Edinburgh 2025

Bombshell

Sam and I are in Edinburgh again for the festivals running throughout August. One of the first shows we saw was Bombshell. As I am a beach ball and made of plastic, I am constantly aware that many think I am environmentally unfriendly. This could not be further from the truth; however, I do think there are too many single-use plastics made. I feel as much for the discarded bottles as they have feelings too, and would much prefer to be used many times rather than just once. Bombshell was the perfect first show to see in Edinburgh, although there was a serious message, the three women who invented and starred in the show had made it in a very entertaining burlesque style. I will not spoil the plot, just to say it is a very well-made and a must-see for the 2025 audiences. 

 Here I am with the Bombshell cast

Bombshell is showing at The Space Triplex, Edinburgh, August 2025.   Buy Tickets to see Bombshell Here



Bob Dylan Under Cover

As Sam is a Bob Dylan fan, there was a tribute to him also at The Space, we went to see if it would live up to the great man himself. We were pleasantly surprised by the lead singer being a young woman with a great voice, who gave a spirited account of his work, explaining much of his life and music. The production was by Night Owl, who always get things just right.
Kiah Spurle, Lead Singer, Bob Dylan Under Cover
The Band, Bob Dylan Under Cover. Ross, Tim, Will, Max, Noah, and (spot the ball (me!)

The Blondie Story

The band also worked with another great, energetic singer called Rainbow, who did a performance of The Blondie Story, a joy to behold.


The beautiful singer Rainbow, AKA Blondie




I also found another member of the band who just wanted to play with me!

The band did say that I could become a member, but unfortunately, I decided not to join the group as the amount of energy required would leave me deflated.

The Space

Thanks to The Space team, who suggested our next show.


Nick and Julia, The Space team

Screaming Into The Void
This is my favourite play of the festival so far as I am a well known feminist, and Sam liked it too. The play is well written and the performance from each actor is also excellent, there are definite stars of the future within the cast. Sam and I agree if you want to see something good and stars before they become famous go see Screaming Into The Void. I did not even request a trial with this group as I know my acting skills would be a fraction of their talents.


The Cast, Arlene McKay, Eva Ellis, Abi Price and Marnie Horn


Mark Watson. Before It Takes Over Us
As Sam holds Mark Watson as his favourite person, not just for his comic genius but for his genuine humanity, that was evidenced to Sam in 2011 when he chanced upon a couple of people in an abandoned part of the fringe, one was in a wheelchair hooked up to breathing equipment and the other was their helper. As Sam had six years of experience knowing what it was like as a carer for somone disabled he engaged in conversation as he sadly knew this would not be the normal experience for them. After being with them for fifteen minuites or so, who should walk around the corner but Mark Watson, he had obviously been told the person with breathing difficulties was a fan and had come out of his way to meet up with him. What mostly impressed Sam was the genuine intrest Mark had for his fan as he spent the next half hour with him, no press, no cameras, no fuss, just a genuine human connection.

That said Mark is not just a great humanbeing, he is a great jester, his observations of the obserdities in life are hilarious, especially in his new show, "Before It Takes Over Us", where he focuses on the prevailing Ai revolution, but in Marks usual style wanders and goes off on tangents into other funny subjects, usually ones to do with his audience. Go see this beutiful Man, but if you can't get to one of his gigs, console youself with one of his many funny books.



The Great Mark Watson The Pleasance Edinburgh 2025


Delusions And Grandeur


As Sam is my manager, and I haven't had any work since being in the band "The Streets" last year, he said I should widen my experience and maybe go down the classical music route, as I found it too exhausting when auditioning for "The Blondie Story". Sam said Karen Hall is a highly acclaimed cellist, and I should go and see her in the Red Lecture Theatre at The Summer Hall to see if her act was right for me.
I did not know what to expect, as I had never heard classical music, being only two years old. It was a beautiful experience as I heard the wonderful music as Karen played. I was surprised when Karen told her story and performed her jesting. It blew me away how talented she was, one of those people who can do anything they wish to put their hand to. I loved talking with her after her performance, as she is very interesting and intelligent; however, I don't think I will be joining her on stage, as her jester skills are much better than mine, and if I stretched as much as she did, I would go out of shape permanently, or even worse, burst!
I loved her act, and anyone who can see it should!


The Beautiful Jester Cellist Karen Hall


David Elms Describes a Room


Because Sam is a fan of Laura Marling and Tim Key, YouTube had suggested he would like the short film "Regular"; this was one of those unusual times that YouTube had been totally right in its assumption. Sam thought Regular was a masterpiece, and so delved deeper to find it had been written and directed by David Elms, someone Sam had never heard of before. Keen to see if Mr Elms had any more work Sam could enjoy, he found that he would be doing a show in Edinburgh at the Pleasance Baby Grand venue. "David Elms Describes a Room" was the title of the show, and on the face of it, not a very enticing title, but Sam insisted that if David Elms could write and direct "Regular", we should go see it, so we did. I have to admit that Sam was right in his assumption that the softly spoken Mr Elms is a true genius in the way he has created something totally unique and very enjoyable. I will not say what happens, but it is joyous to behold, and if you have a chance to see it, you must!



The Genius David Elms
  

Exhausted Paint (The Death of Van Gogh)


As the Edinburgh Festival is a celebration of the arts, Sam thought it would be good if I was educated about one of the greatest painters of all time, namely Vincent Van Gogh, as there was a show celebrating his life and death at The Surgeon's Hall called Exhausted Paint. This one-man show, written by Justin Maxwell and performed by Drew Stroud, was emotional and educational at the same time. Sam said it was like watching a young Kevin Costner playing Vincent. Drew even goes to the extreme by taking bites out of a raw potato in one scene.
If you are a fan of Vincent Van Gogh or Kevin Costner, you should see this show.

Drew Stroud plays Vincent

Eggs And Baskets


Watching "Exhausted Paint" was enjoyable but also sad, as we know Vincent comes to a tragic end. Sam and I decided that the next show we should see should lift our spirits, so we decided to see a three-hander by Bethany Agaoglu called "Eggs and Baskets". The play is about two girls who are trying to keep boys out of their lives with varying levels of success. All the actors here are great performers: Bethany Agaoglu, Nell Sternberg, and Jordan Wilks. My standout performance was by Jordan, who was tasked with playing five different male characters, something he managed to achieve faultlessly.


Cast: Jordan Wilks, Bethany Agaoglu, and Little Nell Sternberg.


Ghosted!


As Sam and I were taking in the sights of Edinburgh, we were accosted by a small leprechaun on The Royal Mile, who said she had a ghost story to tell us. Intrigued, we went to see the musical Ghosted at The Space on Niddry Street. This magical performance seemed to have a much bigger cast than the reality of four; each member had extraordinary vocal and acting capabilities. The music was supplied by a three-piece band, which also seemed bigger in number than it was. If you only see one musical while you are in Edinburgh this August, make it this one; you won't be disappointed.



The cast of Ghosted! The musical.

Sang Tsau


While we were in the same venue, we noticed there was a Taiwanese dance group show, and Sam thought it would be good for me to widen my repertoire to dance, and I would love to give it a try. Sang Tsau is the name of the dance, and it tells the story of sending the gods back to heaven. This was a magical experience; the young dancers had been dancing since they were children, and it showed in the delicacy and intricacy of their performance. Sam, as someone who has danced in a variety of styles for over 34 years, was particularly impressed with the way they could keep in sync even when they were not facing each other. If you get the chance to see this beautiful human communication, you should see it straight away; it will lift your soul and be an experience you will not forget.





Nicole Cassandra Smit


Singer Nicole Cassandra Smit is very hard to put into words; just one comes to mind: PERFECTION! 
At her gig, Sam was spellbound by her soulful voice and bought her CD to ensure he could hear her forever.


Nicole and her accompanying guitarist, Dave


The Lounge Suite


The lounge suite featuring singer/performer Estar and pianist Kiki is a cabaret that is both entertaining and emotional as Estar sings about key points in her life, funny but with some pathos.