Kelly Apter

Edinburgh

Contributing Arts Journalist at The Scotsman

Arts Journalist at Freelance

Contributing Arts Journalist at The List (magazine)

Freelance arts journalist for The Scotsman and The List. Editor at Creative Lives. All views my own.

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Articles

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, Edinburgh review: 'brings mods and rockers back to life'

2 weeks ago | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter

With a talented cast, arresting design and a phenomenal score, this show captures what it was like to be young at an important cultural moment, writes Kelly ApterQuadrophenia: A Mod Ballet, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh ★★★★When something iconic starts life in one genre and evolves into another, it always comes with challenges.
Ballet Black: Shadows, Edinburgh review: 'captivating'

1 month ago | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter

Ballet Black: Shadows, Edinburgh Festival Theatre ★★★★Unlike a meal, where the various courses complement each other, a dance programme often has to cater to all palates. Ballet Black’s Shadows tour does an especially good job of that, made all the more enjoyable by the current crop of dancers who each have talent dripping from every toe. If you like your dance served on the abstract side, leaving room for interpretation, Chanel DaSilva’s A Shadow Work is ripe for exploration.
Rob Ashford on directing Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet: 'the dancers loved it'

1 month ago | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter

Turning The Who’s iconic album into a stage show has required a complex marriage of dance and theatre, director Rob Ashford tells Kelly ApterPitched battles on Brighton seafront, amorous exchanges in alleyways and fleets of motorcycles and scooters hurtling along the streets.
'prayer books wielded like weapons'

2 months ago | msn.com | Kelly Apter

Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Scottish Ballet: The Crucible, Aberdeen review: 'prayer books wielded like weapons'

2 months ago | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter

Choregraphy and score work in perfect tandem to evoke the hysteria and hatred engulfing Salem in Scottish Ballet’s revival of The Crucible, writes Kelly ApterScottish Ballet: The Crucible, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen ★★★★We can scarcely imagine the fear, confusion and ultimately violence that swept through Salem, Massachusetts during the 17th century witch trials.
The Scotsman Sessions #429: Constant Vigier

Dec 4, 2024 | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter

Welcome to the Scotsman Sessions, a series of short video performances from artists all around the country introduced by our critics. This week, dancer and choreographer Constant Vigier performs his latest project BIG/small – The Dancing Mosaic, a multimedia piece which ‘brings dance, music and video together’There’s something fascinating about seeing the inner workings of a show, the bits we take for granted but without which the main event would be diminished.
EIF reviews: BBC SSO | Bat for Lashes | Scott Silven

Aug 23, 2024 | scotsman.com | Ken Walton |Fiona Shepherd |Kelly Apter

A triumphant performance by the BBC SSO was a Friday night Edinburgh International Festival highlight, along with a shape-shifting Natasha Khan and a sceptic-confounding Scott SilvenMUSICBBC SSO & Sir Donald Runnicles *****Usher HallConnections are the heartbeat of music programming. Here we had the age-old pairing of Mahler and Bruckner, easily identifiable by their characteristic differences, but together a spine-tingling encapsulation of Austro-German largesse.
Fringe theatre reviews: RUM by Joe Mallalieu | Covenant | Dead Animals + more

Aug 20, 2024 | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter |Josephine Balfour-Oatts |Susan Mansfield |Sally Stott

Our latest round-up of Edinburgh Fringe theatre reviews includes a dazzlingly authentic account of working-class masculinity, an intriguing piece of magical realism, and a passionate protest against draconian abortion lawsRUM by Joe Mallalieu ★★★★Underbelly, Cowgate (Venue 61) until 25 AugustHoles puncture the walls. Plastic bags and beer cans cover the floor. The builders have left things in a mess.
Edinburgh Fringe theatre reviews: RUM by Joe Mallalieu

Aug 19, 2024 | msn.com | Kelly Apter

Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Fringe dance & physical theatre reviews: Show Pony | The Weight of Shadow + more

Aug 19, 2024 | scotsman.com | Kelly Apter |Sally Stott

Our latest batch of dance and physical theatre reviews includes an emotionally rich look at the ‘before and after’ of circus performers, a striking metaphor for a universal human struggle, an exuberant double-bill, and a clown comedy based on the tennis rivalry between Borg and McEnroeShow Pony ★★★★Summerhall (Venue 26) until 26 August When your entire career is based on an ability to move quickly and flexibly, what happens when your body is no longer willing to play the game?