Joyce McMillan

Edinburgh

Columnist and Theater Critic at The Scotsman

Columnist and Theater Critic at Scotland on Sunday

Columnist and theatre critic writing mainly for The Scotsman, living and working in Edinburgh and around Scotland. Interested democracy, human rights.

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Articles

Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen review: 'an extraordinary first novel'

2 days ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Like all the best adventure stories, Michael Pedersen’s debut novel Muckle Flugga begins with a map. It’s a map of an imagined island at the far northern tip of Shetland; a small island complete with lighthouse, bothy for accommodating visitors, cliffs, caves, coves, and also unexpected gardens, and wild places.
Edinburgh International Children's Festival: 'a celebration of joy'

2 days ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

After years of curtailed ambition, the Children’s Festival looks set to return to its former glory, says Joyce McMillan When Noel Jordan arrived from Sydney in 2015, to take on the role of Festival Director at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, he had no idea what a rollercoaster his decade in charge would turn out to be.
Theatre reviews: Blinded by the Light | Mistero Buffo

5 days ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Blinded by the Light, Barony Theatre, Bo’ness ★★★★ Mistero Buffo, Oran Mor, Glasgow ★★★★The playwright Sylvia Dow is a Bo’ness woman through and through, profoundly devoted to the Forth shore community where she taught and still lives.
Theatre reviews: Studio 3 | The Brown Doll

1 week ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Studio 3, Tron Theatre, Glasgow ★★★★The Brown Doll, Oran Mor, Glasgow ★★★At first glance, it seems like a strange idea, to take three of the finest shows from artistic director Jemima Levick’s years at A Play, A Pie and A Pint, and to re-create them as a studio series in the tiny Changing House at Levick’s new theatre, the Tron.
Restless Natives, Perth review: 'a roller-coaster experience'

1 week ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Restless Natives, Perth Theatre ★★★It’s a bold move, to look back 40 years to one of the cult Scottish film hits of the 1980s, and then – with many of the original creative team still involved – to try to transform it into a 21st century musical.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Edinburgh review: 'spectacular'

1 week ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Playhouse, Edinburgh ★★★★The red curtain trilogy, director Baz Luhrmann called his trio of films on theatrical themes - Strictly Ballroom, Romeo And Juliet, Moulin Rouge - all made between 1992 and 2001. And it was in a mighty blaze of red and gold - all red plush curtains and glowing illuminated windmills - that the latest version of Moulin Rouge! The Musical launched its world tour in Edinburgh on Wednesday night, in front of a packed and delighted Playhouse audience.
Theatre reviews: Doubt: A Parable | Nun of Your Business

2 weeks ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Doubt: A Parable, Dundee Rep ★★★★Nun Of Your Business, Oran Mor, Glasgow ★★It’s a strange week for Scottish theatre to be offering two shows focussed on the Catholic Church, its rights, wrongs and follies.
Restless Natives creator Ninian Dunnet on the new stage version: 'the parallels are still so strong'

2 weeks ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Ninian Dunnett wrote Restless Natives 40 years ago, but a new musical version shows how relevant the story remains today, writes Joyce McMillanNinian Dunnett is an Edinburgh man through and through. His father was legendary Scotsman editor Alistair Dunnett, his mother the novelist Dorothy Dunnett, famous for her brilliant historical adventures based on Scottish history.
Glasgow Requiem - The Walk review: 'a unique perspective on the city'

2 weeks ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Glasgow Requiem - The Walk ★★★★ Some city, Glasgow. Hailed as a loving mother to her people, Glasgow has also - at times in its history - been a scene of immense human suffering, growing in a single hectic century from a small riverside town to the heavy-industrial second city of Empire, and sucking in generations of migrants - from Ireland, the Highlands and beyond - who, in the early 19th century, often died of hunger, disease or exhaustion within months of their arrival.
Theatre reviews: Frankie Stein | John Roy Stuart - Latha Chuilodair

3 weeks ago | scotsman.com | Joyce McMillan

Frankie Stein, Lochgelly Centre, Fife ★★★★John Roy Stuart – Latha Chuilodair, Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh ★★★There’s a content warning on the programme for Frankie Stein, the first show created by Scotland’s feminist theatre company Stellar Quines since its recent move to Fife. “Death, misogyny, flashing lights, swearing,” it says, sounding like an unintentional advert for everything that has been thrilling or compelling about theatre these last few thousand years.