The Seagull -  ★★★★☆  - Lush Royal Lyceum Edinburgh 9 Oct – 1 Nov Review by Rebecca Mahar   The Lyceum presents a new adaptation of Anton Chekov’s  The Seagull  in a lush production running through 1 November   Originally written in 1895, Anton Chekov’s  The Seagull  is widely considered one of the seminal plays of modernism, realism, and naturalism in European drama. This new adaptation by Mike Poulton is directed by James Brining in his first outing as Artistic Director of the Lyceum, and together with a phenomenal cast and creative team, they have created a  Seagull  which strives to embrace both its roots and its Scottish habitat. The company of The Seagull. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.   On the lakeside country estate of elderly Pyotr Sorin (John Bett), guests assemble to watch a new play by Sorin’s nephew Konstantin Treplev (Lorn Macdonald), starring Nina Zarechnaya (Harmony Rose-Bremner), who lives across the lake and is romantical...

Common Tongue -  ★★★★☆ - Pure dead brilliant Studio Theatre: Fri 3 Oct 2025 Review by Rebecca Mahar Review commissioned by, and originally published on All Edinburgh Theatre, 3 October 2025. Edited by Thom Dibdin. Intimate and multi-layered,  Common Tongue  is a robust – occasionally explosive – exploration of voice, identity and society’s disapproval of those who don’t speak “proper”, playing one night at the Studio as part of a Scottish tour by JGProducing in association with Ayr Gaiety. Olivia Caw stars as Bonnie McKay, a Scots speaking Glaswegian, navigating life while proud of who she is and how she speaks. From childhood slap-downs at school, to teenage faux pas and a young adult’s incredulity, she becomes increasingly aware of others’ perception of her speech. Common Tongue written and directed by Fraser Scott, performed by Olivia Caw. Pic: Peter Dibdin. Visit All Edinburgh Theatre to read the full review !

War Horse -  ★★★★★ - Exquisite Festival Theatre: Thurs 2 – Sat 11 Oct 2025 Review by Rebecca Mahar Review commissioned by, and originally published on All Edinburgh Theatre, 3 October 2025. Edited by Thom Dibdin. The latest tour of the National Theatre’s  War Horse  has arrived at the Festival Theatre, in a production as gripping and vital today as when it premiered nearly twenty years ago. Nick Stafford’s play, adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s novel of the same name, follows the story of its titular horse, Joey, and his boy, Albert Narracott, as they navigate the peril of the First World War. Tom Sturgess with Joey puppeteers Matthew Lawrence, Rafe Young, and Felicity Donnelly, with the company of War Horse. Pic: Brinkoff Mögenburg. Visit All Edinburgh Theatre to read the full review !

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat -  ★★★★☆ - Splendid Portobello Town Hall: Wed 25 – Sat 27 Aug 2025 Review by Rebecca Mahar Review commissioned by, and originally published on All Edinburgh Theatre, 28 September 2025. Edited by Thom Dibdin. Stage Door Entertainment light up Portobello Town Hall with a bright and joyous production of  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , featuring an enormous local cast and stellar leading performances. A classic from the oeuvres of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice, Joseph follows its biblical titular character through his trials and tribulations. And this 50-strong company fill the stage with colour and the auditorium with a glorious noise in the telling of it. Ewan Robertson and the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat. Pic: Malik Tajamul. Visit All Edinburgh Theatre to read the full review !

 Hamlet -  ★★★★☆ - Unpretentious The Queen’s Hall: Fri 19 Sept 2025 Review by Rebecca Mahar Review commissioned by, and originally published on All Edinburgh Theatre, 25 September 2025. Edited by Thom Dibdin. Suzy Eddie Izzard brings her solo version of Shakespeare’s  Hamlet   to The Queen’s Hall for one night only on the UK leg of its world tour. This is Shakespeare for the people, not the elites says Izzard, introducing the show. It will be without the “highfalutin” trappings and attitudes that often come attached to Shakespeare’s words. And she is good to her word as she performs, with great understanding, the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, who suspects his uncle, now stepfather, of fratricide. Suzy Eddie Izzard performing Hamlet at the Riverside Studies in 2024. Pic: Amanda Searle. Visit All Edinburgh Theatre to read the full review !