Edinburgh News

Ivo Pogorelich Review

Ivo Pogorelich excites debate and controversy today as much as he did in 1980 at the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition when Martha Argerich left the jury in protest when the young Croatian pianist was eliminated in the 3rd round. She described him then as a genius. Purists may disagree.

Michael Clark New Work Review

Walking down to my seat in the front stalls, I quickly see that the Playhouse is packed up to the Gods.

Afterplay Review

Afterplay, written by Brian Friel, is most unusual in that he has taken characters from two familiar Chekhov plays and created a scenario in which these two strangers strike up a conversation in a Russian café.

Winners of Edinburgh International Festival Fringe Prize 2009 announced

Three of the "most innovative theatre makers" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year were announced as winners of the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe Prize 2009 today. The three are The River People, David Leddy (pictured), and Inspector Sands.

Homecoming at Henderson’s Review

At any other time of the year it would have looked an odd sight - a snake of folk in Thistle Street carrying champagne flutes, trouping into Henderson's Restaurant.

Cowgate Cartoon Music Show Review

Although not listed in the Fringe programme, the Cowgate Cartoon music show makes perfect Fringe entertainment. Run by Will Pickvance, in the intimate atmosphere of the Underground Café in the Cowgate, each night is a different line-up of musicians and poets. And it's all free (a bucket is passed around).

Edinburgh Book Festival: Douglas Coupland

Generation X author Douglas Coupland was last in Scotland for the Edinburgh Book Festival in 2004, and this time he was back sporting a greyish beard and a new novel titled Generation A, as well as his trademark ironic, yet incredibly sincere and honest, sparkle in his eyes.

Baroque and Classical Masterworks Review

The nineteen strong choir of St Andrew’s and St George’s under its director, Brigitte Harris, included four soloists for a delightful lunch time concert playing three pieces, by Handel, Haydn and Mozart.

Edinburgh Book Festival: Susie Orbach

In 1978 Susie Orbach, a psychotherapist, wrote her first book "Fat is a Feminist Issue," (FIFI), a self help guide to losing weight without dieting. Thirty years later, our society in the western world appears to be divided into the overweight and obese contrasting with the compulsive need for young girls to be size zero.

Choral Matins at St John's Review

Over the years Anglicans have become used to a weekly diet of Choral Eucharist which bit by bit has replaced Choral Matins. So the 9.30am service at the Church of St John the Evangelist, the only church on Princes Street, brought back happy memories.

The Yalta Game Review

Brian Friel's play, The Yalta Game, is based on a short story by Anton Chekhov, The Lady with the Lapdog, that tells of a holiday affair between an older married man and a young married woman while they are both on holiday alone.

Pip Utton Retrospective: Chaplin Review

It's not yet 3am on Christmas morning, 1977 - everyone is still sleeping. We are about to share Charlie Chaplin's last hour.

As he take us through his life and work we will discover that the cult of celebrity is nothing new. It's a rags to riches story

Edinburgh Book Festival: Beyond Devolution; Celebrating Scotland

Ruth Wishart is undoubtedly A Good Thing (to borrow Sellers and Yeatman's phrase of approval), and it was certainly a good thing she was Chair of the lively debate that led on from the observations of Henry McLeish, Tom Brown,

Year Of The Horse Review

It is unfortunate that the life and work of political cartoonist, and man of many other talents, Harry Horse is overshadowed by the horrific circumstances surrounding his death in January 2007. Perhaps this is why Tam Dean Burn takes the unusual step of providing an introduction to this evening, softly informing us that the visual backdrop will display the cartoons Horse supplied to the Sunday Herald in the two years prior to the bodies of he and his wife being discovered at their home on West Burra.

Bitter Kiss Goodnight Review

I walked into the darkened theatre. The atmosphere hit me like a slug from a .45. I dropped into my seat. OK, bring on the action.

The play takes as its starting point the screening of Orson Welles' 1958 film A Touch of Evil

Ivo Graham Wins So You Think You're Funny? Award

The Winner of long-running Fringe comedy newcomer's award So You Think You're Funny? 2009 is 18 year old, Eton-educated Ivo Graham.

The Miser Review

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of seeing a French production of Molière's play Le Malade Imaginaire by the Paris company Ecla Théâtre. It was done in period, and was updated linguistically to encompass modern vernacular French.

Queer Review

This comedy drama about a Fringe theatre company is actually based on real events which took place during the Edinburgh Festival each August between 2005 to 2008. A programme giving plot storyline and cast list is available (so do ask for one as they are not readily offered) which may prove invaluable.