Posts by Kenny Smith
Fringe: A production of two halves – and it’s superb
BalletBoyz is an outstanding production. The production is presented in two halves, Them and Us, both choreographed and executed perfectly to the accompanying music score by Charlotte Harding and Keaton Henson respectively. ‘Them’ explores individuality of movement, ‘Us’ explores human connections. The all-male dance troupe are metronomic in their precision, graceful in their movement, expressive…
Read MoreBattle weekend will be a sight to behold
Dunbar will come alive with the thundering of hooves and crack of muskets, as the Scottish Battlefields Trust returns to re-enact the 1650 Battle of Dunbar as part of East Lothian’s Battle Weekend. Re-enactors from across the UK are expected put on an exhilarating display recreating a key part of the battle, amidst a series of…
Read MoreAn interactive show will get you dancing
The dividing line between dance and physical theatre can be confusing, the first is an artistic movement of non-verbal communication with a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music. The latter is describe as any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama through primary and secondary physical…
Read MoreÂŁ2.3million fundraising for the Waverley continues
Fundraising to buy new boilers for The Waverley paddle steamer to get it back on Scotland’s rivers and seas is well underway. This year was the first time the vessel has been withdrawn from service in 45 years due to mechanical problems. Waverley is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and was famously…
Read MoreFringe: Warm laughs delivery with wit and speed
A stand-up comedian’s life is a difficult one. I know an audience’s response can blow oxygen onto the wit, speed and delivery of the patter but today Maria Shehata was on her own. The audience mostly there as the show was a ‘voluntary contribution’ entrance fee. Like all things in life there is a direct…
Read MoreA look at what goes into making fine furniture
In this large but stunningly illustrated and compelling autobiographical tome, artist Rupert Williamson dissects the organic process which came to define his work as a fine furniture maker. The mildly dyslexic designer embraced futurism in the early 1970s with gawdy, bulbous, curved structures, desperate to topple the establishment – which for a designer at that…
Read MoreStory of the Scottish Wildcat brought to book
Tracking the Highland Tiger is an eye-opening account of the tormented lives of Scottish Wildcats. Taylor tells the story of how the beautiful animals used to live, in all their glory, compared to their lives now with numbers depleting rapidly. Many of Scotland’s wild animals, from bears to wolves, have been driven to extinction –…
Read MoreLiving in a lighthouse is a novel experience
The Lighthouse Keepers is an inspirational and light-hearted novel that follows Max, an aspiring young musician. The novel is set in the west coast of Scotland, making many of the places mentioned recognisable to local readers. Anderson is able to bring to life, with vivid descriptions, the enchanting music that Max creates drawing emotional responses…
Read MoreTheodore is keeping spirit of the Picts alive
A new gin powered by the spirit of the Picts will mark International Scottish Gin Day. The picts once settled near Theodore Gin’s home in the Northern Highlands. Not much is known for sure about the Picts, but that sense of mystery has inspired the creation of this new spirit. The body-painted warriors are alleged…
Read MoreIce cream scoops eight awards at UK event
Equi’s Ice Cream is celebrating winning eight Great Taste Awards; their biggest awards haul to date, in the most prestigious food and drink competition in the UK. The Hamilton-based ice cream producer was awarded Two Star Great Taste Awards for six of their delicious flavours, including their famous Double Cream Vanilla. The judges recognised the…
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