Phaedra/Minotaur: the EIF’s most upmarket song and dance event

Christine Rice as Phaedra and Richard Hetherington on the piano in Deborah Warner's Phaedra

Tommy Franzen as the Minotaur and Isabel Lubach as Ariadne in Kim Brandstrup's Minotaur

Isabel Lubach as Ariadne and Tommy Franzen as the Minotaur in Kim Brandstrup's Minotaur

By Kathy Elgin, 22 August 2023

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“instead of a blood-soaked battle, we had a story of female desire, of misplaced love and longing”

Reviewed at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh on 19 August 2023

Britten, Phaedra, Op.93

Morris, Minotaur

Deborah Warner, Director

Antony McDonald, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Adam Silverman, Lighting Designer

Jean Kalman, Lighting Designer

Eilon Morris, Sound Design, Percussion

Christine Rice, Mezzo-soprano

Richard Hetherington, Director, Piano

Kim Brandstrup, Choreography

Tommy Franzen, Dancer

Jonathan Goddard, Dancer

Isabel Lubach, Dancer

Jonathan Watkins’ A Single Man pierces the heart at the Linbury

Deborah Weiss, 8th September

Jonathan Watkins’ A Single Man is a compelling piece of dance theatre and a magnificent vehicle for the leading characters to shine as dancers and actors.

****1

Phaedra + Minotaur at the Linbury: truly arresting performances

Amanda Jennings, 6th February

Two individual works worth seeking out with outstanding performances in each.

****1

A Chorus Line: every bit as sensational as it should be

Graham Watts, 2nd August

A thrilling new interpretation of this masterpiece of musical theatre that promises to be one of the most memorable shows in this London summer.

*****

Mark Bruce Company: a double bill that does not fail to absorb

Graham Watts, 26th March

Greek Mythology and German Expressionism enliven the great gothic horror story.

****1

Love across time and cultures: Clorinda Agonistes at Sadler's Wells

Graham Watts, 9th September

Shobana Jeyasingh choreographs Monteverdi's Tancredi e Clorinda for the 21st century, transporting her narrative from the Middle Ages to the present day while remaining fixed on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

***11

Yorke Dance Project's Past Present in the Linbury Theatre

Graham Watts, 12th November

An emotional programme of historical reenactments and inspiration

****1

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Kathy Elgin

After a career in publishing, Kathy Elgin turned her enthusiasm for dance into a real job by joining the late, great John Percival, Dance Critic of The Times, in his re-launch of Dance and Dancers magazine in 1981. She was later delighted to join its rival, The Dancing Times, as Scottish correspondent until the magazine’s sad demise in 2022. She lives in Edinburgh.

Phaedra/Minotaur: the Edinburgh International Festival’s most upmarket song and dance event