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TheQR

@theqr.bsky.social

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Reviews, news, and views of the performing, visual and experimental arts, cinema and music. Subscribe now at https://theqr.co.uk/

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TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 1d

“I want people to see a person, not a statistic.”

As Dial 1 for UK continues its national tour, Mohit Mathur speaks to theQR about care work, migration and the quiet resilience behind his debut play.

London press night: 16 Oct, Tara Theatre.

Read → wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpfx

#Dial1ForUK #UKTheatre

Inside Dial 1 for UK: Mohit Mathur in Conversation

Writer-performer Mohit Mathur talks to theQR about Dial 1 for UK, empathy, migration and the gap between Britain’s promises and lived reality.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 2d

The national tour of Impact Driver arrives at the Fruitmarket, Edinburgh.

Eve Stainton reflects on how welding, sound and choreography converge to test the limits of performance and perception.

Read the preview: wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpfb

#ImpactDriver #EveStainton #PerformanceArt #EdinburghArts

Forging Meaning: Eve Stainton on Welding, Queerness and Live Work

Eve Stainton talks to theQR about Impact Driver, the heat of welding and the queerness of collaboration ahead of their Fruitmarket performance.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 2d

Edinburgh’s Bare Productions is staging Next to Normal as its Scottish Fringe premiere in 2026.

Auditions open January.

Working with Held in Our Hearts and Bipolar Scotland, the company aims for empathy and truth through musical theatre.

Read the full feature: wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpaC

#EdFringe2026

Bare Productions to launch auditions for Scottish premiere of Next to Normal at Fringe 2026

Edinburgh’s Bare Productions will stage the Scottish premiere of Next to Normal at the 2026 Fringe, with auditions opening in January.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 2d

Scotland’s biggest trad-music night is back — and it’s paying tribute to one of Glasgow’s own.

Gary Innes charts his journey from shinty captain to orchestrator of Hoolie in the Hydro, and this year’s bold theme: Sir Billy Connolly.

Read more: wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpak

#HoolieInTheHydro #LiveMusic

The Big Yin meets the Hydro: Gary Innes on Billy Connolly, banter and the biggest ceilidh in the world

Gary Innes on bringing Hoolie in the Hydro back to Glasgow with a Billy Connolly tribute — Scotland’s biggest ceilidh goes even bigger.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 4d

“Also, it’s just more fun to have fun than not to have fun.”

English Kings Killing Foreigners, a razor-edged comedy by Nina Bowers and Philip Arditti at Soho Theatre — a farce that becomes a reflection on Englishness.

Read → wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpeq

#EnglishKingsKillingForeigners #Theatre

Nina Bowers and Philip Arditti on English Kings Killing Foreigners

Nina Bowers and Philip Arditti on English Kings Killing Foreigners, their sharp, funny dissection of Englishness, now running at Soho Theatre until 18 October.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 5d

“Maybe they don’t understand at first… Maybe later, they keep thinking about it.”

Naishi Wang & Jean Abreu translate dialogue into movement in Deciphers, opening 23–25 Oct at The Coronet Theatre, before embarking on a UK tour.

Read → wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpe4

#Deciphers #Dance #ContemporaryDance

“You Just Keep Moving”: Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu Bring Deciphers to the UK

Ahead of its UK premiere, Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu discuss Deciphers — a duet exploring translation, miscommunication, and the body as a living language.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 6d

A chess game, a confession, a reckoning.

Our latest review finds Cheapo — written by Katy Nixon and directed by Brian Logan — taut, unsettling and humane. “Biting, sometimes brutal dialogue.” ★★★★½

Read → wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpdW

#Cheapo #TraverseTheatre #PlayPiePint #TheatreReview

Review: Cheapo – Play, Pie & A Pint – Traverse

Part of A Play, A Pie and A Pint at the Traverse, Cheapo turns a quiet chess game into a tense moral battle between two teens and the truths they’d rather hide.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 6d

“Stage is my safe space where I can be unapologetically myself.”

Poet Angela Yausheva speaks to theQR about confession, connection and her upcoming @iamloudpro.bsky.social appearance (13 Oct - Scottish Storytelling Centre).

Read → wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpdO

#SpokenWord #AngelaYausheva #LoudPoets

Interview: Angela Yausheva on Stage, Song and Loud Poets

In this interview, poet Angela Yausheva discusses her confessional style and upcoming Loud Poets performance at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 13 October.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 6d

“They’re not props — they’re partners.”

In our interview, Tentacle Tribe’s Emmanuelle Lê Phan & Elon Höglund discuss PRISM, a mirror-filled choreography of reflection & identity debuting at Sadler's Wells East 8-11 Oct.

Read → wp.me/p91wLp-zErvpdF

#PRISM #TentacleTribe #Dance

“It Gave Us Permission to Go Big”: Tentacle Tribe on PRISM and Reflection

Montreal duo Tentacle Tribe discuss PRISM, their mirror-lined fusion of hip hop and contemporary dance, premiering at Sadler’s Wells East for Breakin’ Convention 2025.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 10d

Read our review of War Horse? ★★★★★

Seen at Festival Theatre Edinburgh, now on tour.

Catherine Coutts writes: “an emotional tale which underlines the futility of war, and an amazingly technical production with the best puppetry I have ever seen.”

#WarHorse #NationalTheatre

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Review: War Horse – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

War Horse returns to Edinburgh with breathtaking puppetry and emotional force, a technical and theatrical triumph at the Festival Theatre.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 10d

Have you read our review of Night Waking? ★★★

Seen at the Traverse Theatre, now on tour.

Part domestic nightmare, part historical reflection — we admired Nicola Jo Cully’s solo performance even as the play’s focus slipped.

#NightWaking #AnTobarMullTheatre #ScottishTheatre

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Review: Night Waking – Traverse Theatre

Nicola Jo Cully anchors An Tobar and Mull Theatre’s Night Waking, a darkly comic, uneven but atmospheric take on Sarah Moss’s novel.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 10d

Have you read our review of The Glass Menagerie? ★★★★

Dundee Rep’s co-production with Citizens Theatre & Royal Lyceum Edinburgh is a restrained, elegant revival of Tennessee Williams’ classic. On in Dundee until 18 October.

#TheGlassMenagerie #DundeeRep #UKTheatre

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Review: The Glass Menagerie – Dundee Rep

"...a fine, and darkly elegant production." - Andrew Panton assembles a splendid cast to bring Tennessee Williams' memory play to fresh life.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 12d

★★★ Puppetry, clowning and a wrestling ring finale — Hercules the Bear is inventive, funny and heartfelt family theatre. Its three acts don’t always mesh, but the spirit carries it.

Reviewed at Capital Theatres, now touring.

#HerculesTheBear #Tenterhooks #UKTheatre

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Review: Hercules the Bear – Tenterhooks

"...a fun and heartfelt piece of physical theatre." - Tenterhooks' ode to Hercules the Bear is a delightful, if slightly disjointed ode to an unlikely national icon.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 13d

★★★★.5 Dunedin Consort’s 30th anniversary season opened @ Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall with Corelli, Vivaldi, Muffat and Bach.

“Spirited, sprightly performances” marked a joyous start — our review captures the highlights.

#DunedinConsort #BaroqueMusic #ScottishMusic

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Review: Dunedin Consort, Queen’s Hall, September 25th

"...a highly accomplished performance and a suitable celebration of all the Dunedin Consort has achieved and will surely continue to achieve."

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 13d

★★★★ “Attmore dazzles in the extended tap sequences — crisp, charismatic, and rhythmic.”

Our review of Top Hat at Edinburgh Playhouse finds glamour, laughs, and Berlin’s melodies sparkling anew.

#TopHatMusical #UKTheatre #EdinburghTheatre

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Review: Top Hat at the Edinburgh Playhouse

Chichester Festival Theatre’s revival of Top Hat brings Irving Berlin, 1930s glamour and dazzling tap to the Edinburgh Playhouse.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 14d

“Heartwarming, life-affirming and a great antidote to the November blues.” That’s how producers frame Soundhouse Winter Festival, back at Traverse Theatre (27 Nov–1 Dec).

Our preview has highlights from folk to film scores.

#SoundhouseWinterFestival #EdinburghMusic #LiveMusic

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Edinburgh’s Soundhouse Winter Festival returns for 2025 edition

Soundhouse Winter Festival 2025 brings a diverse line-up of jazz, folk, classical and more to Edinburgh’s Traverse, 27 Nov–1 Dec.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 15d

“Where our young people come to gain confidence, our senior generations to dance … where theatre and cinema fans have access to some of the world’s best.”

Front-of-house manager Laura Johnstone on Cumbernauld Theatre — now under threat.

#SaveCumbernauldTheatre #CommunityArts

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Cumbernauld Theatre faces closure without £300,000 lifeline

Cumbernauld Theatre must raise £300k by December or face closure, threatening jobs, classes and Scotland’s only theatre-cinema in the new town’s 70th year.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 15d

Ahead of tonight’s premiere, we spoke with Tenterhooks about Hercules the Bear.

Fergus Dunnet remembers seeing him outside a butcher’s; Diane Thornton laughs “What script?”; Suzie Ferguson discovers puppetry anew.

#HerculesTheBear #Tenterhooks #ScottishTheatre

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“We surprised ourselves”: Tenterhooks bring Hercules the Bear to Edinburgh

Tenterhooks on clowning, puppetry and kindness as they bring Hercules the Bear to the stage. The new show plays the Studio in Edinburgh tonight!

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 19d

Amber Davies will headline Legally Blonde in a new Curve / ROYO production, opening at Edinburgh Playhouse Sept 2026.

Directed by Nikolai Foster, the tour also stops in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Read the full update.

#LegallyBlonde #AmberDavies #UKMusical

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Amber Davies to star as Elle Woods in new Legally Blonde musical at Edinburgh Playhouse

Fresh from being drafted into Strictly Come Dancing, the West End performer prepares to lead a major UK tour of the hit musical comedy. From Love Island to Legally Blonde Amber Davies will lead the ca...

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 19d

Ballet Black will debut on Sadler’s Wells’ main stage in November with SHADOWS, a bold double bill.

Taraja Hudson, Isabela Coracy and Helga Paris Morales lead works of abstraction and narrative.

Read our full report for insight.

#BalletBlack #SHADOWS #SadlersWells

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Ballet Black makes Sadler’s Wells debut with SHADOWS

Ballet Black makes its Sadler’s Wells debut with SHADOWS, a double bill of Chanel DaSilva’s A Shadow Work and Cassa Pancho’s My Sister, The Serial Killer.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 20d

★★★ “...more than enough stage magic to justify its quest.”

Our review of The Lightning Thief at Festival Theatre Edinburgh highlights Simone Robinson’s vocals, Vasco Emauz’s Percy, and Lizzie Gee’s brisk direction.

#PercyJackson #TheLightningThief #MusicalTheatre

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Review: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Review: The Lightning Thief at Edinburgh Festival Theatre is a solid show brimming with youthful energy and led by excellent young leads.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 21d

“Spanish cinema is on a high,” notes director Marian A. Aréchaga. @espanfilmf.bsky.social opens in a week with 17 films across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Tranent & Inverness. Read our preview.

#ESFF2025 #SpanishCinema #FilmFestival

The Quinntessential Review ‣ Inclusive independent Arts News, Views, and News.

Inclusive independent Arts News, Views, and News.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 23d

“The part is a non-stop train… once you get on, you only get off at the end.” Vasco Emauz on the challenge of Percy Jackson ahead of the Scottish premiere of The Lightning Thief.

#PercyJackson #UKTour #EdinburghTheatre

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Percy Jackson comes to Edinburgh: Vasco Emauz on leading The Lightning Thief

"Absolutely mindblowing..." Vasco Emauz on playing Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief, opening at Edinburgh Festival Theatre this week as part of the UK tour.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 23d

How do you take a Fringe show and “level it up” for a national tour? Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse describe Òran as “more muscular, more expansive.”

Read our full interview on the journey from Edinburgh container to UK venues.

#Òran #UKTour #TouringTheatre

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Òran 2.0: Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse on taking their Fringe hit nationwide

Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse on why community theatre wonders Wonder Fools’ hit Òran is heading out on its first UK tour, blending myth, music and community.

TheQR @theqr.bsky.social · 25d

“Theatre is a middle-class industry… there needs to be a cultural shift.” — Fraser Scott.

Our interview with Scott & Olivia Caw explores Common Tongue, which opens a national tour at Ayr Gaiety tonight!

#CommonTonguePlay #WorkingClassVoices #TouringTheatre
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Common Tongue returns: Fraser Scott and Olivia Caw on Scots and class in oor Theatres

Writer-director Fraser Scott and actor Olivia Caw tell The QR why their play about “imperfect Scots” is setting out on tour — and why its voice matters now. A play aboot imperfect Scots This autumn, C...