Posts Tagged ‘reviews’
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 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 MoreThe dedication of Henrietta Tayler to help in the war
Henrietta Tayler was a truly remarkable woman in the First World War effort. Born into the Scottish gentry, she might have lived a life of ease, but instead chose to dedicate herself to assisting the soldiers on the front line. She also published more than 30 full-length works and articles in order to help and…
Read MoreA carefully curated collection of summer writing
Carefully selected by Melissa Harrison, this anthology has been put together to capture the spirit of summer. The physical wonders are captured through the writings of well-known authors such as Charles Dickens, George Elliott and Edward Step, to name a few, and together they form a collection which reconnects the reader with the natural world.…
Read MoreExamining the works of artist Pat Douthwaite
The expressive work of artist Patricia Douthwaite (1934-2002) is tricky to define and has changed over the years. Her work initially represented her naivety with themes of culture and intelligence. In the later years of her art career there is a significant difference in Douthwaite’s themes and intentions. Her art was not made for the…
Read MoreMagical tales from ancient Scots mythology
The Old Grey Magician is a compilation of short stories featuring Fionn and his crowd of men (the Fianna) and his poet son, Ossian. The Old Grey Magician is a mystical figure who frequently appears throughout Celtic mythology, often taking on different forms and shapeshifting. This book is one of the first collections featuring a…
Read MoreThe tragic story of a Scots soldier – in his own words
So many Scottish families have their own stories from World Wars I and II. This is the biography of Charles Grant Tennant, a pacifist who joined the Army at the outbreak of the Great War and died in May 1915. Cumbrae-based Fergus Boyle has assembled a fascinating first-hand account of the life of his great-uncle,…
Read MoreThe bravery and sacrifice of brave Scot Jane Haining
The true story of Scottish heroine Jane Haining is a truly harrowing one. As matron of a Hungarian residential school that housed Jewish orphans, Jane protected them with all her might, refusing to flee the country in 1944 – a decision that ultimately led to her death. Her story of self-sacrifice is portrayed by Miller…
Read MoreThe general who led an incredibly military career
General Sir Ralph Abercromby led an extraordinary life – he twice served as an MP, was appointed governor of Trinidad, Commander-in-Chief of Ireland. He was highly respected by his troops and this in-depth, absorbing read covers the French Revolutionary Wars, a critical time in Europe’s tumultuous political history. Though it requires intense concentration, and with…
Read MoreAdd a splash of colour to your life with exhibition
Time’s running out to visit an interactive exhibition that brings Mexico City to Glasgow’s Southside. Tramway presents Bara Bara Bara, the first solo exhibition by Mexico City based artist Pia Camil in Scotland – with rave reviews, this exhibition has brightened up the darkest of dreich days. Drawing inspiration from urban forms and mechanisms of…
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