Category: Brett Herriot at the Festivals

***** (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

**** (4 stars)

“Eternally popular”

Over quarter of a century ago Gandey productions brought a collection of Lady Boys to Edinburgh for the first time, to showcase a cabaret spectacular. For twenty five years the lady’s have gone from strength to strength and have become for so many an annual summer tradition.

Their Sabai Pavilion has once again pitched up outside the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Lothian Road and despite being affected by the recent storm the Boys are back in action and deliver a show filled with classic hits that rely totally on its original format of the Lady Boys accompanied by its resident drag queen as the blast through tributes from the Rocky Horror show, 80s and 90s pop hits and of course Tina Turner and the cherry on the cake is of course the annual finale in a loving homage to all things Scotland.

The Lady Boys remain eternally popular and draw huge crowds especially those on Stag and Hen nights alongside those starting out there night out the town with this glamourous and glitter packed cabaret so expect lots of noise from both the Boys and the audience alike!

There were issues with the sound on the evening of review its simply not loud enough, perhaps that’s due to the Pavilion location outside a hotel but given how loud the audience were through out the show the sound from the stage needs to match that.

There will always be questions over the ethics of what we are watching but the Lady Boys perform with clear talent and enthusiasm for what they do, and the Fringe wouldn’t feel the same without them and given how they are packing them into the Pavilion shows how beloved they are. A true corner stone of the festival.

The Lady Boys of Bangkok – Glow Up Tour, Sabai Pavilion, Venue 189 for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-lady-boys-of-bangkok-glow-up-tour

***** 5 Stars

“The Beating Heart of The Fringe! “

For three brief years spanning 1969 to 1972 a psychedelic transgender theatre group pushed the boundaries of the world around them and others as the acclaimed “Cockettes” made a life changing impact on their generation and the generations to come with there passion for creating theatre which spoke to them as humans and indulged their eclectic sense of dress that blurred the lines between gender and sexuality. It also inspired and made stars of Devine and Sylvester!

It’s a period of our collective lgbtqia+ journey that’s often forgotten, and the Fringe has always been a home for throwing light on both forgotten stories and people. That what makes Midnight at the palace such a capturing performance. Playing its night slot at the top of Gilded Balloon’s patter house on Chamber Street this an hour of decadence, glitter and truth from a talented cast that engage the audience from the moment the curtain rises.

With music and lyrics by Brandon James Gwinn, book by Rae Binstock and directed and choregraphed by Paul McGill Midnight at the Palace feels very much a work in development but is already fully rounded with a storyline that captures the essence of the original Cockettes while telling their story with a clear focus.

Performances across the board are excellent from the stellar 8 strong ensemble cast special mention must go Gregory Haney as “Sylvester” perhaps the best known of those who emerged from the cockettes legacy his timing, vocals and presence are flawless. Andrew Horton as “Hibiscus” brings a striking physicality to the role that is every inch real and takes the audience behind the make up and sparkle to reveal the truth and often the price paid for choices made.

Midnight at the Palace is not a history lesson but a musical which pays tribute to those giants we stand on the shoulders of today and brings into view America in its most transitional time period. It’s truly the beating heart of the Fringe! This is a show which is a worthy glittering addition to any festival diary!

Midnight at the Palace, Big Yin at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24) more info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/midnight-at-the-palace

**** 4 Stars

“A Spirited Show “

Edinburgh Music Theatre continue there now traditional Fringe season of shows under the banner of “Anthems” with a reworking of their formula and present “Award Winners” at there festival home of Edinburgh New Town Church on George Street.

Instead of two different shows across an evening the company have developed a 2-act concert review the celebrates music from across the musical universe and even a couple of film songs slip in too. The only criteria is each song comes from either an Olivier, Tony or Oscar Winning score.

The thirty-three strong company back by an excellent three-piece house band under the direction of musical director Colin Grant deliver a spirted show filled with impassioned performances that blend lush vocal harmonies, snappy choreography from Ashleigh Le Cras in a show that really does deliver well.

Highlights include Wait for me from the acclaimed Hadestown, Skyfall from the bond movie of the same name and a blistering tribute to Six The musical all six ladies deliver blistering vocals in a number that’s the true high light of the show.

The company are clever in making musical choices across the 25 strong set list that defy expectations including performing Hail Holy Queen from the motion picture of Sister Act as opposed to the more modern musical adaptation. Also including Shallow from the 2017 motion picture of A Star is Born gives depth to the overall programme and adds real sparkle to a show which brings joyous fun to its audiences.

With a short three night run its worth catching this fun little show while you can! A really good end to any fringe day!

Anthems: Award Winners, Edinburgh New Town Church (Venue 111) For more info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/anthems-award-winners