag Queen) Cherry west at just 18 already has a two year long career in drag and even starred in the five-star production of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at the 2025 Fringe. Now Red Berry of Edinburgh brings her own show to the festival in a homage to all things television and delivers an hour long show of Drag with a tender heart.

Cherry takes us on a journey of hope that she may land on Ru Paul’s Drag Race by being inspired by a raft of television talent show which allows an affectionate and comedy driven pastiche of Britain’s Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing and Big Brother to name but a few in a nicely written and performed hour of comedy drag.

Featuring some of Cherry’s self-written songs amongst the pop hits and plenty of audience participation this is a fun show that allows itself a little pathos as Cherry opens up on her journey from Sam Carlin, City School boy to Cherry West a high heel wearing glitter monster of drag passion.

The show is acutely observed if a little self-indulgent but aren’t all Drag Queens the same? Much of the run has played to sold out audiences so its clear that the Red Berry of Edinburgh is here to stay!

Cherry West Aff The Telly is a stand out in its category and allows home grown talent to shine wonderfully well and its clear more shows await the Red Berry in future festivals. For now, grab with return tickets you can, get glammed up and explore Cherry West as she truly gets! Aff The Telly!

Cherry West, Aff The Telly, Live Room at The Three Sisters Venue 272a, for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cherry-west-aff-the-telly

***** (5 stars)

“A blissful hour of musical cabaret”

Big Band Does productions have revived their Guys sing dolls concert format following a successful preview in 2024 at Dirty Martini and the company unite four stunning singers, Scott Coltman, Chris McLeish, Marc Mackinnon and Alistair Robertson drawn from across Scotland who deliver a blissful hour of musical cabaret laced with comedy.

The premise is simple four accomplished singers deliver songs most popularly performed by women to great comedic effect but also deliver moments of pathos driven truth that touches the heart. Especially in the case of McLeish heartfelt rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now. The ballads sit perfectly in a programme that includes up tempo numbers and musical theatre classics including an impressive “Gotta get a gimmick” from the titular “Gypsy”.

Produced and Directed by Coltman and Jonnie Grant, female performers are not totally excluded from the performance thanks to a show stopping guest performance from “Heckler” Pippa Evans who gives an inspired take on Oliver’s reviewing the situation to brilliant comic effect.

The whole show is anchored by stylish piano playing from acclaimed musical director Neil Metcalf in a show that embodies the spirit of late-night cabaret with joyful comedy in a mix that shows the very best of the Fringe spirit.

Guys Sing Dolls as a limited Fringe run with just one more performance scheduled on 14^th August which is sold out but due to overwhelming demand an additional late-night performance has been scheduled for Saturday 23^rd August at 22:30 and would make the perfect finale to a day at the festivals so be sure to grab what remaining tickets there are!

Guys Sing Dolls, Studio at Paradis in Augustines Venue 152, for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/guys-sing-dolls

***** (5 stars)

“Dazzling and Emotional Triumph!”

The annual spectacular of pageantry, Military precision, music, colour and theatricality marks its seventy fifth anniversary with a new Creative Director, Alan Lane taking the helm and he delivers a show which embraces its past and points towards the future with some innovative changes alongside celebrating the Heroes in all over lives in a production that is a dazzling and emotional triumph.

The biggest innovation for this year’s show is the creation of a character called “The Storyteller” performed by acclaimed Scottish actor Terrace Rae. The character is a ghostly apparition of a lone piper from 1950. He tells the story of the history of the Tattoo alongside its impact on those who have shared in the spectacle across the years. There is also a celebration of the Tattoo’s host City as Edinburgh continues to mark its 900 years since its founding. Rae also leads the tributes to Heroes from across the armed, civil and local services spanning the Army to the NHS.

Introduced with a blistering fan fare the production opens with its greatest and most acclaimed element, The Massed Pipes and Drums formed from nine individual bands this is without doubt the iconic sound for which the tattoo is most renowned. Joined by 5 individual bands to form the Massed Military Bands and that iconic sound rings out around the 9000-capacity arena packed with a rapped audience drawn from across the globe.

The Tattoo celebrates its anniversary by inviting some of the very best guest acts to have appeared on the esplanade from across the years with stunning performances from the United States Honor Guard Drill Team, The United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Core. The most beloved of the guest acts from Switzerland, The Top-Secret Drum Corps make a thrilling return to Edinburgh with a display that’s simply awe inspiring.

There are also guest acts making their debut in the Tattoo with The Representative Band of the Polish Border Guard bringing rich cultural flavor to the show. The most emotional tribute to Heroes is the inclusion of the Orchestra of Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Orchestra have specially flown in to participate in the tattoo backed by a stunning visual displayed designed by Kate Dawkins projected onto the half moon battery its an emotional moment, one which isn’t lost on the audience.

Production wise the tattoo remains a timeless statement of grandeur with Adam Bassett’s Lighting design, Scott Willasallen’s Sound Design, Owain White’s Pyrotechnic and SFC design and Rhiannon Matthews Costume Design combining in a flawless display of technical prowess. Special credit must go to the inclusion of drone technology which is being deployed for the first time at the tattoo and brings additional wow factor.

Bringing the 2025 Tattoo to a close is the haunting lament of the Lone Piper high atop the castle ramparts as fireworks crackle and drones float high over head the entire Tattoo cast take there bows before the massed pipes drums lead us in the traditional march out.

As the thrilling, engaging and sense tingling spectacle comes to close its clear the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is in safe hands with a bright future ahead of it! Creative Director Alan Lane has set the bar high for his first year and the thousands of audience members will return in 2026 for the 76^th Tattoo but you might just be lucky to get a last minute ticket for the show of shows at the heart of the festival city in August.

The Heroes Who Made Us–The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2025, Edinburgh Castle for info go to: https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

*** (3 stars)

“Impassioned performances”

Bare a pop inspired song cycle with music by Damon Intrabartolo, Lyrics by John Hartmere and book by Intrabartolo and Hartmere celebrates its 25^th Anniversary in 2025. Telling the story of Peter and Jason two high school students and their friends who attend a Catholic Boarding School. Peter and Jason fall in love and must battle sexuality versus religion alongside the usual mix of teenage angst. It’s a battle that leaves hearts broken and lives forever changed.

Its highly potent material that’s both heartfelt as it is heartbreaking. Local company Edinburgh Little Theatre have revived there 2024 fringe production and moved to the smaller Hill Street theatre in a later evening slot and deliver a show that’s lost some of its sparkle from last year yet still has much potential to offer.

The small 13 strong ensemble work cohesively and deliver performances imbued with truth. Leading the company are Callan Paterson as Jason and Morgan Flannigan as Peter and they are convincing as the love-struck lovers although both need to project more while singing and not rely on the head mics there wearing as there is an in balance between the pre recorded backing tracks and the live vocals. Zoe McRae turns in a wonderful performance soaked in emotional truth as Claire and she captures every moment she is on stage. The same is true of the wonderful Linzi Devers who stepped in at last minute to play Sister Chantelle her vocals are pitch perfect and her comedy laden pathos is a joy to watch.

While the cast work hard there are some directorial choices that don’t work, the fact the part of the “Priest” has been consigned to a pre recorded voice over simply doesn’t work as the ultimate confrontation between sexuality and religion is lost and so is the stories ultimate tale of redemption.

This is a Bare that has impassioned performances a plenty and is engaging but has the potential to be so much more.

Bare – A Pop Opera, Alba Theatre at Braw Venues @ Hill Street, Venue 41, for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bare