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CHANNING TATUM’S

MAGIC MIKE LIVE IN LONDON

EXTENDS BOOKING PERIOD

AT THE HIPPODROME CASINO

TO 2 JULY 2023

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Channing Tatum and his co-producers are delighted toannounce a new booking period for Magic Mike Live at The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino in London. Patrons will be able to book performances through to Sunday 2 July 2023. Tickets for the new booking period are on sale now.

The cast of Magic Mike Live in London includes Sarah Annakin, Daniel Blessing, Natacza Boon, Jake Brewer, Harry Carter, Hannah Cleeve, Peter Cleverley, Joel Ekperigin, Petr Fedorovskii, Luca Figarazzi, Myles Harper, Charlie Knight, Mark Lace, Theo O. Bailey, James Percy, Ross Sands, Josie Scamell and Manny Tsakanika.

Conceived and co-directed by Channing Tatum, Magic Mike Live, which has already wowed over 300,000 people in London alone and over 1,000,000 worldwide, is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, which opened at The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino in London’s Leicester Square in November 2018.  Magic Mike Live has inspired a new television series on HBO Max, Finding Magic Mike, which aired in the United States earlier this year. Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the third instalment of the Magic Mike franchise, will be released this autumn.

From the bespoke entrance off Cranbourn Street, to the specially curated lounge and bar experience, to the cast of world-class performers, Magic Mike Live is a complete evening of unparalleled entertainment for guests aged 18 and up.  Audience members enter Magic Mike’s mythical club and marvel as a group of extraordinary artists perform a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular in front of, behind, and above them.  Sexy dance routines intertwined with one-of-a-kind acts, are presented by a diverse cast of performers from around the world.

Magic Mike Live in London is co-directed by Channing Tatum and Alison Faulk, with Luke Broadlick as associate director, and choreography by Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa and Luke Broadlick.The Executive Producer is Vincent Marini with General Management by Crossroads Live. The production designer is Rachel O’Toole, with scenic design by Rob Bissinger and Anita LaScala (Arda Studio), costume design by Marina Toybina, lighting design by Philip Gladwell and video design by Luke Halls.  Musical supervisor is Jack Rayner, with sound design by Nick Kourtides.  Dreya Weber is aerial choreographer & aerial apparatus designer. 

Magic Mike Live has become an international sensation since opening in Las Vegas in April 2017.  In addition to breaking box office records and performing to sold-out audiences in Las Vegas and London, the show premiered in Berlin in 2020 and the Australia national tour opened in Sydney in December 2020.  A multi-year North American touring production of Magic Mike Live will launch in Miami, Florida in October 2022.

Magic Mike Live is produced in London by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Greg Jacobs, Peter Kiernan, Steven Soderbergh, Nick Wechsler and United Talent Agency in association with Warner Bros., Vincent Marini, The Hippodrome Casino, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, TSG Entertainment & Ashley DeSimone, Richard Winkler and The Creative House.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Magic Mike Live

The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino

Cranbourn Street

Leicester Square

London WC2H 7JH

Website:  www.magicmikelondon.co.uk  

Twitter:  @MagicMikeLDN

Facebook:  @MagicMikeLDN

Instagram:  @MagicMikeLiveLDN

TikTok:  @Magicmikelivelondon

Box Office:  Box.office@hippodromecasino.com

Ticket Prices from: £39

Current Booking Period: until Sunday 2 July 2023

Running Time:  approximately 90 minutes (no interval)

Performances: Wednesday 7pm, Thursday 7pm & 10pm*, Friday 7pm & 10pm*, Saturday 4pm, 7pm & 10pm*, Sunday 4pm & 7pm

*Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances will be at 7pm and 9.30pm from 5 January 2023

No performances: w/c 5 September or w/c 12 September 2022

Christmas 2022/23 Performance Schedule

Monday 19 December                      No Performance

Tuesday 20 December                      7 pm & 10pm

Wednesday 21 December                7 pm & 10pm

Thursday 22 December                    7 pm & 10pm

Friday 23 December                         7pm & 10pm

Saturday 24 December                     4pm

Sunday  25 December                      No Performance

Monday 26 December                      No Performance

Tuesday 27 December                      7 pm & 10pm

Wednesday 28 December                7 pm & 10pm

Thursday 29 December                    7 pm & 10pm

Friday 30 December                         7 pm & 10pm

Saturday 31 December                     7pm

Sunday 1 January                              4pm & 7pm

Magic Mike Live guests must be at least 18 years to attend – appropriate photo ID will be requested on arrival at the venue – begambleaware.org

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIÈRE OF NEW MISCHIEF COMEDY GOOD LUCK, STUDIO PRESENTED BY MERCURY THEATRE AND WILTSHIRE CREATIVE

Mercury Theatre and Wiltshire Creative today announce the full cast for the world première production of Mischief’s Good Luck, Studio. Henry Lewis directs Adam Byron (Anthony), Bryony Corrigan (Saoirse), Eboni Dixon (Pam), Jemma Geanaus (Elizabeth), Harry Kershaw (Sean), Chris Leask (Toby), Greg Tannahill (Kevin), Gareth Tempest (David Cooper-Brown), Sophia Lorenti (Michaela) and Tom Walker (Andy). Designs are by Sara Perks, with lighting design by David Howe, sound design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, composition by Richard Baker, fight direction by Greg Tannahill and casting by Jenkins McShane Casting.

This dark new comedy opens on 5 October at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, with previews from 30 September, before transferring to Salisbury Playhouse followed by Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Mercury and Wiltshire Creative present the world première of the Mischief production

By arrangement with Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd

GOOD LUCK, STUDIO

Written by HENRY SHIELDS; Directed by HENRY LEWIS

Mercury Theatre, Colchester: 30 September – 15 October 2022

Salisbury Playhouse, Wiltshire: 18 October – 5 November 2022

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford: 8 – 12 November 2022

Good Luck, Studio is a new dark comedy from the award-winning Mischief, written by Henry Shields and directed by Henry Lewis and with access performances available across both venues.

It’s the final night of recording Wibble the Dragon. The show is massively over budget and under written. With one hour left to film, 16 pages to go, and an audience of screaming children getting more and more impatient, the cast and crew know big cuddly heads are going to roll. 

The last thing anyone needs is a failed actor showing up with a sinister vendetta and his own dragon costume. In this kid’s TV show, more than just careers will die.

Adam Byron plays Anthony. Byron’s theatre credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre/UK tour), Lights! Camera! Improvise! (The Comedy Store), The Liberation of Colette Simple (St James’s Theatre), Waiting for Lefty (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and The Ofsted Inspector (West Sussex Theatre). Their film credits include Kung Fury 2 and The Love Punch.

Bryony Corrigan plays Saoirse. Corrigan’s theatre credits include Magic Goes Wrong, Groan Ups (Vaudeville Theatre), Clear White Light, My Romantic History (Live Theatre), The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre/Lyceum Theatre, Broadway), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre), How I Learned to Drive (Southwark Playhouse), Lights! Camera! Improvise! (Duchess Theatre), Something Cloudy, Something Clear (Greenwich Theatre) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pleasance); and for screen: Good Omens, The Goes Wrong Show, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

Eboni Dixon plays Pam. Dixon’s stage credits include Secret Cinema’s Bridgerton, Peter Pan Goes Wrong (UK tour), Wings for Philomel (Southwark Playhouse), Sundown Town (Tristan Bates Theatre), Notes from The Field (Royal Court Theatre) and Lyric Fest (Lyric Hammersmith).

Jemma Geanaus plays Elizabeth. Geanaus’s stage credits include Gangsta Granny (UK tour), Dick Whittington (Hackney Empire), Peter Pan (National Theatre) and Jack and the Beanstalk (Salisbury Playhouse). Their film credits include Matilda and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Harry Kershaw playsSean. Kershaw’s theatre credits include What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep Theatre), Magic Goes Wrong (Vaudeville Theatre), Edmond de Bergerac (UK tour/Birmingham Rep Theatre), The Madness of King George III (Nottingham Playhouse), This House (National Theatre/UK tour), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Pleasance/Apollo Theatre), The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre), Lights! Camera! Improvise! (Duchess Theatre/Pleasance) and One Man, Two Guvnors (National Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket). Their screen credits include Skyfall, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Great Expectations.

Chris Leask plays Toby. Leask’s theatre credits include The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre), I Need to Vent (Vaults Theatre), The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre/UK tour) and Love Your Soldiers (Sheffield Theatres). Their screen credits include The Goes Wrong Show, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.

Greg Tannahill plays Kevin. Tannahill’s theatre credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre/UK tour/Lyceum Theatre, Broadway), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre) and Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Pleasance/Apollo Theatre). Their screen credits include The Goes Wrong Show, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.

Gareth Tempest plays David Cooper-Brown. Tempest’s theatre credits include Classic! (Hope Mill Theatre/Pleasance), The Invisible Man (Theatr Mwldan), Property (New River Studios), Cinderella, Twelfth Night, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington (The Riverfront, Newport), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre), Loot (UK tour), It’s A Family Affair (Sherman Cymru), The Lonesome West (Alma Tavern Theatre), Adventures in Wonderland (Vaults Theatre) and A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum (Tobacco Factory).

Sophia Lorenti plays Michaela. Lorenti’s theatre credits include Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (UK tour), Momentary Insight (London Improv Theatre), Walter & Maisy Have a Very Long Day (Oso Arts Centre) and Thark (Drayton Arms Theatre); and for film: 51 and Lake Placid vs. Anaconda.

Tom Walker plays Andy. Walker’s well-known fictional alter-ego is political correspondent, Jonathan Pie, which has led to four international tours and a regular feature in The New York Times’ opinion page. Their theatre credits include The Quiet House (Park Theatre), Noises Off (The Old Vic), The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Teatro Petruzzelli, Italy), The Merchant of Venice (Hazlitt Arts Centre), The City Wives’ Confederacy (Greenwich Playhouse), Twelfth Night (Oxford Shakespeare Company), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Opera North) and Annie Get Your Gun (Union Theatre).

www.goodluckstudio.co.uk

#GoodLuckStudio

GOOD LUCK, STUDIO

Listings

Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT

30 September – 15 October 2022

Box office: www.mercurytheatre.co.uk / 01206 573948

Access performances:

Relaxed: 13 October at 2:30pm

Captioned: 14 October at 7:30pm

Touch tour: 15 October at 1pm

Audio described: 15 October at 2:30pm

Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7RA

18 October – 5 November 2022

Box office: www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/main-house// 01722 320333

Access performances:

Relaxed, BSL and captioned: 27 October at 2:15pm

BSL and captioned: 1 November at 7:30pm

Touch tour and audio described: 3 November

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX

8 – 12 November 2022

Box office: https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/good-luck-studio / 01483 440000

Twitter and Facebook: @GoodLuckOnStage

Instagram: @GoodLuck_OnStage

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

The Space on North Bridge (Fife Theatre), Venue 36 – until 13 August 2022

3***

This 45 minute show from the Woolly Sheep Company certainly packs a lot in. And whilst Rob Wilson’s script eventually answers a lot of questions, it does raise a lot too.

Sammy Wise (Robin Herron) is a painter, he is approached by Petra (Charlotte Fenton) to speak about his paintings. He is reluctant to talk about one – The Serated Edge, but Petra belligerently keeps at him until he eventually reveals its mysteries.

The story is conveyed along with excerpts from interviews including Beatrice Shilling, a celebrated aeronautical engineer and amateur racer during the second world war; Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the most senior naval officer captured in Vietnam and Welsh warbler Tom Jones. There is also music moving it along too and leaving clues which are revealed at the end of the tale.

Its an interesting story, but you need to be quick because the company are only in Scotland until Saturday

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Doonstairs), Venue 24 – until 21 August 2022

5*****

Theatre Fideri Fidera present this new twist on the classic tale of William Tell written by Colin Grainger. This is a show aimed at children, but even us bigger kids enjoyed it.

Natasha Grainger stars as Wilhelmina Tell the daughter of William, who is currently locked away in the deepest, darkest dungeons of Baron Boris von Bummelkrachenhofer (Jack Faires). In order to rescue her father, Wilhelmina disguises herself as the brave knight, Will von Pumpernickel and challenges the Baron to a joust. Astride her donkey Rosina, Will must save the day.

Along the way, Will catches the eye of the Baron’s daughter Edeltraut (also played by Faires) who bares a striking resemblance to her father.

With the help of the audience, Will rescues her father and Edeltraut and they all return to the family farm with Rosina and the Baron’s stallion Prinz, where they all live happily ever after.

The horse and donkey are a triumph, dressed up bikes by Mike Patterson and a simple but effective set by Paul Harrison.

This is a lovely feel good tale for children, with multiple life lessons that girls can do anything, its okay for Edeltraut to fall in love with Wilhelmina and that good will always conquer evil. Take your children along to the Gilded Balloon to enjoy this sweet story

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE

SELL OUT ALMEIDA THEATRE PRODUCTION

OF MULTI AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR

ROBERT ICKE’S

THE DOCTOR

WRITTEN BY ROBERT ICKE

VERY FREELY ADAPTED FROM PROFESSOR BERNHARDI BY ARTHUR SCHNITZLER

TOURING FOR THREE WEEKS IN BRIGHTON, BATH AND RICHMOND

BEFORE A WEST END RUN AT THE DUKE OF YORK’S 

FROM 29 SEPTEMBER – 11 DECEMBER 2022

★★★★★

The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times, The Sunday Times, WhatsOnStage

★★★★

The Times, Evening Standard, The Observer, Independent, The Stage, Metro

Joining the previously announced, Juliet Stevenson, and returning to the production are Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun (The Lion King), Mariah Louca (Best Of Enemies), Daniel Rabin (King Lear), Naomi Wirthner (An Evening At The Talkhouse) and Hannah Ledwidge on drums.

New cast members include Doña Croll (The Heresy of Love), Juliet Garricks (100 Paintings), Preeya Kalidas (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), John Mackay (Oresteia), Matilda Tucker (The Snow Queen) and Sabrina Wu. 

The Doctor, by Robert Icke, very freely adapted from Professor Bernhardi by Arthur Schnitzler, has been critically lauded since it opened at the Almeida in August 2019, with Juliet Stevenson in the title role. This is their third collaboration together to transfer to the West End, previous ones being Mary Stuart in 2018 and Oresteia in 2015.

The play headlined the Adelaide Festival in 2020, before it was due to transfer to the West End. This was delayed until 2022 due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

In a divisive time, in a divided nation, a society takes sides.

The latest smash-hit by “Britain’s best director” (Telegraph) is a “provocative, wonderfully upsetting” (Independent) whirlwind of gender, race and questions about identity, “one of the peaks of the theatrical year” (Guardian) and a “devastating play for today” (Financial Times). 

The production has designs by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Natasha Chivers, sound and composition by Tom Gibbons and casting by Julia Horan CDG.

3800 STALLS TICKETS – PRICED AT JUST £25 will be available across the run exclusively for NHS employees and blue light workers (which includes emergency services, those who work in the social care sector and the armed forces). These tickets are available via the official box office ATG Tickets (just select the ‘NHS/Blue Light’ option whilst booking, and present one ID per transaction when you arrive).

The Doctor is produced by The Ambassador Theatre Group & Almeida Theatre, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Dawn Smalberg & Richard Winkler

Runaway Entertainment presents

2:22 – A GHOST STORY

The hit play by Danny Robins

Directed by Matthew Dunster

@222AGhostStory #222AGhostStory 

• 2.22 – A GHOST STORY ANNOUNCES THE FOURTH CAST FOR ITS EXTENDED RUN AT THE CRITERION THEATRE 
   
• TAMSIN CARROLL WILL PLAY LAUREN, FELIX SCOTT WILL PLAY SAM, LAURA WHITMORE WILL PLAY JENNY AND MATT WILLIS WILL PLAY BEN
   
• THE CURRENT CAST AT THE CRITERION THEATRE WILL PERFORM UNTIL 4 SEPTEMBER 2022 WITH THE NEW CAST TAKING OVER FROM 6 SEPTEMBER – 8 JANUARY
   
• TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM WWW.222AGHOSTSTORY.COM

Producer Runaway Entertainment is delighted to announce casting news for the extended West End run of Danny Robins’ edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story. The extension follows two record breaking runs at the Noel Coward and Gielgud Theatres and a hugely successful run with the current cast at the Criterion Theatre, plus three Olivier Nominations including Best New Play, and winning the Best New Play category in the Whatsonstage awards.

Tamsin Carroll will play the role of Lauren. Tamsin said: “As a self confessed scaredy-cat, I’m so glad to have Matt, Felix and Laura to band together with on this supernatural adventure.”

Felix Scott will play the role of Sam.  Felix said: “I am thrilled to be joining the cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story. It is incredibly exciting to be part of this brilliant production.”

Making her West End debut Laura Whitmore will play Jenny. Laura said: “I’m so excited to be making my West End debut playing Jenny in the next production of 2:22. Theatre has always been my first love and I can’t wait to get back on stage. I am a huge fan of the previous productions and delighted to be getting stuck in with rehearsals and working alongside such a hugely talented cast and team.”

Matt Willis will play Ben. Matt said: “I am beyond excited to be a part of this incredible show. I saw the production last year and absolutely loved it.  I can’t wait for people to come and watch!”

Matthew Dunster said: “This is our 4th West End cast. We have already done over 100 performances at the Criterion and over a year in the West End in total. These are the shows you dream of being involved in. To reach, entertain and frighten as many people as we have feels very special. The show constantly evolves; each brilliant cast teaches us new things about Danny’s play and surprises our audiences, many of whom come again and again to experience the new life of the play. I’m so excited to be working with Isabel Marr, my Co-Director to realise this fourth version of the show that finally gives us the opportunity to scare the s**t out of people on Halloween.”

The production began its life last summer at the Noel Coward Theatre starring Lily Allen, Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood. It then transferred to the Gielgud Theatre for 10 weeks from 4 December 2021. The production there, starring Stephanie Beatriz, James Buckley, Elliot Cowan and Giovanna Fletcher, completed its run on 12 February 2022. The current cast at the Criterion Theatre features Tom Felton as Sam, Mandip Gill as Jenny, Beatriz Romilly as Lauren and Sam Swainsbury as Ben. The US premiere of 2:22 A Ghost Story will be at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles where it will run from 29 October to 4 December 2022.

2.22 – A Ghost Story is written by award-winning writer Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist and it is directed by Matthew Dunster. Intriguing, funny and scary, it takes audiences into one adrenaline-fueled night where secrets will emerge and ghosts may appear….What do you believe? And do you dare to discover the truth?

“There’s something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time.”

Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they are going to stay up… until 2.22am… and then they will know.

Danny Robins said “I love the fact that, like Doctor Who, we keep regenerating and we have some truly thrilling performers here. How exciting is it to be looking forward to Laura Whitmore’s stage debut? And Matt Willis has more than proved himself to be a brilliant, explosive actor in recent years. Felix and Tamsin make up our foursome – both absolutely epic talents. I have a feeling this is going to be a particularly spine-tingling incarnation of my play, so, if you haven’t seen it already, come! If you have, come again!!! There’s no better time than the Autumn for a ghost story as the nights draw in… so come down to the Criterion and enjoy the ultimate spooky night out! We can’t wait to unleash this new cast on you…”

2:22 – A Ghost Story features set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound, co-direction by Isabel Marr, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and illusions by Chris Fisher.

2:22 – A Ghost Story is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David and Kater Gordon. 

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Underbelly George Square (Udderbelly), Venue 300 – until August 29th 2022

5*****

When you enter the Udderbelly, it feels like you are suddenly back in your Nan’s best room, there is a chair, a cabinet (my Nan called her’s a sideboard) and a chest of drawers. Photo’s adorn the cabinet of a child who is clearly loved and adored by their family.

And then Rob Madge enters, dressed in their homemade Tinkerbell outfit complete with wings, we have a confetti filled song of welcome.

There is a video player and Rob takes us back to their childhood and the homemade video’s of when they wrote, produced, directed and starred in Disney parades in their, and other members of their family’s, home. There is no doubt Rob was a flamboyant child and their parents went with it, encouraging their talent, enrolling them in Stagecoach which helped them on their way to being a child star in Mary Poppins and Les Miserables amongst others. But Rob wanted to dress up at school and would rather be in the dressing up corner at break time than outside with the other children, who didn’t understand them and so beat them up. A particularly insensitive teacher suggested that if they dressed up less they might make more friends and for a while their spark was snuffed out.

Thankfully, with lots of love and a family who would clearly do anything for them, their light began to burn bright again.

There is a lot of honesty in this production, Rob tells us all about their first crush on the star of the play about the Pied Piper at Stagecoach, about wanting to be Belle after his dad bought him the Beast outfit and about finding their way.

This coming of age biopic is truly a thing of beauty, its life affirming and will leave you crying like a baby. Quite frankly the entire show needs to be shown in schools to educate both the children and the teachers. Children aren’t their to be squeezed into genders and pre-formed assumptions, they are there to be to singular, glorious individuals like Rob and should be applauded as such.

If you only see one show at the Fringe this year – this is the one you must see.

Fingers crossed it tours

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Pleasance Courtyard (Beyond), Venue 33 – until 28 August 2022

5*****

After his success at the Disasters in Magic Charity Fundraiser, the Mind Mangler (Henry Lewis) returns with his new show.

With help from the audience including Brian (Jonathan Sayer) who had never met the Mind Mangler before, the show included guessing deep dark secrets, predictions, and tricks.

Lewis rattled off his performance with just a touch of magic but this a show that “goes wrong” and it goes wrong in such a clever way. And the Mind Mangler soon goes from pompous to irate as the tricks go wrong and things begin to fall apart.

Ben Hart, also performing his own show at the Fringe, acted as magic consultant to the show, you know that its going to be good.

There is a lot of heart and poignant moments in the midst of the hilarity and its an hour show that flies by far too quickly. Hopefully the Mind Mangler will return again, with another show very soon, and I can’t wait to see it when he does

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Pleasance at EICC, Venue 150 – until 28 August 2022

5*****

I tell everyone that I saw The Play That Goes Wrong in room above a pub, with the cast outnumbering the audience. And a few years ago at the Fringe, I saw Lights, Camera, Improvise which has now evolved into Mischief Movie Night.

It’s a simple premise, the audience shout out suggestions and the incredibly talented performers act out the film under the guidance (and direction) of Oscar (Jonathan Sayer).

The night we attended we witnessed a zombie horror musical set in a hairdressers. The onstage musicians provided the tune for the opening number “Snip Snip” and off we went. Stopping along the way for rewinds, directors cuts and explanations and Chicken Nuggets

This was one hour of total, surreal hilarity and you are guaranteed to see a different show every night. You’d be foolish to miss it

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Pleasance Courtyard (Below), Venue 300 – until 27 August 2022

5*****

As you enter the venue, Charlie Russell stands happily at the door, introducing herself and making us, the audience, feel very welcome. A founding member of Mischief, you enter expecting the comedy the group are famous for. But this is different.

After being told as a child she couldn’t please everyone, this is her attempt to do just that. To prove we have been pleased we are issued with stickers and we must put them on when we are happy.

And so it begins, asking various members of the audience what will please them and then proceeding to make them happy. A particular hi-light for me was her “impression” of Ronan Keating.

But then the attempts to please take a dark turn and suddenly, on stage, the bright and happy woman is now a sad, frightened girl. Because its not that she wants to please everyone, she wanted to please someone. She wants to be liked and importantly she wants, needs, to like herself. At the end of the show, I just wanted to scoop her up in a massive hug and tell her everything will be okay and she is enough. But this is something she needs to discover for herself. I just hope, more than anything this show helps her to realise that.