Edinburgh Festival Insider - Theatre Award 2009

As ever, the Fringe has been a fertile showcase for new and established drama groups to present some quite stunning shows. Theatre is the genre that is perhaps closest to the roots of the Fringe's beginnings, so it is heartening to see so many companies keeping that spirit alive.

This year, the nominations for the Edinburgh Festival Insider Theatre Award 2009 are:

• The Grind Show by TBA Collaborative. A unique vision and excellent performances from a young and talented group of performers, The Grind Show was captivating and beautifully staged.
• Ernest and The Pale Moon by Les Enfants Terribles / Pins & Needles Productions. A deliciously dark tale of gothic horror performed with panache and style by a multi-talented cast.
• The Overcoat by Gecko Theatre. A nigh-on perfectly realised interpretation of Gogol's short story, staged with wonderful imagination and delivered through extremely accomplished performances and stagecraft.
• Stitches by Claire Urwin. Splendid student theatre with an excellent script and some stunning performances from its young and talented cast.
• Private Peaceful by Scamp Theatre. A poignant and beautifully acted study of brotherly love and the horror of war.

And the winner is...

The Overcoat by Gecko Theatre

Even after having let this sink in and compared to the other productions in the shortlist, Gecko Theatre's production still dazzles. Beautiful sets, stunning lighting, original direction and performances that were absolutely marvellous: The Overcoat was greater than the sum of its already splendid parts and delivered a production that I would comfortably and confidently call a triumph.

Gecko Theatre, here is your well-deserved:

Review: Ernest and the Pale Moon ****

One of the highlights of the Fringe last year were The Terrible Infants, who performed a beguilingly dark and charming collection of Dahl-like cautionary tales at the Udderbelly to critical acclaim.

This year, the company are back - in conjunction with Pins & Needles Productions - with Ernest and the Pale Moon, a deliciously macabre and grotesquely gothic tale of black obsession and murder.

The cast have a similar look and style to last year, with white-painted faces and Edwardian dress. The story here is much darker however, centering on a voyeuristic loner who is infatuated with the albino girl who lives in the apartment block opposite his, and who only appears when the light of the moon allows her eyes to tolerate the dim, pale light.

Using excellently-realised simple sets and staging and accompanied by live cello and accordion music, the tale unfolds, punctuated by some startling, eerie and horrific moments. This, whilst maintaining the same storybook style as The Terrible Infants' previous work, is most definitely not a show for children.

As effectively-created sound effects and moody site-specific lighting help usher the story towards its climax, Ernest and the Pale Moon successfully creates a unique and captivating atmosphere in which to play out its twisted, terrifying tale, and represents another success for the company to add to their growing list of achievements.

Ernest and the Pale Moon runs until 31st August at Pleasance Above.

We shall remember them

Some acts over the past few years have defined the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for me, and it is with a hint of sadness that I present this short roll-call of absentees from 2009's line up:

• The Terrible Infants - I had high hopes for their return after last year's engaging and imaginative run (and they were on at the Udderbelly in London's South Bank earlier this month). But alas, their Roald Dahl-style morality tales will not be gracing Edinburgh this year. However, their company does appear to have a hand in a production running at the Pleasance - Ernest and the Pale Moon - so fingers crossed that contains a little pinch of Terrible Infant magic.
• Gamarjobat - This one hurts. An Edinburgh Festival Fringe without these two madcap and energetic Japanese mime artists is hard to comprehend. Hopefully they're just taking a year off from Edinburgh and will be back, but the place will be a little less colourful without them. Hopefully Shut Up, Play! will help fill some of the lunatic Asian hole Gamarjobat will leave.
• Drum Cat - say no more

However, don't get me wrong - I'm sure this year will be just as exciting, vibrant and vital as those previous. I'm actually excited to see what 2009's undiscovered delights turn out to be...