Category: Brett Herriot at the Festivals

***** (5 stars)

“a sparkling jewel of the Fringe!”

The multi five star and Bobby award winning hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe returns for the 2025 Festival following a sold-out tour and retains its five-star status taking up residence at the Friesian venue in the basement of the McEwan Hall as part of Underbelly at Bristo Square could not be a more fitting venue.

Written by Ned Blackburn and directed by Meg Bowron & Josh Stainer it sees Blackburn returning to the role of Johnny a conflicted 18-year-old student at an all-boys school somewhere in middle England where academic excellence and rugby are the order of the day. The problem is Johnny is gay and more than happy with it and seeks to explore his sexuality while constrained by the rotten and aft dark masculinity around him.

Enter Harry (Harvey Weed who excels at playing every other character in the play) who is everything a private school boy in his prime should be except Harry and Johnny have sex any chance they get and despite numerous same sex sexual partners Harry isn’t gay or so he says! What follows isn’t so much a coming-of-age story but a reflection of one mans journey through life and self-discovery as Johnny grapples with Grindr, masculinity acceptance of queerness in spite of being forced to live in an institution that’s dripping in shame and has left a generation of gay men to pick up the pieces in later life.

Both Ned Blackburn and Harvey Weed turn in flawless performances in a tightly directed and engaging semi biographical hour of dark drama laced with comedy to captures the audience from the moment the curtain rises. The real quality is in the writing it truly feels as if Blackburn has borne his soul and creatively, we are all the better for it.

An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo is a sparkling jewel of the Fringe and it remains as resonant to its audiences today as it ever has, taunt, funny, emotional and searingly honest this is unmissable theatre at its best.

An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo, Friesian at Underbelly, Bristo Square, Venue 302for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/an-adequate-abridgement-of-boarding-school-life-as-a-homo

***** (5 stars)

“The Musical Event of the 2025 Festival!”

Debuting in 2017, Come from Away with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein has redefined the genre for biographical musicals and would go on to win both Tony and Olivier Awards alongside runs in both London’s west end at the Pheonix Theatre and at the Gerald Schonfeld Theatre on Broadway. Now the show comes to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time produced by Captivate Theatre who deliver a production that truly is the musical event of the 2025 Festival.

Telling the story of the very real events in Gander, Newfoundland during the week following the September 11^th attacks when 38 planes carrying over 7000 passengers were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The show takes us into the lives of the residents who rallied to the call and of the stranded travelers they housed and fed.

Its an emotional and truthful exploration of the human condition and humanities ability to transcend tragedy and still find hope and Captivate’s outstanding fourteen strong ensemble company and six strong house band deliver a production that sores into the heart and lingers long in the memory for its emotional honesty and beguiling performances.

There are no weak links in the performers on stage who deliver triumphant performances throughout as they bring to life a myriad of characters on incredibly emotional journeys finding laugher and emotional truths in equal measure. Vocals are peerless thanks to Musical Director Fraser Hume crafting simply beautiful harmonies and vocal performances that are as west end worthy as any to be seen across this year’s festivals.

Director Sally Lyall assisted by Mairi Cross has delivered a stripped back production that doesn’t rely on glitzy stage sets or special effects but instead puts the heart of the story on the performances and these are performances that beguile, capture and touch the heart of the audience in equal measure.

It would be wrong to single out a single performer for praise as this company truly work as one ensemble and everyone gives a performance that comes from the soul and that’s what has ensured that the entire run of Come from Away is playing to packed full houses.

Captivates Come from Away is quite rightly the golden ticket of this year’s Fringe and a sparkling example of what excellent creative theatre making is all about, if you don’t leave the Bijou emotional with a tear then there must be something radically wrong with you! This is the most unforgettable of shows and lets just hope the company return to the 2026 Festival with another run of this smash hit musical! Nothing comes close to matching it, wonderful stuff indeed.

Come From Away, Bijou at Assembly Rooms Venue 20 for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/come-from-away

**** (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