Latest news with #EdinburghFringe
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
A new voice rises on the farm: Sam Blythe takes the reins in Animal Farm
Guy Masterson's legendary solo show returns to Edinburgh Fringe for its 30th anniversary – with a bold new lead Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This summer at 13.00 at George Square Studio Four at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a barnyard revolution will be stirring once more. To mark 80 years since the publication of George Orwell's Animal Farm, and three decades since its world-famous solo adaptation first took the Fringe by storm, Guy Masterson's powerhouse production returns – this time with a new name on the bill. Actor Sam Blythe takes the mantle in a stirring reimagining of this theatrical classic, directed by Masterson himself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad First performed by Masterson in 1995 and now a global touchstone of solo performance, Animal Farm has long been lauded for its visceral intensity and political bite. Now, Blythe brings his own formidable energy and physicality to Orwell's iconic cast of creatures, from the idealistic Snowball to the tyrannical Napoleon, the noble Boxer to the cunning Squealer – not to mention the sheep, hens, ducks, dogs, and even the cats. Sam Blythe in Animal Farm 'Animal magic! Not to be missed!' hailed BBC Radio, while The Times famously quipped, 'Some shows are more equal than others!' And critics agree – this new incarnation is every bit as electrifying as the original. Masterson, an Olivier Award-winner and Fringe stalwart whose solo work includes Under Milk Wood, Shylock, and A Christmas Carol, remains at the helm as director. But it's Blythe's turn in the spotlight – and he rises to the challenge with grace, grit, and a compelling stage presence honed through immersive work in Peaky Blinders: The Rise, Doctor Who: Time Fracture, and the Dickensian feast show The Great Christmas Feast. His solo Hamlet, Method In My Madness, debuted to critical acclaim at EdFringe 2024 and returns this year as a festival favourite (10:40, George Square Studio 4). With Animal Farm, Blythe transforms a bare stage into Orwell's chillingly familiar world – a world where the promises of revolution curdle into tyranny, and where the line between human and beast blurs under the weight of power. His performance is a tour de force of physical theatre, conjuring a full cast of characters with nothing but voice, movement, and sheer conviction. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the show's 30th anniversary underscores the timeless urgency of Orwell's allegory, Animal Farm in 2025 is not just a revival – it's a reckoning. 'I mean,' asks the play with a wink and a warning, 'it could never happen to us… could it?'
Scotsman
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The UK's only female stand-up rapper makes her fringe debut with 'Forget Me Not'
Described by Angela Barnes as a 'star in the making,' Amelia Hamilton (BBC New Comedy Awards Nominee 2024) invites you to party at the end of the world from July 30 to August 24 at Pleasance Courtyard - The Attic at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - but first she needs to do the dishes at her parents' house … Where she lives. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Amelia's generation was told they can be anything that they wanted to be, and she was told that one day she would grow up and have a family - she just didn't realise it would be the same one again. No wonder she is contemplating the end of all things. Now self-identifying as a woman in STEM, Amelia, your new best friend and the UK's only female rap comedian (that she knows of), wonders if - like they say - everything will burn in the final days. God must have left his straighteners on too, right? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With that in mind, Forget Me Not, set to an original soundtrack of live beats, combines eulogies, fire and family to produce a relatable rapper's requiem and a comedic celebration. Amelia Hamilton is making her eagerly awaited Edinburgh Fringe debut with 'Forget Me Not' Amelia says: 'This show is an anthem for anyone who wants to be everything; a lover and a fighter, a girl boss and also wear ASOS, a rapper and a woman in STEM, to be famous but also to be forgotten.' Yes, Amelia wants you to love her and to forget her, and by the end of the hour, she will convince you that the ultimate freedom is to be erased. Amelia Hamilton is the UK's only female stand-up rap comedian (as far as she knows), blending razor-sharp stand-up with rapid-fire rhymes to create a unique and unforgettable performance. A regular across the UK comedy circuit, she has performed everywhere from the Komedia in Brighton to The Stand in Edinburgh, making her mark in rooms up and down the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A finalist in the 2023 Musical Comedy Awards, Amelia was also the runner-up in the prestigious Komedia New Comedy Awards in 2024 and a BBC New Comedy Awards Nominee in the same year, cementing her status as one of the freshest and most exciting voices on the comedy scene. Amelia Hamilton: Forget Me Not In 2025, she has been supporting both Zoe Lyons and internet sensation Derek Mitchell on tour. Amelia's witty, earworm tracks have earned her airplay on BBC Radio and featured on BBC iPlayer. She is currently working on a comedy rap album to accompany her debut hour.
Scotsman
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Viral comedian who attended 19 schools makes his Edinburgh Fringe debut
Described in a 4 ½ star review by The Student Newspaper as 'hilarious' and 'unique and refreshing,' the award-winning Aaron Wood, one of the UK's fastest rising stars, with a string of sell-out shows under his belt, and with over 100 million views online, comes to the Fringe with his highly anticipated debut hour, More To Life, from 1 to 25 August at Hoots @ The Apex - Hoot 3. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In More To Life, Aaron hilariously describes the everyday dramas of growing up in a Northern, working class household, living on a council estate, and the relentless optimism needed to pursue your dreams. His dad left just after he was born (a decision that's hard not to take personally…was it something he said?), and at one of his NINETEEN schools, he was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD (tricky, as he doesn't 'present' as autistic). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad More To Life is a gag-heavy, relatable, upbeat and heartwarming show that talks about toxic masculinity, trying to avoid 'alphas', and the mental health issues that can plague those with seemingly little options. It's an hour that invites laughs while asking, is there really more to life than this? Aaron Wood: More To Life Aaron Wood grew up on a council estate in Stockport, Greater Manchester. He works as a carer for his disabled mother during the day and currently lives with his girlfriend in Hyde, Greater Manchester. Diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at a young age, Aaron always found school tricky and moved around many times, attending (did we mention this?) NINETEEN different schools throughout his childhood for a multitude of reasons. After struggling academically and never content with being the quiet kid class he made the predictable jump into stand up. With a reputation as a grafter, his laid back, affable style has seen him complete two back to back sell out WIP runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and landed him tour support for huge Australian comic Luke Kidgell, Tom Stade, Fin Taylor, Eshaan Akbar, Connor Burns, Carl Hutchinson, MC Hammersmith, Hayley Ellis, Liam Withnail, Josh Jones and Ignacio Lopez.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's future according to politicians sounds bleak
From a lack of bold visions to talks of increasing misogyny, politicians weren't exactly awe-inspiring at an event on Scotland's future yesterday. Scotland 2050. An event you may think promises chat about flying cars and robots taking over our jobs. In earlier discussions there were certainly mentions of AI and technological change but the pull for Scottish political correspondents like me was politicians setting out their visions for Scotland in the future. This offered the likes of the First Minister and the Scottish Labour leader a chance to set out bold and ambitious plans. The need for politicians to do so is becoming all the more pressing. Recent studies such as the Youth Poll show that young people are losing faith in the political systems and are worried about their future. Yet, listening to politicians yesterday I was left more fearful and depressed about where we will be in 25 years. READ MORE: Why FM is suddenly talking about Scottish independence John Swinney looks to the past as he plans for the future The Herald's Unspun Live heads to the Edinburgh Fringe In conversation with Cherie Blair, Kate Forbes told us the "destructive nature" of social media "cannot be overstated". The deputy First Minister branded actor Rupert Everett's recent description of Nicola Sturgeon as a 'witch' as 'abhorrent' and 'totally misogynistic'. Ms Forbes went on to say that we have been talking about the issue of misogyny for the last six or seven years and 'it's only got worse in that time'. As commendable as it is for Ms Forbes to speak out against this, this reality may push more women, who fear the ever-growing threat of online abuse, away from public life. How we prevent this still remains uncertain with a preventative measure- the Online Safety Act - yet to be fully implemented. It's not as if political leaders are cloth-eared when it comes to paying heed to issues such as youth apathy. When Anas Sarwar began his keynote speech with talk of what sort of Scotland he wants to see for his 16 year-old son, he understood the assignment. The future is the younger generation. But then a myriad of questions followed. 'What does a prosperous, hopeful and thriving Scotland mean for the NHS, housing, workforce, skills, education etc?' he posed. 'Care to tell us, Mr Sarwar?', I thought. (Image: staff) Tickets for Unspun Live at the Edinburgh Fringe are available now — click here to book your place. Five minutes in, he spoke of using Scotland's 'maximum levers' to 'make it fit for future generations'. He's also said we need to 'do things differently' to achieve 'positive outcomes', as he mentioned cutting taxes. 'Tinkering around the edges is not going to work', he insisted. And I agreed but my brow furrowed as I tried to work out what his plans for a future Scotland were, away from abstract language... Setting out his vision, the First Minister spoke of the growing risks to democracy because of misinformation, more frequent conflicts, increasing inequalities and climate change. Although an impending reality it's not exactly the most stirring way to begin a speech on our future. 'The Scotland of 2050 will be shaped by a series of unpredictable forces', he warned as if leading an intergalactic space mission into the ominous unknown. For Mr Swinney, a prosperous future will ultimately be achieved through Scotland becoming an independent country and rejoining the EU. Yet with no clear strategy to achieve this, I cannot imagine his words are setting the heather alight amongst Indy supporters and others. After the speech, a former SNP MP told me the First Minister needs to be given space to set out his plans for a future Scotland. But with 11 months to go till voters head to the polls, politicians really need to unveil plans to inspire future generations soon. Although important to raise, nobody will be inspired by talk dominated by a 1984-esque dystopian world view full of Andrew Tate-bots that awaits us.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Helen Bauer: Bless Her
Helen Bauer is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for her 4th hour, ahead of her UK tour, and is learning to love herself (even when it's horribly difficult). Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Helen Bauer has been spending some time with herself lately. Or more specifically - with Little Helen, her inner child. After a gentle nudge from her therapist (okay, more of a firm suggestion), Helen is reconnecting with the tiny version of herself, full of all her childhood hopes and dreams. The result? Bauer's most personal and vulnerable show to date: Bless Her. This is a show about learning to love yourself - especially when that feels next to impossible. With Bless Her, Bauer opens the door to the serious stuff she's spent most of her career avoiding. Behind her famously tall, German-engineered walls, Helen is confronting the messy reality of what it means to be human. 'This show terrifies me,' Bauer admits. 'Finding my compassionate voice is... very much a work in progress.' This is Helen's reminder to you (and herself) that it's okay not to have it all figured out, so come laugh, squirm, and maybe even feel seen in the chaos of Bless Her. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On accompanying Helen Bauer on her fourth show, Bless Her, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and on tour in the UK and Ireland, Little Helen says: 'Big Helen needs to stop telling everyone my secrets.' Helen Bauer Already a force in UK comedy, co-host of the cult hit podcast Trusty Hogs (alongside Catherin Bohart), she's written and toured three acclaimed solo shows across the UK, Europe, and Australia. Her TV credits include Live at the Apollo (BBC), Am I Being Unreasonable? (BBC), and Extraordinary (Disney+). Helen also wrote and starred in the BBC Three short film Small Doses. Helen Bauer: Bless Her from 28-24th August (No Monday performances, and no performance on July 12th), at 3.20pm in Monkey Barrel - MB1
