#Article By Lou – Celebrating Actors and Authors Series -Clive Mantle @MantleClive #CliveMantle #WishYouWereDead #Grace #Casualty #FreddieMaloneSeries #TV #Theatre #Books #Reviews #Article #EduTwitter #SchoolReading #ChildrensBooks #Books #Audiobooks #paperback #ThePeoplesBookPrizeWinnerAward #CelebratingAuthorsAndActorsSeries

My blog will be 5 years old in September. For those just joining this series of blog posts, I am celebrating certain authors and actors between now and September, when my blog turns 5. This time, I am celebrating actor and author – Clive Mantle. Discover some of his works below on tv, screen and stage, as well as about his children’s books (suitable for 9/10 years upwards). He is a People’s Book Prize Winner!

Clive Mantle is known for acting on tv and theatre for many years as well as writing children’s books. He is probably best known for being Little John in Robin of Sherwood, Mike Barratt in Casualty, Simon Horton in The Vicar of Dibley. He has also starred in Doctors, Midsummer Murders, Still Open All Hours, Heartbeat, Birds of a Feather and more…
He also appeared on The Chase spin-off – Beat The Chasers and won a phenomenal amount of money for his choice of charity, showing he has a wide range of knowledge he can quickly recall.
He has also voiced Thomas the Tank Engine, many audiobooks and video games as well as attend comic-cons.

On stage, he is currently on tour in the UK until at least 25th July with the play Wish You Were Dead, based on the book of the same name, by Peter James. Tickets are still available now! I highly recommend this Grace mystery that also has another former Casualty actor – George Rainsford as Roy Grace and Giovanna Fletcher. It is a compelling, eerie crime thriller, with terrific acting. It takes place with Grace on holiday. It’s supposed to be time away from the job, but things change and he and all who are with him are in mortal danger. George Rainsford and Clive Mantle, in-particular, own the stage, entrancing the audience in a twisty thriller.

Did you know he is a kind and very clever gentleman, who is an avid reader, who has a passion for Mount Everest and also writes amazing children’s books?
There are 3 in the Freddie Malone series so far. I bought, read and reviewed them some time ago. They are more than worthy of being read by children and to being in school libraries and on reading lists. Each fast-paced, action-packed adventure books tells a story featuring Freddie Malone. They include some time-travel from the UK to different parts of the world (they include maps). They also deal with issues ant school.
Each book then has a couple of pages or so of factual information about what you’ve just read. They are compelling and memorable for children, who will also learn something new as well as being entertained.

He was inspired to write the Freddie Malone adventures during a trek to the Everest Base Camp for the charity Hope and Homes for Children. Discover a bit about these books below:

The Treasure At The Top Of The World is book 1 in A Freddie Malone Adventure. There are 3 in total, follow down for the rest.

This first one takes place on Freddie Malone’s birthday. He gets a mirror, which happens to have magical properties. This is useful for escaping the school bullies he endures each day. He inadvertently ends up in Nepal, meets a Sherpa around Mount Everest and sees a Bazaar (of which there is a photo of in the book).

It is an excellent introduction to Freddie and his friends, as well as his foes. It deals with many issues children face today, as well as being entertaining throughout on a grand adventure.

Find out more about the actor and book, including the blurb in the link:

The Treasure At The Top of the World

A Jewel In The Sands of Time takes Freddie back through the mirror, now he has a taste for exploration. He lands in Egypt and meets a Collector, studying a mysterious gemstone. The Collector wants to turn back time to steal a priceless artifact and a precious, legendary elixir to prolong his life.

Freddie goes back in time to meet Tutankhamun and learns how he became King at a young age and he discovers more about The Valley of the Kings.

Back home, he is reunited with his friends, but still, the school bullies are around too.

It is another action-packed adventure with lots to get your teeth stuck into.

Find out more and the blurb in the link:

A Jewel In The Sands of Time

In The City of Fortune and Flames takes Freddie to London and to the time of The Great Fire of London. Prior to this, there is the mystery as to why the map, so directionally and pertinently, took him to meet Pepys, and also why he got to know something of King Charles II and the plague on Drury Lane.

It is another fascinating, Must Read book, full of adventure, excitement and jeopardy.

Find out more in the link, including the blurb.

In The City of Fortune and Flames

#Article By Lou Celebrating Theatre #Celebrating #Theatre 🎭 #SupportTheArts #ActorsLife #SupportingTheatres #ActingCommunity #TheatreCommunity #TheatreLover

Celebrating Theatre 🎭

Supporting Theatres

As part of my blog going to turn 5 years old in September 2023, I have been celebrating individual authors and actors, but also as part of this, I would like to share an article I’ve written about theatres in general, what is so great about them, their magic and why they are worth saving and attending when we possibly can. I have included at the end, links to plays and musicals I have attended since writing the blog (please note I bought tickets myself and chose to review). I have also included an interview I conducted with an actor. I have also included a list of many theatre plays and musicals I recommend, many also prior to my blog.

Just a small selection of theatre programmes from over the years

“All The World’s A Stage” William Shakespeare – As You Like It

Theatre! It has a long history (but here is a little glimpse of it in brief before moving onto modern day theatre). It can be traced back as far as at least the Greeks in 6th century BC and it spread. In the UK it was, in the earlier centuries, an art form that captured the attention of the churches, so what was shown was quite religious, before evolving to being what was more secular, into what we see today. The Romans also had theatre forms and would use it to great effect. Theatre has survived through many battles, including World Wars. As war happened all around them, scripts were written, songs were composed, dances were choreographed, actors acted and sang and danced as they pulled together to bravely shine a light in the darkest of dark days. Today, we also live through many challenging times, whether personally or more universal troubles and even though theatres had to close, like everywhere at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, actors, script writers, composers, directors returned in all sorts of inventive ways so, we, the public, amazingly, could still have theatre and now they are back in theatres, in person. Theatre and all who tread the boards within them are there, making life better and richer and creating special moments and everlasting memories.

Theatre today, and back from when it started has plays, musicals, comedians, ballet, modern dance, opera, music (including in days gone by, music hall). As much as I have seen all of these (apart from opera). I am focusing on plays and musicals on the whole and will touch on the others later. Plays and Musicals have Drama, Tragedy, Comedy, Romance, Satire, Crime Fiction, Horror, Sci-Fi, Biopics (and more). They range from pantomime (for my worldwide followers, this has roots in ‘Commedia dell’Arte’ and evolved from there to the wildly fun costumes and the telling of fairytales with some modern lines added here and there and big dollop of wit and audience participation), to comedies to contemporary, to biopics about people you may have heard of and want to increase knowledge about, and more… Each of them will make you feel every possible emotion. The anticipation before curtain up, a line, a look from the actors, the theatre envelopes you from beginning to end and each actor, whoever they are embodying that day, captures your attention and imagination from beginning to end and makes you feel and see everything. It is an experience like no other!

Theatre is for everyone and I think can confidently say that there truly is something for everyone, whatever your gender, background etc is. It doesn’t matter whether you go as a family, or with friends or alone. Theatre has something everyone can relate to, learn from, have questions answered and questions provoked and curiosity piqued.

Theatre, like a good book is also scientifically linked to wellbeing. There have been studies on this and how being in a theatre raises your endorphins. Theatre can be the most amazing experience. It can totally make a day, no matter what you’re feeling, be one of the best experiences of your life. If you’re feeling down or having a hard time, theatre can provide that perfect escape.

Theatre! It has stories to tell. They all have a point and something relevant, whether it is comedy or drama, whether it is entirely original or adapted from a book. There’s always something to learn, something to be inspired by and somewhere to go and escape from the outside world as the actors carry you with them into whatever place and people they are portraying, whether fictional or true-life.
Watching a whole musical or play unfold in either a historical or modern building as opposed to watching a screen is an experience to behold. The connection between the actors and their audience as they bring scripts to life is enthralling, as is something that seems simple, yet is powerful like applauding at the end or whenever else it is appropriate and knowing the actors are appreciating this and sometimes you can be fortunate enough to say to an actor “thank you” and show appreciation in person after a performance.

There are many playwrights, from history and who still has a huge influence over today’s writers for stage and tv is William Shakespeare. He toured with his theatre and if there wasn’t a theatre, he would have his plays outdoors. Sounds familiar to today doesn’t it? There were Groundlings, something The Globe still has today for lesser price than the seats and theatres have many payment tiers, differing from theatre to theatre and country to country. So, even way back in the midst of time, it was recognised theatre should be available to the masses and this has increased as the centuries have moved on.

If there were a day theatre stopped touring, it would be a very sad day indeed and the world would be a poorer place!

Theatre! The arts creates jobs and the skill sets are far and wide reaching. There are the stagehands, the set-builders, those working in wardrobe and props, the box office and rest of front of house staff, the stage door staff, the pr/advertising teams, the lighting and sound technicians, musicians. Of course you also have the writers, the producers and directors, the composers, choreographers, the actors ranging from those principal ones you see on stage to understudies and swing actors etc. Before an audience gets to see any finished production, lots of work goes on behind the scenes, including auditions, read throughs, dress rehearsals, logistics if there is a tour and everything else that I have mentioned and perhaps more… It is all a craft, whether in a company or doing a two-handed or a one-man/woman show etc. Whatever the theatre role, there are skills, perseverance, bravery in these careers.

Theatre! It inspires, whether you do something professionally or not in the arts. I volunteered in a locally to me amateur theatre and previously to that, it inspired me to play the keyboard and to want to play it well, as far back as in my tween and teen years (we scrimped and saved for lessons and then I took part in some concerts). Kids today, whether they end up in the arts or not still attend drama and dance classes. Theatre inspires present and future generations to enter the arts for careers or purely for pleasure or to try something new that may stand them in good stead for whatever they do in the future. There is much to gain and much more to lose when they are not supported enough. They rely on the Department of Media, Culture and Sport and Arts Councils and Arts Funding as well as Us – The Public to support theatres and all within them.

Theatre! What it does, whether it is indoors or outdoors, big or small, in a city or town is worth saving for all the marvellous experiences they give and that’s worth saving and having those stars shining brightly for now and for future generations.
Let us not be the generations who reduced theatres, but instead were the ones who support them and all the wonderful people involved to keep everything and everyone going and to fill our imaginations and memories and enrich our lives.

I thought I would conclude by listing some of the musicals and plays that I recommend you go and see. Some have been touring for a very long time, some come back every so often and some you can actually see just now and others, well, you never know in theatreland, they may just well return some time in the future.

Since starting my blog nearly 5 years ago I have seen and chosen to review a few stage shows. Click on the links to see reviews (in no particular order). Please note, some are from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Those that were online, I watched because it was during the pandemic when people could perform but theatres etc remained closed to the public (and they did a good job in keeping theatre alive), but generally speaking, I mostly go to theatres in-person. Lists and links below are not exhaustive (that could create a whole other blog post in the future). It is, however, a list that comes off the top of my head, without it being as long as say, war and peace.

Links to No Spoiler Theatre Reviews and an interview with an actor

Interview With Actor Ronald Rand

Duet For One * Wodehouse In Wonderland * The Importance of Being Earnest

Art * Humble Boy * Flying High * The Dresser

Quick Reviews of more plays and musicals * The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel *

A Cold Supper Behind Harrods * Ten Times Table * Love In The Wood

The Habit of Art * Love Never Dies * By Jeeves

3 short reviews of some comedians * Once Sinha Lifetime

Banging on About Time and Other Similar Issues

Plays (list of what I’ve seen and enjoyed is not exhaustive)

The Mousetrap * Wodehouse In Wonderland

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel * Wish You Were Dead

Art * Humble Boy * Private Lives * The Dresser.

Flying High * Bedroom Farce The Wipers Times * Ten Times Table

The Mousetrap * Strangers on A Train * And Then There Were None

This House * No Man’s Land * Sleuth * The Play That Goes Wrong

The Greatest Play In The History Of The World * The Birthday Party

Out of Order * A Judgement In Stone * The 39 Steps * Noises Off

Sherlock Holmes and The Final Curtain * The Mystery of Charles Dickens

Being Shakespeare * De Profundus * Tesco On Tuesdays * Duet For One

Twelfth Night * The Merchant of Venice * Julius Caesar

Musicals (list of what I’ve seen and enjoyed is not exhaustive)

Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat * Sunset Boulevard * Phantom of the Opera

Grease * Summer Holiday * Hamilton * Strictly Ballroom

Mamma Mia. * Evita * Starlight Express * Cabaret

Tell Me On A Sunday * Chess * Anything Goes * Mary Poppins

Les Miserables. * Miss Siagon * Aspects of Love * Wicked

Beauty and the Beast * Blood Brothers * Hairspray * Jekyll and Hyde

Celebrating Authors and Actors By Lou – Today the #Article is on @RobertDaws #CelebratingAuthorsSeries #CrimeFiction @HobeckBooks #PartnersInCrime #Podcast #Theatre #TalkWriteUp #BookReviews

Celebrating Authors and Actors
Robert Daws
By Louise (Lou)

Today I have chosen Robert Daws as part of my series of celebrating authors and actors works, as part of the lead up to my blog turning 5 years old in September 2023. Follow down and discover the article and short reviews, as well as links to full reviews where you will also find the blurb for books, a radio play, a podcast and more…

Robert Daws is notable for both acting and being an author. A very talented, kind and generous man to those (including me), who meet him. He is notable for starring on tv for such sitcoms and dramas like Outside Edge, Roger, Roger, The Royal, Midsummer Murders, Sicknote, New Tricks, Death In Paradise, Agatha Raisin, Sister Boniface Mysteries and more… and films such as Swimming With Men. He is also an accomplished stage actor with a great stage presence in the likes of Ten Times Table, Wodehouse in Wonderland and more… He has also done radio plays, most notably with Duncan Preston (Surgical Spirit, Dinner Ladies and more…), such as crime drama – Truman and Riley.

In books, he shows a passion for Gibraltar, where his crime fiction is set. I feel you get to know Gibraltar very well through his main detectives- Broderick and Sullivan. The books are darker and twistier than you might expect. There are 3 so far – The Rock, Poisoned Rock, Killing Rock. There is also a novella Echo Rock.
He has also attended book festivals and gives a marvellous talk. You will find a link to a write up of a talk he gave with his friend and fellow actor – Hugh Fraser – notable for playing Captain Hastings Poirot and more and also writing crime thrillers with his protagonist – Rina Walker.
When not acting, he is also one half of the podcast – Partners In Crime with Adam Croft.
I’ve had the great pleasure of reviewing books by Robert Daws and writing an introduction blog post when he was the first author to have his books re-published by Hobeck Books and are the popular books that helped launch this Indy publisher; then subsequently to have decided to review the podcast and more… You will find links to these below as well as a festival talk write up. I’ve started with the books and finished with the talk.
There is something about his works, whether in the written or spoken word that makes them memorable.
Now, without further ado, onto the no spoiler reviews and please do click the links that will give you blurbs and a bit more information in reviews/blog posts I have previously published over these past few years.

The Rock is the first of the Sullivan and Broderick Murder Mysteries. The writing in all of the books is captivating and by the second and third book, Robert Daws has truly nailed it, hitting the 5 stars, with the first being 4 stars. The Rock is excellent for setting the scene and is where you first meet the team – Calbot, Sullivan and Broderick and Sullivan, Chief Superintendent C.S. Harriet Massetti and PC Bryant. You find out why Sullivan is on secondment in Gibraltar and discover a murder on a yacht.

Poisoned Rock contains murder, offshore accounts, secrets and jeopardy. There is also the glamour of a film crew, but there are twists and turns as there is more than meets the eye with even the mere creation of the film. There are more to the characters than first presumed as the intrigue builds and bit by bit all is revealed.

I have a link here that encompasses both of these books. The Rock and Poisoned h Rock

Killing Rock is darker and twistier, possibly the best yet in its clever construction. It covers themes such as second chances and against the odds when much is stacked against you.
This time readers also travel to Spain. There is a mysterious letter, ghosts from the past to confront and a twisty murder mystery to solve.

Here is the link to the full review: Killing Rock

is a link to an overview of when Robert Daws was the first author to join Hobeck Books.

Echo Rock is a stand-alone novella with Sullivan and Broderick. It’s a rather compelling ghostly crime fiction story that takes place in a tunnel that runs through Gibraltar.

Find out more and full review in this link: Echo Rock

To culminate this section, before moving onto other works, below is a link to an article I created when Robert Daws was the first author to join indie publisher – Hobeck Books. Many more authors have followed suit and joined.
Exciting Crime Fiction Article

Trueman & Riley is a crime drama play in short episodes, originally on BBC radio and now on Audible, where I discovered it and listened to during lockdown. It was written by Brian B. Thompson, whom many would know, of a certain youngish age, from creating tv series Byker Grove (teen drama set around a youth club with gritty storylines and known for launching the careers of the likes of Ant and Dec).
Trueman and Riley are 2 police detectives played by Robert Daws and Duncan Preston. There is much humour in their working relationship as well as some humour within some of the crimes, but also has a sharp edge as important issues are dealt with, bringing the series into some grittiness. It’s really worth listening to, with each episode bringing a different crime, complete in itself (note, you only need to download this compelling series once to have all the episodes. I’ve a few links that contain quick no spoiler reviews the episodes

Trueman & Riley Episodes 1 – 5 Trueman & Riley Episodes 6 – 10

Trueman and Riley – Episodes 11-14

Robert Daws is currently on a UK tour with Wodehouse in Wonderland, (5 stars) a one man play taking in P.G. Wodehouse, famous for his creation of Jeeves and Wooster, shown in books, theatre, tv.

Wodehouse in Wonderland is based on the life and works of P.G. Wodehouse. In amongst the entertainment, this tells a fascinating story, all performed by Robert Daws. It is humorous with a few serious moments. It is well-layered and is fascinating.
The construction of the script is excellent like this and the delivery is top notch and of the highest calibre. I’ve seen a few one man shows before and Robert Daws is up there with the best of them. It’s a real skill to be able to go solo and hold an audience in the palm of your hand and keep their attention focused on you. Robert Daws pulls it off with aplomb as he takes your through recognisable works of P.G. Wodehouse, such as Blandings and more, as well as his day to day life. He walks you through by bursts of song with dulcet tones (he has a fabulous singing voice) and spoken word.

I, however, not long before lockdown and there were stirrings of the pandemic no one knew much about and everywhere was open, there was another humorous play, called Ten Times Table. If anyone has ever sat on a board or wants an inkling of it, this, if it tours again, is the play for you. It is about a committee in a village who are trying to set up an event about the Pendleton Witches. The different personalities really come through of the sorts of people you may find on a Committee or Board. There are humorous discussions and wranglings as they try and reach, what is supposed to be a common goal. Find the link here TenTimes Table

When not filming or on stage, Robert Daws is a Partner In Crime with author Adam Croft (successful author of every crime genre you can get). It takes the premise of them talking all things crime from the latest books to tv dramas in this genre, all in a convivial manner, that’s just easy to relax into. There’s also often some humour and a warmth to be had between these two friends, as well as a warmth and care, projected onto their listening audience.
Note that when Robert Daws is away, there’s often a stand-in, such as Adrian Hobart from Hobeck Books – home of crime or Adam Croft has occasionally hosted it himself, so you don’t need to worry about it being irregular days and times. Find out more details in this link: Partners In Crime

When I first started my blog and it was only a few days old, with 2 pieces of writing about Bloody Scotland in it, I boldly travelled down to Morecambe for the Morecambe and Vice Crime Festival. Hugh Fraser and I had arranged to meet up and what a wonderful and amazing time that was, that’s still special to me today as was that meeting and further ones with Robert Daws.

At this time, it was the first time I had ever communicated with Robert Daws. I’d arrived the day before as it was quite a distance and decided to make myself useful and try writing up the festival, whilst I bided my time to meet up with Hugh Fraser as arranged (I had a lot to thank him for and that’s another story).
So, one of the talks I wrote up was one between Hugh Fraser and Robert Daws. It was an entertaining talk as well as very insightful about writing, their characters and certain things they agreed upon. You can find the entire write-up here.

Showcasing Robert Daws and Hugh Fraser Article

#Theatre #Review By Lou of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel By #DeborahMoggach #HaleyMills #RulaLenska #AndyDeLaTour #ShilaIbqual #NishadMore #PaulNicholas #TheBestExoticMarigoldHotel #TheatreRoyalGlasgow #UKTour #2022Tour #2023Tour

Review of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
By Deborah Moggach.

Based on the film, my heart soared with joy from start to finish when watching the stage version at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, Scotland. It is still touring and will into 2023. Find out more about the cast and my review below.

Review

Based on the film, The Best Exotic Marigold is stunning on stage. I saw it at the Theatre Royal In Glasgow. It is touring into next year. The cast is amazing. There is isn’t a single one who isn’t a strong member. I admit, I hesitated when I saw this was being made into a theatre play because I loved the films so much, but when the cast list appeared, I knew I had to give it a go and I also knew I may never see Haley Mills and Rula Lenska on stage again in this play, in Scotland. It is exciting that this is doing a tour before it even reaches London’s West End. That is so wonderful because it gives so many places a chance of seeing it now, instead of waiting. I love the Westend I hasten to add, but I often find this a genius way of doing theatre.
But, was the play good and my attraction to the storyline still there in my heart and soul?

The play was everything I had hoped for an more. Rula Lenska brought wit and glamour, Haley Mills brought charm, Shila Iqbal and Nishad More and Andy De La Tour played their parts with aplomb too and RekhaThe rest of the cast were also just as fabulous.

By and large it followed the film well and cleverly added updated references to means of communication, such as mentioning Zoom and in someways the highlighting to how the UK treat their elderly and comparing it to India was even more striking and also updated to reflect a bit of the political sphere.

There was humour, warmth and charm and everything the film has in droves and in some ways , certain points made and certain bits of humour was sharper, quicker. All eyes were on this fabulous cast. It was a cast of sheer skill as the cast made the audience feel involved, don’t mistaken this as an audience participation thing, it isn’t that, it was a hand gesture, a look, a sentence. I was captivated from start to finish.

The set was creative and awe inspiring for the hotel and it was ingenious to then become the call centre at various points.

This is a play I recommend you book if you can. It’s amazing and will remain in my heart and soul for a very long time.

The play is on a 2022/2023 tour in the UK.

#Review By Lou of Seeds of Memories – BlackHoundProductions @bphoundp – Reflective, Poignant, Hopeful #SeedsOfMemories #Theatre #Drama #EdFringe #EdFringe2022

Seeds of Memories
By Patrick Withey

A warm thanks to Cordelia for the invitation to review the poignant, hopeful, reflective play Seeds of Memories at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Find out more in the pics and my review below…

Ethereal Poignant

Sad Joyful

Exuberant. Peaceful

Creative Imaginative

The music, just before the cast were on stage had an air of sadness with something hopeful and positive reaching through, which captured the play very well.
Seeds of Memories is about grief, but not how you my suppose it would be. This is far from depressing. The story is told through the actors and puppets. Grandad and blackbirds in the garden are represented by puppets, which adds to the creativity and poignancy.

Grandad had a passion for his garden and he would tell his son, stories and poems; a recurring one throughout is one about seeing magpies – “One For Sorrow, Two For Joy”.

The seamless flashbacks, taken by grandad’s son – A, played by Ollie J. Edwards are exuberant and full of childlike joy and energy, each time he is there, in the garden with him. Then, in the present, he conveys, further, his love of his grandad, through peaceful reflections. A takes the audience through grandad’s life, of what he knew and through his own life, growing up. He gives his grandad life again and real imagery, yes, aided by the puppet, but also enough for the imagination to takeover. Grandad is given real personality and life experiences, that most people will relate to. Ollie, playing A had great comic timing. He could make you almost feel your eyes watery and then, suddenly, he will have you smiling or laughing as he demonstrates that grief isn’t always sad 24/7. All the way through, holding the audience and making his character be empathised and sympathised with.

Another dimension is given to aid this telling of this family’s story along. If ivy-clad walls could talk…. Well, this one could. Lisha Allen put in an ethereal performance, owning the stage as she moved around, everywhere on the stage, speaking with an almost haunting voice, as she looked unflinchingly and almost directly into your soul, as she ensured the audience, observing, were captured in the garden. The character was clever, just as nature has wisdom within it, so does the character of Nature, on stage, as more thought provoking points and reflection was created.

Mum/Nan, played by Lesley Hayes brought humour and matter of factness and got it spot on.

The play is written very well by Patrick Withey, and thoughtfully. In some parts, although, very contemporary, it has an almost Shakespearean feel and it also feels timeless and authentic.

The play, perhaps, surprisingly, has a had many bursts of positivity and shown how, even in the darkest of times, life can still be lived. If you’ve experienced grief or want to know an angle of what it may be like to, then if you ever get to see this play, which I reckon should be funded to tour, it is that good, then I highly recommend it. It might even have you thinking of your grandad and about how he sown seeds of memories within you to spread and tell, to keep an essence of him alive and how we, who are alive are expanding our seeds of memories by those passed onto us and as we create new ones, that we share.

#Review By Lou at Edinburgh Fringe Festival of – Once Sinha Lifetime ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️@paulsinha @edfringe @Edfringe2022 @ARedinburgh #OnceSinhaLifetime #Comedy

Review of In Conversation With
Paul Sinha and Once Sinha Lifetime

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went to see Paul Sinha’s show – Once Sinha Lifetime in the Assembly Rooms on George Street at The Edinburgh Fringe. It’s a candid, yet very entertaining with its well thought out flow in its construction. It’s definitely one to go and see, with one of the catchiest titles I’ve seen.
Paul Sinha is known for The Chase. The chaser who is a doctor and cracks some jokes. This is because he is also a comedian and comedy took over from being a GP. I saw 2 shows – In Conversation With…. and Once Sinha Lifetime, do I’ll write about both here. I highly recommend seeing his skilled comedy that whisks you into fascinating insights and a really good late afternoon out.

Below, you’ll find a link to book for Once Sinha Lifetime.

Before I continue, thanks to Paul Sinha for the photo.
I first saw the show… In Conversation With Paul Sinha. It made me want to see Once Sinha Lifetime. The In conversation was informative and very interesting as he took an enthralled audience through his younger years, his relationship with his parents and how they really wanted him to study science to be a GP. He also talked about how he had to make a decision between being a comedian or a GP once his agent started to get him more gigs and he couldn’t always make them due to clinic work etc. Turned out he made the right decision. He talked candidly about how his diagnosis of Parkinson’s came about. What struck me is that he seems quite positive and upbeat, which in turn was heartening, but perhaps I found it so because my mum has MS and also has a positive attitude. He also talked candidly about The Chase and quizzing.

The ‘In Conversation’ show neatly fit together with his comedy show – Once Sinha Lifetime (and yet also good as a stand alone as the In Conversation was 1 night only, whereas the comedy show is on for longer). It has to be said, without a doubt that it is one of the most memorable titles at the festival.

There is much humour within his comedic retelling of lifetime moments, which created a different sort of atmosphere, a bit lighter with shades of darkness you might say, but still with a candid nature as he covered the topics mentioned previously.

It is all very well constructed as he expertly weaves jokes, politics, life story telling and more, in and out of bursts of song and keyboard playing as he tells his audience what he wants them to know.

He also treated the audience to an insight of the first show he performed, it gave an insight into how far he has come and his beginnings of how he got started.
The audience weren’t merely observers to this fabulous show as he also had time to put in another thing he does best – quizzing, as he put out to the audience as a whole, a few questions from time to time to time that fit perfectly into this show.

There weren’t any props as such, except a table and keyboard, but nonetheless effective. Sometimes less really is more. I was curious about the book on the table and its significance.
For the readers out there, go and see his show to find out why there is an autobiography on the table that is not his own. I won’t say anything much more as there is a point to it and it would be a spoiler, but it is perhaps one of the most unexpected reasons that has much humour attached to it.

For both shows, it was clear that Paul Sinha cared how he was delivering to the audience and he talked about what he wanted to divulge. He also talked about considering writing an autobiography. As I said to him at the time, I absolutely think this should happen. There’s plenty of life experiences and enough that would interest audiences. He packs a lot in his hour long shows and I’m sure there’s even more to put into a book. I’d also be happy to see him again doing comedy. I’d be happy to read and review what he had to write about, based on what I’ve seen in these shows if a book ever does come into fruition.

The link to book your tickets, which I highly recommend you do – Once Sinha Lifetime