Theatre serves many purposes, but for the award winning theatre company, Not Too Tame it’s a case of theatre being for all. It’s fair to say that theatre in comparison to film and television is a medium that still has an aura of being for a certain type of individual, and is presented in the typical proscenium arched manner. Not Too Tame aims to shatter this perception, especially in the case of their latest piece, Electric Eden, which sees the company guide their audience through a disused building. Ahead of the production, the company’s founder, Jimmy Fairhurst speaks to us about creating “theatre for all”, challenges to creating a site specific piece and how the company goes about creating new pieces of work.

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The National Centre for Circus Arts is vastly becoming the hub for the most exciting talent within Europe, especially within the UK, having produced a range of acts that have gone on to add their stamp onto a genre that could otherwise be thought of as an ancient art. National Centre for Circus Arts alumni, Silver Lining are at the beginnings of adding their own voice to the circus landscape, having been described as “some of the freshest acts in Britain”. Silver Lining’s founder, Tom Ball speaks to us about the company’s latest piece, Throwback which will be showing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Hi Tom, Silver Lining will be showcasing Throwback at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. How are you feeling ahead of the festival?

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Founded in 2007, Theatre Témoin have created stand out pieces designed to address topics and ideas that may not have much of a spotlight placed on them. Physical Theatre fused with a powerful narrative leaves you with a theatrical experience not to be forgotten. Theatre Temoin’s Artistic Director Ailin Conant is renowned for her social engagement in terms of the projects she works on, working with voices that are often marginalised or forgotten about and it’s clear that this is an element that defines the company’s vision. Ahead of Theatre Témoin’s run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival of their latest piece The Marked, Ailin spoke to us about the creation of the piece, her inspirations and who she’ll be watching at this year’s festival. Continue reading

On a slightly grizzly Saturday afternoon, I venture once more to the Underbelly Circus Hub to see the new and award-winning show Perhaps Hope by company Here and Now. The production focuses on climate change and the problems we face now and in the future with rising water levels and global warming – something the two performers, Rockie Stone (Circa) and Vincent van Berkel (Circus Oz), are clearly passionate about. The pair lift, balance, tumble and manipulate through an hour of fluid and beautiful acrobatics to a soundtrack of eclectic music.

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The Inevitable Heartbreak of Gavin Plimsole is a contemporary piece of theatre in which the story revolves around a young man who is given a life changing diagnosis, making him contemplate everything and re-evaluate the choices and decisions he has made.

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Two large circus tents have again been erected in the heart of The Meadows to form The Underbelly‘s Circus Hub and it’s always a hive of colour and activity. Families eating picnics, troupes rehearsing their acrobatic moves on the grass and the sound of rapturous applause coming from inside of the big tops and it sets the mood perfectly as you queue for entry to your show.

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With the world’s biggest theatre festival, the Edinburgh Fringe fastly approaching, thousands of performers will be making preparations to showcase their work at the iconic event.  Alongside performers, theatre critics will also be drawing up their lists of must see shows from the vast line up, whether they write for national newspapers, or their own independent sites. Founders of the Network for Independent Critics, Laura Kressly and Katherine Kavanagh are making it possible for the likes of talented independent critics to cover this year’s festival. Read on to find out more about the innovative scheme! Continue reading