Tag Archives: Festival Theatre

Well that was quick

It’s the final weekend of the festivals and I hope you are all getting out there to see something before it is all gone!!

Thanks to all those who make it happen each year and safe travels to all those visiting the capital in August, see you again 🙂 

PS Don’t forget the Fireworks concert in Princes Street Gardens on Sunday evening. If you can’t get tickets there are plenty of places around the city to watch the fireworks and I’m pretty sure you can listen to the orchestra on the radio. 

Edinburgh International Festival website

Edinburgh Festival City website

Glorious sunshine on the Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh

SurgeonsHallThe edge of the stunning Surgeon’s Hall on Nicolson Street. Just opposite the Festival Theatre, which was where I sketched this image.

What a beautiful day in the capital. I hope you all got chance to soak up some vitamin D today. I noticed this narrow vision of the Surgeon’s Hall columns through two posters in the Festival Theatre cafe.

 

I couldn’t leave until I had caught the image in my pad, firstly with a fine liner pen and then a little watercolour on top. Thanks to the Th’eatery staff for not rushing me out and letting me stretch out my pot of tea 🙂

 

Nutcracker explodes into Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre this Christmas

NutcrackerStage

Filled to the brim with wonder, colour, costume and sparkle, Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker comes to Edinburgh this weekend at the Festival Theatre.

NutcrackerSketchesNutcrackerDrosselmeyer

Mixing new creative ideas with designs and scenarios from the original 1973 production, with rich sumptuous colours and heavy luxurious materials bring a lavish Victorian feel to the stage. Peter Darrell’s choreography is brought beautifully to life by the Scottish Ballet with Tchaikovsy’s famous music adding to the spell.

 

I sketched frantically unable to capture all I was seeing, as the stage continually transformed as if in a dream. Here are my doodles form the night but there was so much more. The final sketch below sees the Prince and the Fairy take to the stage as snowflakes begin to fall from the sky…

 

Step into the magic this Christmas and see the wonder for your self, The Nutcracker runs at the Festival Theatre until Saturday 3rd January 2015.

 

The Festival Theatre website

 

 

NutcrackerPrinceFairy

 

EIF_James1bYesterday I witnessed the press call for The James Plays, a fascinating tale of Scotish history and the lives of James I, II and III of Scotland. Penned by Rona Munro and directed by Laurie Sansom the epic tale is told over three individual plays, each on at the Festival Theatre on the North Bridge.

These sketches are from James I and see the newly married couple speaking for the first time and slowly getting to know each other. I was hooked after five minutes, the acting was understated, realistic and really spoke to me. I only hope there are tickets left to go and see the full production.

EIF_James1a

For more information see Edinburgh International Festival

The Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

FestivalTheatreCurrently celebrating it’s 20th birthday, this impressive glass building on Edinburgh’s Nicolson Street is home to wonderful performance art; opera, ballet and musicals are regularly on the bill at The Festival Theatre.

 

I was invited recently to watch the Nederlands Dans Theatre 2 company and it struck me how diverse the range of shows on offer were. My previous visit was to watch the lovely Snowman. Take a look at their website, link below, to see their upcoming shows.

 

My sketch is in black ink, with a water colour wash. A limited number of mounted prints are now for sale from my online shop HERE, along with my recent sketch of the King’s Theatre, below.

 

Edinburgh Theatres website

 

Kings_Theatre_Colour

 

 

Joey, star of War Horse takes a bow

Joey_WarHorseThe star of West End hit show War Horse, Joey who is currently wowing audiences in Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre. 

 

The show tells the powerful story of young man and his beloved horse Joey, and the unimaginable obstacles they overcome both individually and together. The life size puppet takes three actors to control, three actors I am told you forget are there five minutes into the show.

 

Unfortunately I missed out on securing tickets myself, but I have only heard immense praise for the actors and puppetry on show. If you are lucky enough to be going before the show run ends on 15th February enjoy, and sell hello to Joey from me!

 

Joeys_head

 

  • Festival Theatre website

 

 

 

 

Snow flies

As does the time, I can’t believe there are only two more days for you to see The Snowman at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.

I was there a couple of weeks ago and Scotty here stole the show. If you haven’t seen the stage show yet it is truly magical and a must see for believers of all ages, click HERE to see the Festival Theatre website and book your tickets now.

Below is my previous sketch of the theatre exterior, when I was lucky enough to go along and see the show myself. Plus a close up of Scotty. The sketch is black fine-liner plus digital colouring.

The Snowman

I can’t wait to return here to the Festival Theatre on Thursday to see opening night of The Snowman. What could be more Christmassy?, and to see it brought to life on stage should be amazing.

I was passing by yesterday and noticed the huge snowman poster on the front of the building, so began sketching.

The show runs for just over two weeks,  from Thursday 13th to Sunday the 30th December so act fast to book your ticket and don’t miss this wonderfully festive story.

Visit the Festival Theatre website HERE

Final 2012 EIF sketchblog

Just over a week ago the Edinburgh International Festival sent my wife and I along to see the Mariinsky Ballet’s production of Cinderella at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. It was a wonderful experience, our first to the ballet but not the last. Here are the sketches I made for the EIF blog and a few words to go along side.

Thanks to the Edinburgh International Festival for taking a chance on EdinburghSketcher and sending me to see some amazing performances throughout this years festival. If any theatres in Edinburgh would like to be sketchreviewed or would like the EdinburghSketcher treatment for promotional use then please get in touch HERE.

 

“It was the first time Mrs Sketcher and I have been to the ballet, and I think we may have been spoiled. The Mariinsky Ballet from St Petersburg was performing Cinderella, making their Festival debut.

Together with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra conducted by the great Valery Gergiev the stage was an explosion of colour, drama and emotion.

I think it helped for our first ballet to see such a well known story, but we absolutely loved it. At times it was similar to watching a silent movie, the dancers acting drew us in, and along with the rest of the capacity audience, we were taken on a magical journey.”