Festival MAILBOX

(P)REVIEWS Our first festival issue goes to press before any shows have actually taken place, meaning there are no bona fide Festival reviews yet. That doesn’t

stop some enthusiastic, enterprising and occasionally eccentric types using

our online comments section to get a head start though. Here’s a selection of the best you can add your voice to the conversation at list.co.uk/festival

Vicky Aldridge: Guilty Secrets One of the best female comedians I have seen, and I watch a lot of comedy. Definitely a must-see for all parents as the jokes are based on real life experiences. Vicky says all the things you are thinking but don’t vocalise. I was in stitches beginning to end. Highly recommend if you like stand up comedy, and if you don’t like comedy and want a good girls night out, you won’t be disappointed. Comment posted by Princess Shelley

Tshwane Gospel Choir

John Byrne: Sitting Ducks / Dead End

The Birdmann: A Man Like No Man It’s fine to be free. Comment posted by The Birdmann

Phenominal familiar must see!! Comment posted by Catriona MacTavish

B R I B E O F T H E W E E K

Tshwane Gospel Choir If you’re looking for the heartbeat of Africa then look no further than the drumbeats of Tshwane Gospel Choir . . . harmonious and rhythmic sounds of Africa presented raw or with instrumental accompaniment. Young souls from the capital city of South Africa . . . ready to blow you away. Comment posted by boitumelo langa

The Orc Mischief Free ring of power to each entrant! Comment posted by The Orc Mischief

Made in ILVA The Contemporary Hermit

‘A performance of rare perfection, abstract and concrete at the same time, able to instil strength and pain, strain and desperation in the apparent simplicity of dramaturgy . . . few sentences, often repeated; the body on stage is acted and exposed in an acrobatic concentration able to let feel physical and emotional tensions, the rhythm of work and the pulsation of thoughts for the real situation of Ilva of Taranto, for the effort of everyday life without hope which goes beyond every border. This performance is truly extraordinary accurate, rigorous under every aspect.’ Valeria Ottolenghi, Gazzetta of Parma. Comment posted by Instabili Vaganti Compagnia Teatrale

Next time: your reviews.

SWEATER CURSE We received a urry of bribes in our shameless opening appeal, but the clear winner in terms of uniqueness and craftsmanship was Elaine Liner’s envelope stuffed with colourful knitted cup cosies / wrist-warmers / small dog sweaters (each complete with a hand-written note). Elaine’s show, Sweater Curse, has a distinctly woollen theme running through it, so it’s good to know she has the crafty chops to back up her comedic storytelling skills. Sweater Curse, Sweet Grassmarket, 243 3596, 1–24 Aug (not 6, 13, 20), 2pm, £8 (£6). See list.co.uk/bribe for our Bribe of the Week runners up.

If you fancy buying some great exposure for your Festival performance, send some promotional payola to Big Fat Festival Bribe, The List, 14 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TE.

4 THE LIST FESTIVAL 31 Jul–7 Aug 2014

CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & General Editor

Robin Hodge Director Simon Dessain

EDITORIAL

Editor Gail Tolley

Festival Features Editor

Yasmin Sulaiman Research Manager

Kirstyn Smith Senior Researcher

Jaclyn Arndt Research

Alex Johnston, Rowena McIntosh, Henry

Northmore, Murray Robertson, Rebecca Monks

Editorial Assistant Colin Robertson

SALES & MARKETING Media Sales Manager

Chris Knox Senior Media Sales Executives

Nicky Carter, Debbie Thomson

Digital Sales Executive

Joe McManus Sales Support Executive

Jessica Rodgers Digital Business

Development Director

Brendan Miles Partnership Director

Sheri Friers

PRODUCTION Production Director

Simon Armin Senior Designer

Lucy Munro

DIGITAL Web Editor Hamish Brown

Digital Content Editor

Niki Boyle Social Media Editor

Yasmin Sulaiman Senior Developer Andy Carmichael Senior Designer Bruce Combe

Software Developer

Iain McCusker Senior DBA Andy Bowles

Digital Design Associate Jen Devonshire

Digital Production Assistant

Maud Sampson

ADMINISTRATION

Accounts Manager Sarah Reddie

Events and Administration

Assistant Jade Regulski

SECTION EDITORS Around Town Kirstyn Smith

Clubs Rosie Davies Comedy Brian Donaldson Dance/Kids Kelly Apter Food & Drink Donald Reid

Music Claire Sawers News David Kettle Theatre Gareth K Vile Up Front Niki Boyle

Visual Art Rachael Cloughton

Published by The List Ltd

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ISSN: 0959 - 1915

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