iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Rebecca Mahar

Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Latest review for Æ: I’ve got a soft spot for Fiddler, and this tour of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production absolutely smashed it.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

EdFringe review for @alledintheatre.bsky.social: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ROCK OF AGES from @bareproductions.bsky.social is a smash hit, bringing a radically human approach to this classic jukebox musical. Read the full review here: www.alledinburghtheatre.com/rock-of-ages...

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

@edfringe.bsky.social is upon us, and I’ll be there every day reviewing some of the most exciting shows the festival has to offer! My diary’s filling up, but I’ve still got some space left, especially the 10-25th. Comment below if you’re bringing a show you’d like me to review! #edfringereviewer

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Latest review for Æ: a darkly gilded retelling of the Midas myth.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Latest review for Æ: THE GREAT GATSBY at @pitlochryft.bsky.social is a transcendent adaptation of Fitzgerald’s classic novel.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Two days and three shows at @pitlochryft.bsky.social in a whirlwind jaunt north. Stay tuned for the reviews, coming soon on @alledintheatre.bsky.social!

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

I’m on assignment for @alledintheatre.bsky.social in Pitlochry today and tomorrow, reviewing at @pitlochryft.bsky.social! This is my first time in beautiful Pitlochry and I can’t wait to see what the Festival Theatre has in store.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Latest review for Æ!

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

I have, not for the first time, stayed up irresponsibly late reading one of @maryrussell.bsky.social’s memoirs on the day it arrived. I do hope that this is one of my habits, along with being thrown out of libraries at closing time, of which Miss Russell might approve.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

REVIEW: @rawmaterialarts.bsky.social LEAR is “★★★★★ – Blistering…relentless, raw, touching, and heartbreaking, LEAR is a tragedy that demands attention.” www.speakthespeech.blog/2025/06/revi...

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REVIEW: LEAR (Raw Material)

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

REVIEW: @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social THE MOUNTAINTOP – ★★★★½ – Electric; a bold new staging of Katori Hall’s brilliant, unvarnished speculative exploration of the final hours of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. www.speakthespeech.blog/2025/06/revi...

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REVIEW: The Mountaintop (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh)

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Latest review for Æ: I adored this new adaptation of The Merry Widow! An absolute smash on every front.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Latest review for Æ: @fbombtheatre.bsky.social’s Monumental is an exciting piece of work addressing an important gap in public art and commemoration.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Latest review for Æ: this play has a special place in my heart, and I was delighted with Arkle’s rendition of Tom Basden’s pointedly up-to-date adaptation.

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 16/05/2025

"AI" uses em-dashes because the writers whose (appropriated) work it's trained on use them. I use them a lot, personally, and of course just about everything I've ever written was chucked into the training bin without my consent or assent. So, you know, whenever you see an "AI" em-dash, think of me.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Latest review for Æ: Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe is an absolutely outstanding version of a much-love, much-adapted story. “When There Was Spring” will be in my head for weeks!

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Latest review for Æ: I wanted to like this Dracula, but it had both too much and too little going on to be successful.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Latest review for Æ! I loved this production of The Crucible from Scottish Ballet and visionary choreographer Helen Pickett.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Latest review for Æ: a lovely rendition of Incognito, with stellar work by cast & crew.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Had the opportunity to see this new work from @notsoniceuk.bsky.social, a strong effort on a compelling subject.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Latest review for Æ: This P&P was a hoot, be sure to catch it on the UK & Ireland tour if you can!

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Latest review for Æ: DEATH OF A SALESMAN endures for a reason, and is navigated well by this production, despite a few flaws.

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Speak the Speech @speakthespeech.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

REVIEW: Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - “relentless…a shattering RSC debut from Thallon” www.speakthespeech.blog/2025/03/revi...

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REVIEW: Hamlet (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Hamlet - ★★★★★ RSC: Royal Shakespeare Theatre 17 March 2025 What more fitting way to christen a blog of this name than with a review of Ham...

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

REVIEW: Our @rcmahar.bsky.social was at CHEF from @thegaiety.bsky.social Ayr, at the @traversetheatre.bsky.social www.alledinburghtheatre.com/chef-ayr-gai... "★★★☆☆ Turbulent" she says.... "a production that crackles with energy and is a showcase for Rebecca Benson’s solo performance."

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

I’m so grateful for the support of @alledintheatre.bsky.social as I launch this new venture- and don’t worry, I’m still reviewing there as well!

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National Theatre of Scotland @ntsonline.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

📢 WE ARE HIRING 📢 We are looking for a Head of Stage to join our team. This varied & exciting role is ideal for someone with a combination of stage / technical skills & highly informed interest in theatre Deadline: Wed 9th April APPLY NOW www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/jobs/head-of... #ArtsJobs

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

REVIEW: Here's @rcmahar.bsky.social on the Bohemians PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at the Festival Theatre. www.alledinburghtheatre.com/priscilla-qu... "★★★★★ Long live the Queen" she says, of a production that is "an explosion of glitter whose sparkle will remain long after the show has closed."

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

REVIEW: #PieceOfWork by James Rowland @ @traversetheatre.bsky.social www.alledinburghtheatre.com/piece-of-wor... "★★★★★ Searching" says @rcmahar.bsky.social, "its pointedly tragedian title disguises the softness of Rowland’s work, the tender fragility that is every human life..." 📸 Murdo MacLeod

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William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 01/03/2025

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crush’d like rotten apples!

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Prof. Dimitra Fimi @dimitrafimi.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

First daffodils! Happy St David’s Day! Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

REVIEW: Another insightful piece from @rcmahar.bsky.social on the frontline at @manipulatearts.bsky.social. This time with Groupwork tc & WHEN PROPHECY FAILS www.alledinburghtheatre.com/when-prophec... It's a spangly "★★★★★ Purposeful" from Becca of "an extraordinary telling" Pics Mihaela Bodlovic

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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 14/02/2025

Nan robh sinn an Talasgar air an tràigh far a bheil am beul mòr bàn a’ fosgladh eadar dà ghiall chruaidh, Rubha nan Clach ’s am Bioda Ruadh, sheasainn-sa ri taobh na mara… —Somhairle MacGill-Eain, “Tràighean” DÀIN DO EIMHIR translation by Iain Crichton Smith A #Gaelic #poem for #ValentinesDay

Tràighean
Somhairle MacGill-Eain

Nan robh sinn an Talasgar air an tràigh
far a bheil am beul mòr bàn
a’ fosgladh eadar dà ghiall chruaidh,
Rubha nan Clach ’s am Bioda Ruadh,
sheasainn-sa ri taobhn na mara
ag ùrachadh gaoil ’nam anam
fhad ’s a bhiodh an cuan a’ lìonadh
camas Thalasgair gu sìorraidh:
sheasainn an siud air lom na tràghad
gu ’n cromadh Priseal a cheann àigich.

Agus nan robh sinn ciudeachd
air tràigh Chalgaraidh am Muile,
eadar Alba is Tiriodh,
eadar an saoghal ’s a’ bhiothbhuan,
dh’fhuirichinn an siud gu luan
a’ tomhas gainmhich bruan air bhruan.
Agus an Uibhist air tràigh Hòmhstadh
fa chomhair farsaingeachd na h-ònrachd,
dh’fheithinn-sa an siud gu sìorraidh
braon air bhraon an cuan a’ sìoladh.

Agus nan robh mi air tràigh Mhùideart
còmhla riut, a nodhachd ùidhe,
chuirinn suas an co-chur gaoil dhut
an cuan ’s a’ ghaineamh, bruan air bhraon dhiubh.
’S nan robh sinn air Mol Steinnseil Stamhain
’s an fhairge neo-aoibhneach a’ tarraing
nan ulbhag is gan tilgeil tharainn,
thogainn-sa am balla daingeann
ro shìorraidheachd choimhich ’s i framhach.

Shores
by Sorley MacLean
translated by Iain Crichton Smith

If we were in Talisker on the shore
where the great white foaming mouth of water
opens between two jaws as hard as flint —
the Headland of Stones and the Red Point –
I’d stand forever by the waves
renewing love out of their crumpling graves
as long as the sea would be going over
the Bay of Talisker forever;
I would stand there by the filling tide
till Preshal bowed his stallion head.

And if the two of us were together
on the shores of Calgary in Mull
between Scotland and Tiree,
between this world and eternity,
I’d stand there till time was done
counting the sands grain by grain.
And also on Uist, on Homhsta’s shore,
in the face of solitude’s fierce stare,
I’d remain standing, without sleep,
while sea were ebbing, drop by drop.

And if I were on Moidart’s shore
with you, my novelty of desire,
I'd offer this synthesis of love,
grain and water, sand and wave.
And were we by the shelves of Staffin
where the huge joyless sea is coughing
stones and boulders from its throat,
I’d build a fortified wall
against eternity’s savage howl.

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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 14/02/2025

O, love, love, love! Love is like a dizziness; It winna let a poor body Gang about his biziness! —James Hogg (1770–1835), “Love is like a dizziness” 💝 🥴 #18thcentury #19thcentury #poetry #poem #ValentinesDay

Love is like a dizziness
James Hogg

I lately lived in quiet ease,
An’ ne’er wished to marry, O!
But when I saw my Peggy’s face,
I felt a sad quandary, O!
Though wild as ony Athol deer,
She has trepann’d me fairly, O!
Her cherry cheeks an’ een sae clear
Torment me late an’ early, O!

O, love, love, love!
Love is like a dizziness;
It winna let a poor body
Gang about his biziness!

To tell my feats this single week
Wad mak a daft-like diary, O!
I drave my cart out owre a dike,
My horses in a miry, O!
I wear my stockings white an’ blue,
My love’s sae fierce an’ fiery, O!
I drill the land that I should pleugh,
An’ pleugh the drills entirely, O!

Chorus

Ae morning, by the dawn o’ day,
I rase to theek the stable, O!
I cuist my coat, an’ plied away
As fast as I was able, O!
I wrought that morning out an’ out,
As I’d been redding fire, O!
When I had done an’ look’d about,
Gudefaith, it was the byre, O!

Chorus

Her wily glance I’ll ne’er forget,
The dear, the lovely blinkin’ o’t
Has pierced me through an’ through the heart,
An’ plagues me wi’ the prinkling o’t.
I tried to sing, I tried to pray,
I tried to drown’t wi’ drinkin’ o’t,
I tried wi’ sport to drive’t away,
But ne’er can sleep for thinkin’ o’t.

Chorus

Nae man can tell what pains I prove,
Or how severe my pliskie, O!
I swear I’m sairer drunk wi’ love
Than ever I was wi’ whisky, O!
For love has raked me fore an’ aft,
I scarce can lift a leggie, O!
I first grew dizzy, then gaed daft,
An’ soon I’ll dee for Peggy, O!

Chorus

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William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 14/02/2025

Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile

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Lighthouse - Edinburgh's Radical Bookshop @lighthousebks.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

This! Where the algorithms of meta have *always* been engines of capitalism & patriarchy, entrenching white heteronormativity, fatphobia & ableism, it *is* getting worse, just as our communities need connection & communication most. Support Ellen-support queer & disabled creatives actively as poss!

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

I get a little thrill seeing my stars on the poster. One week left to catch this extraordinary show!

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UofG Fantasy @uofgfantasy.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

She doesn’t want flowers, she wants unlimited tea and time to read

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Dr Micah Mackay @micahmackay.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Have started a Scottish arts organisations and artists starter pack. For those new to Bluesky – SP’s collect together accounts on a common theme and you can follow them all with one click 😊 Starting with the arts orgs. Individual artists – let me know if you want to be added! go.bsky.app/4gSyNWx

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Latest Review: THREE QUEENS FROM THE OPERA - preview of a new concert parody staged by a purely amateur cast with a view to an EdFringe run www.alledinburghtheatre.com/three-queens... "★★★☆☆ Viva queens!" says @rcmahar.bsky.social Amusement: check. Delight: double check. Viva the queens in opera!

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

This one took a minute, and there’s so much more I wanted to say, so many incredible creatives I didn’t have space to mention. My editor already kindly let me go on more than double the length we’re usually asked to keep to, and I could have easily written double that. Go see this show.

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

View from today’s teaching room.

View of a sunset out the window of a university teaching room.

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

REVIEW: Our @rcmahar.bsky.social was at The Forth Act's Merry Crisis! at St. Salvador's www.alledinburghtheatre.com/merry-crisis... "★★★★☆ Memorable" she says. "A heartfelt new one-act with music, good cheer, holiday family drama, and a thorough dusting of joy – all wrapped up in a neat bow."

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

REVIEW: Our @rcmahar.bsky.social was at EGTG's baba, playing the Pleasance Theatre for three nights and a Saturday matinee only: www.alledinburghtheatre.com/baba-egtg-pl... cmfwood's new take on the old tales of Baba Yaga and her house on chicken legs is a piece that has many ambitions, she says.

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

REVIEW: Stage Door Entertainment bring a properly Porty-focused JACK AND THE BEANSTALK to Portobello Town Hall www.alledinburghtheatre.com/jack-and-the... "★★★★☆ Porty Pals" says @rcmahar.bsky.social for "a stellar night out this panto season."

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

REVIEW. Our @rcmahar.bsky.social was at Napier, Craiglockhart for The Forth Act's BLITHE SPIRIT www.alledinburghtheatre.com/blithe-spiri... "★★★★☆ Spectral" she says. "If you usually stick to central Edinburgh for your evening’s entertainment, break that habit and make your way to Craiglockhart."

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Jonathan Edward Durham @thisone0verhere.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Hey guys I know it's really hard to be conscious of your health right now so please remember that after every hour in the fetal position you should stand up and banshee scream for at least 5 minutes to stretch out your lower back

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All Edinburgh Theatre @alledintheatre.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

REVIEW @rcmahar.bsky.social was at Dogstar Theatre's The Tailor of Inverness at the Traverse: www.alledinburghtheatre.com/the-tailor-o... "★★★★☆ Enduring" she says. In its 16th year of production, it "remains a compelling —and troublingly timely— depiction of the multigenerational scars of war".

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Firen just wants to be a writer. Hope your process is going better than hers. #SevenRiversSaga #UnhingedPit #F #A #WIP #highfantasy #series

Dominoes of increasing size meme. Starting smallest domino labeled: tried to write a book. Final largest domino labeled: KILL THE GODS

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brawls @brawlite.badvibes.party · 12/11/2024

*reading my own wip* wow, really fucked up of the author to not finish this, i wonder what happens next

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Rebecca Mahar @rcmahar.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Kaourantina: 🚩 Hasn’t changed her style in centuries 🚩 Associates with witches 🚩 Solves problems with violence when convenient 🚩 Doesn’t tell situationship she’s holding the God of Death in her mind 🚩 wait what? #SevenRiversSaga = The Age of Discovery x LotR x The Watchers #UnhingedPit #WIP #F #A

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