REVIEW: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Kenny Smith reviews The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. HANDS UP – I have to admit, I’ve never seen the hit film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. However, I do know about it and its basic concept, which sees an eclectic group of British retirees travel to India to embark…

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Scots Language Awards winners revealed

TIKTOK star Doric Dad and writer Liz Lochhead were among the winners at Saturday night’s Scots Language Awards. Hosted by poet Len Pennie and columnist Alistair Heather, the awards were presented at Dundee’s Gardyne Theatre. Beth Malcolm gave a special rendition of Hermless – an alternative Scottish national anthem – with Lewis and Euan McLaughlin…

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Wigtown Book Festival welcomes fiddlers

MUSICIANS from throughout Dumfries & Galloway joined members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra (SFO) for a concert yesterday lunchtime at Wigtown Book Festival. Beth Porter of The Bookshop Band was among the fiddlers taking part, along with her baby, Emmy Please. The SFO was co-founded by the late John Mason, who spent much of his…

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REVIEW: “The Book of Mormon”

Grant Dickie reviews The Book of Mormon at the Edinburgh Playhouse theatre. THERE’S  just something about a night at the theatre. The grand surroundings, the buzz of the crowd as they filter in, and the anticipation of the show to come. And, on the opening night of The Book of Mormon at the Playhouse in…

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Deaf heritage celebrated by three short films

THREE short movies by deaf filmmakers will be shown at Filmhouse Edinburgh on Sunday to celebrate deaf heritage. The films include Scotland, Forgive Me by Will Clark, which was shortlisted for a prize at DeafFest 2022. Scott Campbell’s film Deaf Kilmarnock, Their Story features the Ayrshire Society for the Deaf, while Ruaridh Lever-Hogg’s documentary Deaf…

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REVIEW: “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical”

Kenny Smith reviews Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. THE name “Carole King” is one that I’ve known for many years, but never really thought much about beyond that. To my shame, I hadn’t really thought much about her life beyond being an accomplished singer-songwriter, but that has been…

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REVIEW: Bugsy Malone

Kenny Smith reviews classic musical Bugsy Malone at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. THE wonderful thing about musicals is that they can be about pretty much anything – the lives of cats on the street, a battle between two men in revolutionary France, or a battle between gangsters in prohibition New York. The latter was…

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REVIEW: Rock of Ages

Kenny Smith reviews the Rock of Ages musical at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. IF YOU’VE gone to the theatre and left with a big, broad smile on your face then the chances are it’s a damned good show. That’s exactly what Rock of Ages is – if you’re looking for deep and meaningful theatre,…

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Brian Cox and Alan Cumming back King’s Theatre rescue bid

ACTORS including Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, and Gabriel Byrne have backed a campaign to save the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. The theatre is closing for a £25 million redevelopment. But the cost of the work has risen by 20-30% due to inflation and so Capital Theatres, which runs the site, is calling for increased funding,…

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