Mary Brennan

Glasgow

Performance Critic at The Herald (Scotland)

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Articles

Scottish Ballet's Nutcracker is a captivating treat for all ages

Dec 8, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

Ava Morrison (Clara) and Jessica Fyfe (Sugar Plum Fairy) in Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Image: Andy Ross) Scottish Ballet: The NutcrackerTheatre Royal, Glasgow Five starsIt’s nigh on 50 years since the late Peter Darrell created a full-length Nutcracker for the company he had founded and brought to Scotland. His 1973 choreography - unlike many other Nutcrackers then and now - had children’s experiences and imaginings at its heart, both on-stage and in the audience.
Edinburgh's big panto is fun but its disjointed mix isn’t entirely family-friendly

Dec 2, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

Allan Stewart (Faerie May), Grant Stott (Baroness Hibernia Fortuna), Jordan Young. (Buttons) in Cinderella at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (Image: free) Pantomime Cinderella Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Mary Brennan three stars Big bobby-dazzler song’n’dance numbers - and plenty of them.
Panto at the King's Glasgow: Truly, Peter Pan will never grow old

Nov 29, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

The full company of Peter Pan at the King’s, Glasgow (Image: Danny Kaan) PantomimePeter PanKing’s GlasgowMary BrennanFive stars Prepare to cheer, applaud and laugh uproariously here - then give a huge birthday shout-out in celebration of 60 years of pantomime at the King’s! Not every show sparkled and shone - times and tastes do change - but this caringly-crafted, family-friendly Peter Pan is a welcome reminder of panto’s enduring appeal.
Rip-roaring farty fun: That's this year's Tron Theatre panto

Nov 27, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

From left: Johnny McKnight (Stinkerbelle), Marc Mackinnon (Nana), Emma Mullen (West End Wendy) and Star Peners (Peter Panto ) in Peter Panto and the Incredible Stinkerbelle at the Tron, Glasgow (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan) You just have to read the title to know what’s in store here - lots of comic malarkey and rip-roaring farty fun from a sassy, gassy fairy whose exuberance is barely contained in a sparkly-spangly costume.
Dancers make this consummate precision look spontaneous and effortless

Sep 13, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

Scottish Dance Theatre in Moving Cloud, choreographed by Sofia Nappi (Image: Brian Hartley) Dance Scottish Dance Theatre The Flock/Moving Cloud Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock four stars Outside, as the day edges into evening, clouds are meandering over the Clyde while some persistent gulls are following a tug-boat on the water. It’s a natural backdrop that chimes in, perfectly, with the strikingly effective double bill that Scottish Dance Theatre presented at the Beacon this week.
Wexford Festival Opera should be commended for their tremendous work with the Factory programme

Sep 6, 2024 | independent.ie | Mary Brennan

My interest in music began at a very early age. Having studied initially in Ireland as a young adult, I continued my studies at the RNCM in Manchester and enjoyed a successful performing career in England for a number of years. On returning to Ireland with my family in 1984, I was given the opportunity to teach singing and soon realised that the role of a singing teacher was a passion for me, that I had an aptitude for it and that this was the career I wanted to pursue.
EIFT Review: 'A weird and wonderful production with tremendous panache'

Aug 23, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

Kidd Pivot in Assembly Hall at EIF (Image: Maxine Ragni) Festival Dance Four stars “Dwindling attendance. Soaring debt. And low morale…” Words that cut, like unerring swords, to the heart of this General Meeting of the Benevolent and Protective Order - amateur medieval re-enactors who stage an annual cosplay Quest Fest. Mind you, those words - woven into the narrative of Assembly Hall - could apply to Scottish arts-makers facing cuts in their funding.
'The whoops were clear signs that Grupo Corpo had met all high expectations'

Aug 6, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

Grupo Corpo in Gira (Image: Jose Luis Pederneiras) Festival DanceGrupo CorpoPlayhouse, EdinburghMary Brennan five stars The fabulous ‘wow!’ factor is every bit as urgent and compelling as it was when Grupo Corpo last lit up the EIF dance programme in 2014.
The Most Popular TikTok Nail Trends for Summer

Jun 13, 2024 | oceandrive.com | Mary Brennan

Whether tossing a pasta salad or throwing a football, the gloves are finally off come summertime, and our fingers are on full display in all this warm weather. Time to do those nails!From dainty and minimalistic looks to bold and abstract shapes, there is a nail look for every shade of summer, and the creators at TikTok are showing us how to do it for yourselves.
Our critic's take on Edward Scissorhands revival at Theatre Royal, Glasgow

May 22, 2024 | heraldscotland.com | Mary Brennan

Dance Edward Scissorhands Theatre Royal, Glasgow Mary Brennan Four stars Hope Springs… Oh how we wish that the optimistic name of this small American town will prove lucky for the lonely waif at the heart of Matthew Bourne’s potent choreography. After all - added in a recent tweak - there’s a same-sex couple (of guys) with a baby who are totally accepted by the community. Given this is set in the 1950s, surely this shows Hope Springs is an open-minded, welcoming refuge for Edward?