Category: #Review

#Review of A History of Paper starring Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson @alancummingreally #ShirleyHenderson @pitlochryft @dundeerep #AHistoryOfPaper

A History of Paper
by Oliver Emanuel and Gareth Williams
starring Alan Cumming
Shirley Henderson

A Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Dundee Rep production

Rating: 5 out of 5.

review written by Louise Cannon

A History of Paper is absorbing, poignant and one of the most tender well-observed love stories to be told on a stage. It’s a flawless performance!

The minimalist staging suits the musical about a man and a woman falling in love and works better for this play than one that is large sets and glitz. One piano and two actors on stage, some undramatic, yet beautiful lighting and few props.
As Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson sing, their voices complement each other extremely well.

Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson make you love and deeply invest in the characters they play.

The year is 1999. There’s a box with a van (artistically emphasised in the play). Inside the box with a van are letters, receipts and a Pizza Express menu. Junk to others, but treasures and memories to behold…

Time is re-wound to the reminiscing of simpler times of of the 90’s when letter writing was a thing. Observe the tenses used in the conversations and narratives.
The construction sparks questions fairly early on, that do get answered by the end.
The chemistry between Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson is palpable.

Radiohead playing too loudly, causing the two neighbours to meet, is the start of the unfolding of a love story. From there we see dating at Pizza Express and nuanced body-language as well as the flamboyancy of joy of that first flush of love. There is also the sweetness of the Japanese art-form of oragami and chat that is sometimes nuanced, sometimes coming together and at other times, a bit awkward and sitting at juxtapositions. It’s all rather naturally performed.

A magical romantic new year’s eve on the beach, where a beautiful light show of lanterns emerges.

Woven cleverly into this love story are also the conversations of the time, such as climate change. People in the 90’s of many ages were practically prophesying what was going to happen and now as we see, getting it right. Amusingly and thankfully some things that didn’t turn out to be true like”Millennium Bug,” before returning a romantic time that oozes enough love to capture anyone’s heart.

The noughties arrive and there is an almighty twist that is so poignantly and so tenderly played out as everything changes but still ensures beauty and hope isn’t forgotten about in the most surprising of ways.

The play poignantly poses a question about what scraps/letters etc would you keep?

By the end there was a well-deserved standing ovation.

You can catch A History of Paper at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 9 August to 12 September 2026, before transferring to Dundee Rep Theatre from 16–19 September.

Check out the link here: https://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/a-history-of-paper/

#Review of CODE – Justice in Motion. The tackling countylines and knife crime show everyone should see featuring bike stunts, rap, and more… @EdFringe #theatre #bikes #rap #hiphop #physicaltheatre #bikestunts #parkour #PleasanceTheatre #EdFringe #nomorecuts #nomoreblud #knifecrimeawareness #countylinesawareness

CODE – Justice in Motion

review by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This could be one of the most important and powerful shows you ever see. As you walk to the theatre space, you see the graffiti art wall, setting the scene and tone at Heriot Bridge at Pleasance Grassmarket.

I think CODE needs to be shown in every school with families present as well as stages across the entire UK. CODE tackles County Lines in a compelling way that makes you sit up and listen. It shows what happens in this production can happen anyone, anywhere. I highly recommend if you get a chance to see it, do, even if you think it’s not for you, you’d be surprised how much it is for you and everyone.
The link for more information and how you can see it is after my review.

Eye capturing, awe-inspiring bike stunts, hip-hop, parkour and rap feed into your senses as the young cast burst onto the intimate stage. It’s a terrific explosive start that grabs attention and all eyes are on them as they tell their story to the end. This is physical theatre performed to the max!

Every member of the cast are strong in their performance as they tell their story loud and clear. The bike tricks and rap are genius as it taps into this trend seen on big stages to not use the traditional styles of singing, such as Hamilton and Six. It’s a feast for the senses whilst it raises awareness in the coolest of styles of today’s society and County Lines.
It tells the story of a bullied school kid in a single-parent household and falls into a spiral, leading to be immersed in the gang, where violence and crime ensues. There’s a teacher who narrates in rap, then begins to understand what’s going on. The balance between the crime and showing support is good

CODE is a mixed and changeable cast of teens and adults that bravely and without mincing words and stays clear from glamorising the very real issue of County Lines. For those who don’t know what County Lines is, it’s gangs who exploit people, in-particular, children and teens and use them for criminal activities such as delivering drugs. It’s happening in even the smallest, quietest of villages, hidden away. CODE shows adults the signs to look out for. The teens show the truth of what devastating effects getting involved with gangs, notably County Lines has on them. The main cast intelligently alternates between white and black members because County Lines does not discriminate. It affects everybody and everyone can end up inadvertently landing within the clutches of gangs.

Here are the cold hard facts: In 2025, approximately 15,500 children were identified as at risk or involved in child criminal exploitation, though the Children Society actually estimates 46,000 young people to be involved in the UK. CODE explores the vulnerabilities of young people who are caught up in County Lines, a number gained from official figures.

Head over to my Instagram page to see a little bit

https://www.instagram.com/louise_bookmarksandstages


More info here from EdFringe site

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/code

#Review of magician James Phelan – Showman – Entertaining Family Magic Show at Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows #JamesPhelanMagician #Showman #Underbelly #CircusHub #TheMeadows #EdFringe

James Phelan
Showman

review by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Live jazz is played, filling the auditorium with music, creating a great, joyous showman type atmosphere to get the audience ready to be entertained.

James Phelan is a magician who is a delight to watch for adults without kids and families with kids alike.
He has a new show, called Showman. He is a great story-teller as he performs his tricks and they are more than just stories, if you really listen and think about it, the information he is imparting is absolutely fascinating and highly compelling. He has a great understanding of tapping into the physiology of the body and what the mind then does with information it is given.

James Phelan is an intelligent and entertaining magician. This isn’t just magic! This is magic with thoughtful and thought-provoking nuggets for every age. There’s a feeling not everything is given away and he still keeps the ultimate secrets to himself to keep the mystique. What is fascinating is how physiology and psychology can all be intertwined in audience participation related shows in the creation of magic on them. He’s a rather intelligent guy. There’s a feeling he has studied further than just a magic trick and has a true understanding of what lies beneath it.

He started off with a card trick with the audience, telling a story about what sort of person or sort of circumstance a certain card would be picked in. He nailed it!
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Magic, it’s all in the believing. The more you believe the more you can get out of it and participate. He tried out tricks on the audience as a whole with eyes closed for some and open your eyes again to see, in wonderment that they worked.

Audiences, they can be tricky with unpredictable, some believe in magic less than others. Tricks like being held fast on the floor so your feet can’t move are fun and very interesting, and work best on those who truly believe. James Phelan is quite the wordsmith and has plenty of ways to create a magic and sees how people take in certain words more than others, so can switch his methodology using words and this is fascinating to see in itself to good effect.
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There are other amazing tricks leaving the audience in awe as he dazzles with a spectacular performance involving a ring, fire and a glass. What happens is something very beautiful and a real gift to whoever he chooses to do this for.

He is encouraging to young people, not just budding magicians but for whatever they want to do when they grow up and has created an awe-inspiring trick around their aspirations that leaves the participant with something unique to take away with them.

The show is beautifully constructed and oozes with heartfelt passion and of course lots of magic!

James Phelan is a showman and one to watch!

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/james-phelan-showman


#Review of Rob Auton: Jupiter – Comedy with storytelling. @robauton #Comedy #storytelling #theatre #EdFringe

Rob Auton: Jupiter

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review written by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Rob Auton brings hope and humanity in his deadpan style of comedy.

His storytelling is original and thought-provoking as well as very funny. There are many laughs to be had in this hour of his unique stand-up comedy style.

Rob Auton takes you on quite a rhythmic, sharply observed journey as he takes up the position a unique estate agent as he is trying to sell reasons to be on earth to a couple of extra-terrestrial beings from Jupiter. It touches on the surreal, with quickfire jokes and clever rhythm in his story-telling that sets them up. He’s quite the wordsmith as he stands stationery at the mic. It suits his style of comedy to do this rather than go for the physical comedy as the pace is slower, but the messages he is getting across are memorable and feel important and this adds to the meaningfulness that intertwines the interesting surreal of the estate agent concept. It also fits well with the intimate staging at The Assembly Roxy as there’s a feeling of his words drawing you closer into something you want to listen to.

The deadpan style and the word rhythms he adopts give Rob Auton great stage presence with his words penetrating into the mind, almost a bit hypnotic in a way in the manner in-which it is paced. He clearly wants you to take away his messaging as well as the laughs and mull them over. The style seems quite intelligently and intentionally done.

By the end, what can be felt, apart from the good endorphins from laughing, is also a sense of how important earth is and how truly privileged we, as humans are to be living on it, more than what is often realised as lots gets taken for granted ie the human condition. It was fantastic that it brings this to the forefront of minds.

Jupiter truly is profound throughout the comedy elements and a must see!


Interview Celebrating 12 Years of Murder She Didn’t Write – An Improvised Crime Play at both The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and On Tour Across The UK

Interview with Lizzy Skrzypiec on Critically Acclaimed Long-Running Improvised Play Murder She Didn’t Write

Interview by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Sharpen your murder mystery skills to discover who the murderer is in Murder She Didn’t Write. A fabulously farcical Agatha Christie/Cluedo-esque play where every performance is different. You, the audience are not only in a position to solve the murder, you are also asked for different scenarios within the performance. Skillfully, the cast then creates a mysterious, humorous improvised play.

In 12 years, Murder She Didn’t Write has grown from small to filling larger venues/theatres at not just the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but on tour across the UK. You can see if this improv crime wave will hit theatres near you after this fascinating and entertaining interview.
Join me as we welcome cast member and co-creator Lizzy Skrzypiec to Bookmarks and Stages.

Your improv show, Murder She Didn’t Write is great fun. I remember reviewing it one year ago. It has become a much talked about and loved show. How did it all begin?

1. Gather round and I’ll tell ye a tale back in 2012 ish where a group of improvisers knew they wanted to make a long form improv show but didn’t know what direction to take it in. We all pitched different ideas to the group: improvised Twilight Zone, improvised Western, improvised Murder Mystery. And there was a fair bit of love for the improvised Western, until we all tried our atrocious American accents and realised a classic Agatha Christie style farcical murder mystery might be better suited to our skill set. But for a while Detective Agatha Crusty could well have been Sheriff Annie Getyourgun.

2. 12 years later and the show has grown from small venues and stages to one of the biggest stages. What does that feel like, seeing that success?

It is very heartening. There is a lot of love that has gone into this show. And it’s a joy working with some of my closest friends. So I’m always so happy to see others revel and enjoy the silliness that brings us as much joy to perform. I’m also surprised that no one has stood up, stopped the show and gone “Hang on! This is just a bunch of people enjoying themselves!” But until they notice I think we will keep on doing it.

3. The majority of the show is improvised and suddenly a show is seamlessly put together with whatever the audience gives you. It’s a skill. Can you reveal a bit how the cast do this?

Sure! The first part of our show is to build the world that the audience has asked for. That is a very powerful part of the show and lays the foundations for the rest of the story. It’s a dangerous time too – because anything too off-piste or weird here has ripples that extend over the next 2 hours (or 70 minutes if its the Fringe version). And we have had our fair share of mistakes – making calls and decisions in the early scenes that we are then stuck with for the whole mystery. 

Once you speak something into existence it’s part of the world. And with that power comes great responsibility. So it’s an art of having fun, being silly, but making sure the foundation of the reality is strong enough for the absolute chaos we will inflict upon it as the mystery takes place.

4. The characters are based on Agatha Christie’s works with a Cluedo-esque take in mystery solving. What inspired you to do this mash-up?

Well I am a TV gameshow producer by trade so I’m sure that’s had an affect on the gamey feel of the show. We try to fulfil the murder mystery genre but in a fun theatrical and accessible way. Consider us the trifle of the mystery desserts tray. A mix of textures and flavours pulled from all sorts of mystery authors and TV shows. And like a trifle we are a bit saucy and maybe a bit boozy too (after the show).

5. If you were to sum-up the show in one or two sentences, what would you say?

It’s the perfect show for someone who has never seen a murder mystery and also a perfect show for someone who loves a murder mystery.

6. You’re back at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. What brings you to the festival and what next for Murder She Didn’t Write?

The Fringe is our spiritual home. We love performing here so much! So our own personal love of the spirit of the fringe has brought us back to the festival over and over again. What’s next? We have many touring dates in the autumn and winter up and down the country and a few on the West End too. I’m sure we’ll be committing various crimes in your areas soon.

Which show time will you choose?

Crime Solve at the Gordon Aikman Theatre, Assembly George Square (full run, 14:15 daily)

What could possibly happen in Edinburgh? Check out details here:

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/murder-she-didn-t-write

Will this improvised crime sweep into your area? Check out details here:

https://www.murdershedidntwrite.com/tour-dates



#Review of Max Fulham’s Monkey Business – Family Show – Gilded Balloon 11:50-12:50 #MaxFulham #GildedBalloon #EdFringe #Comedy #ventriloquist #familyshow

Max Fulham’s Monkey Business

review by Louise Cannon

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Max Fulham’s Monkey Business is one for all the family. It’s the show where both kids and adults end up in stitches of laughter and join in, some more than others, and become part of this Monkey Business. This ventriloquist from just down the road from Edinburgh in Linlithgow is one to watch!

Max Fulham is a ventriloquist with a lot of comedy up his sleeve, or perhaps that’s coming from his employees in his new found office, Monkey Business. It isn’t like any office you’d have seen before. It isn’t dull and far from bland. This is the most fun office with the strangest array of staff you’re likely to come across. The business is serious, but this is Monkey Business after all anything can happen with the departments you would expect in an office, but with unconventional staff.


Meet a monkey in management ready to do a presentation like you’ve never seen before, a dog on reception, an old man called boring John in finance, a squeaky mouse from IT department, are his employees and its the law to wear a tie. This brings on lots of humour at different levels, so he well and truly is aiming at both kids and adults rather skillfully. There is also a fun game that every audience member participated in. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t look like they were having fun on some level.

It is refreshing that this truly is for many ages with the jokes on-point for the entire audience demographic.

As for his, now rare, art form of ventriloquism, he has nailed it! Watching incredibly closely and could not see his mouth move and each word was audible, clear and easy to understand.

The “employees” in this office are also the kids, those who want to join in. The adults also have a few jobs to do. What is a thoughtful touch is the gifts handed out to participants. There’s also a fun craft done on stage, along with a randomly chosen child. For all the kids, bubbles magically appear.

I think it’s worth pointing out, Max Fulham truly ensures his Monkey Business “employees” are comfortable and having a good experience, especially those junior human ones who join him on stage.

With a whole lot of monkeying around and exceptional skills this is one all the family can truly enjoy.

You can catch Max Fulham’s Monkey Business at:
Dining Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot
11:50 – 12:50

Check out more here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/max-fulham-s-monkey-business

There is also an adult show called Memory Foam, that’s also worth checking out.