From The Skinny Archive… Matthew Bourne ‘s Swan Lake In 3D

★★★★★ Review by Missy Lorelei | 27 Jun 2012       This ravishing production from Sadler’s Wells in London is at once contemporary and utterly timeless. Bourne’s re-telling of the classic ballet has more than a slight Freudian overtone to the narrative; the adult Prince (touchingly portrayed by Dominic North) has mother issues; is seduced by aContinue reading “From The Skinny Archive… Matthew Bourne ‘s Swan Lake In 3D”

The Arts Are Not A Luxury

I grew up in a small working- class rural town in Perthshire, Scotland. Nothing much happened there; we didn’t have much money and TV was our only dose of culture. In my house, books were shoved into cupboards, hidden away like skeletons, and theatre, with the exception of am- dram panto, wasn’t “for the likesContinue reading “The Arts Are Not A Luxury”

Dance Review: Eidos/Rules To Live By

This wonderful double bill by dance artist Suzi Cunningham couldn’t be more perfect for this blog. Eidos was created by Cunningham in tribute to both the late,great Mark E Smith of The Fall, and Cunningham ‘s own grandmother, who like Cunningham herself exuded glamour and independence. Cunningham is like a shapeshifting sorceress. She is, variously,Continue reading “Dance Review: Eidos/Rules To Live By”

From the Exeunt Archive: Slap And Tickle

REVIEWS • DANCE • REVIEWSPublished 25 April 2017 Review: Slap and Tickle at Tramway, Glasgow APRIL 21 – APRIL 22 A particularly British nightmare: Lorna Irvine is at Dance International Glasgow to review Liz Aggiss’ boundary-breaking, genre-melding solo show. LORNA IRVINE Slap and Tickle, Tramway, Glasgow. Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Liz Aggiss. NowContinue reading “From the Exeunt Archive: Slap And Tickle”

One From Exeunt Archive: Jasmin Vardimon Pinocchio

REVIEWS • DANCE • REVIEWSPublished 12 May 2017 Review: Pinocchio at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh MAY 2 A highly original, thoroughly rollicking ninety minutes: Lorna Irvine enjoys Jasmin Vardimon’s multi-faceted dance adaptation of this classic children’s story. LORNA IRVINE Pinocchio, Jasmin Vardimon Company. Photo: Tristram Kenton. Assassins? Beyonce? A brutal subtext about exploitation? It must be choreographer Jasmin Vardimon’sContinue reading “One From Exeunt Archive: Jasmin Vardimon Pinocchio”

The Future’s Here Today: Doom Scroller

Hiding in velveteen corners in smoke filled rooms you may find the enigmatic Doom Scroller. The Edinburgh based trio- comprised of singer and award- winning video artist Alex Auldsmith along with Scott Bathgate and Alex Palmer – make majestic, atmospheric electronic music designed to be heard undercover of darkness. It’s dark, seductive and intoxicating. The videoContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Doom Scroller”

New Release: Idles- Dancer

Apart from their track about degrees, reggae and jobs (Well Done) the appeal of Idles somewhat passed me by. I always felt they ripped off The Ruts a bit. But this new single has a bit of a groove and swagger, and you have to like a video that pastiches the silly, macho strut ofContinue reading “New Release: Idles- Dancer”

Overlooked Classics: Hail The New Puritan (1987)

“Michael! Michael! “ I’m trying not to get too nostalgic here, as any nostalgia suggests there’s nothing worth dipping into in contemporary culture, but Charles Atlas’ fictionalised account of Michael Clark was like a firework going off in my soul. Something just sparked within me. Epiphany is an understatement. This was something I wanted inContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Hail The New Puritan (1987)”

Dance Preview: Beautiful Chaos 2.0

Pirita Tuisku and Thabo Mokolobate ‘s collaboration Beautiful Chaos 2.0 explores identity , friendship, culture and the ties that bind in this new collaboration at Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh. Using contemporary dance, film and spoken word, the two explore belonging at a time when it’s never felt more necessary to celebrate humanity and that whichContinue reading “Dance Preview: Beautiful Chaos 2.0”