Rambling conversation: Crystal Bennes writes on the nourishing simplicity of Ben Harrison’s promenade performance.
Crystal Bennes
Articles by Crystal Bennes
7 December 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: Strange Tales at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
7-21 December
By Crystal Bennes
Found in translation: Crystal Bennes on the bizarre pleasures of Pu Songling’s classical Chinese fables, adapted for the stage by Grid Iron.
25 August 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh Fringe 2019
Edinburgh fringe review: To Move in Time by Tim Etchells
By Crystal Bennes
Crystal Bennes’ is unmoved by Forced Entertainment’s time-travelling monologue.
21 August 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh Fringe 2019
EIF review: Eugene Onegin, directed by Barrie Kosky
By Crystal Bennes
Flawed heroics: Crystal Bennes writes on a conventional staging of Tchaikovsky’s Pushkin-inspired opera.
12 August 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh Fringe 2019
Edinburgh fringe review: Anguis by Sheila Atim
By Crystal Bennes
A muddled myth: Crystal Bennes writes on Sheila Atim’s Cleopatra-inspired debut play.
11 August 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh Fringe 2019
Edinburgh fringe review: The Nights by Henry Naylor
By Crystal Bennes
Henry Naylor’s play is a flawed look at the media outrage surrounding ‘Jihadi bride’ Shemima Begum.
9 June 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
6-8 June
By Crystal Bennes
National heroes: Crystal Bennes writes on Scottish nationalism in her review of Wonder Fools’ play about four Scottish miners who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War.
29 May 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: The Duchess [of Malfi] at The Lyceum, Edinburgh
17 May - 8 June, then touring
By Crystal Bennes
Reinterpreting revenge: Crystal Bennes writes on contemporary relevance in Zinnie Harris’s retelling of John Webster’s bloody tragedy.
26 March 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: Local Hero at The Lyceum, Edinburgh
By Crystal Bennes
Raining on the parade: the magic of David Greig and Mark Knopfler’s musical adaptation of the much-loved 1983 film Local Hero is lost on Crystal Bennes.
4 February 2019
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: Anthropocene at King’s Theatre, Edinburgh
31-2 Feb, then touring
By Crystal Bennes
Missed the boat: Crystal Bennes reviews Scottish Opera’s new commission about scientists on a research expedition to Greenland.
7 December 2018
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: Mouthpiece at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
1-22 December
By Crystal Bennes
Using a voice: Crystal Bennes writes on the ‘ethical quandary’ of representation in Kieran Hurley’s examination of class and the appropriation of stories.
1 December 2018
Reviews
Review: Black Beauty at the Traverse, Edinburgh
29-30 November
By Crystal Bennes
Horsing around: Crystal Bennes and Tom Jeffreys write a rhyming review of Red Bridge’s production of Black Beauty.
29 August 2018
Reviews • Edinburgh Fringe 2018
Edinburgh Review: Zugunruhe at Zoo Southside
Until 26 Aug 2018
By Crystal Bennes
‘Anxious behaviour’: Crystal Bennes reviews a solo show based on the migratory instincts of the marsh warbler.
29 August 2018
Reviews • Edinburgh Fringe 2018
Edinburgh review: First Snow/Première Neige at Canada Hub
By Crystal Bennes
Crystal Bennes writes on a bilingual play that explores ideas of independence, identity and duality in Québec.
28 August 2018
Reviews • Edinburgh
Edinburgh Review: La Cenerentola at Festival Theatre
24 – 26 August 2018
By Crystal Bennes
A frenzied, facetious production: Crystal Bennes reviews Opéra de Lyon’s performance of Rossini’s Cinderella.