• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

EdFringe2019 / Art of Believing at The Space

August 22, 2019 by Paul Hegarty Leave a Comment

Review of: Art of believing
Produced by:
Daniel Martinez
Price:
£10

Reviewed by: Paul Hegarty
Rating:
5
On August 22, 2019
Last modified:August 22, 2019

Summary:

An evening to transport you with music and song that is captivating.

More Details

Art of Believing is a truly memorable evening, filled with the authenticity of Andalucia, as Daniel Martinez brings some home grown talents into the heart of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His group have an infectious talents in abundance and their audience lapped them all up – the singing, the rhythmical clapping, exciting flamenco dancing but most of all the sheer brilliance of the musicians and in particular, that of Daniel Martinez. He is a man who can communicate what it is to believe and if you give yourself to the evening you will understand the passion behind Flamenco.

Martinez, composer and expert Flamenco guitarist, displays an array of styles that captures a range of emotions –  giving us an authentic feel for Spain. Most of all he allows us to access not only the rich beauty of the music, in song and dance, but to also to feel the searing love or pain of a piece. His generosity of spirit shines through all of his performance, whether with intricate finger picking or in strumming that is can be delicate or robust – whatever the style of play Martinez captures our attention and holds our emotions tight through to the end where we too somehow feel released from the drama.

The drama is wonderfully captured by the Flamenco dancer who commands respect as she circumscribes the floor with her heel-tapping shoes and intensely unfolds her narrative. With shawl or fan or with hands that gesture open or curled, welcoming or rejecting, she points, claps and stamps and absorbs the room and the players into her story. She is dynamic and poetic, enticing and dismissive in turn. She is rigid yet fluent and in releasing her story she tells us something of love and desire of hope and disappointment. She is a performer who may be intense yet she is inclusive as she nods and gestures to the musicians and responds to the singer’s calls and cries and we never feel excluded as she wraps us up in her storytelling. She and Martinez have a particularly  strong connection and this adds to the intensity of the piece as she seems to be both challenging his music while at the same time being at one with it.

The accompanying singers wail, call and cry out to be heard. Their supportive vocals are wonderfully enticing to the listeners as we witness their rhythmical harmony with Martinez and his musicians.

Martinez links are a delight, honest and endearing as he explains the nature of the programme or introduces his group of performers. He does so with oodles of charm and Edinburgh is lucky to have him play at the festival. it’s Glasgow’s turn next ,so if for some crazy reason you missed them at the fringe rush through to Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall next month, it’s a performance that makes the sun shine, whatever the weather! Art of Believing is captivating and believe me you will will love it!

Martinez is a somewhat unique dignified talent and should not be missed. Its’ a talent he shares with great equanimity and as his group dance and sing along with exciting guitar and fiddle  playing – you well be swept along with a true taste of Andalucia.

Venue 38
theSpaceTriplex – Big
21:15 Aug 21-24

Tickets: tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/art-of-believing-flamenco

Author: Paul HegartyPaul is a reviewer and an experienced actor who has performed extensively in the West End (Olivier nominated) and has worked in TV, radio and a range of provincial theatres. He is also a speech, drama and communications examiner for Trinity College London, having directed productions for both students and professionals and if not busy with all that he is then a teacher of English.

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Daniel Martinez, Edinburgh Fringe 2019, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Join the discussion Cancel reply

NEWS / ZU-UK presents Radio Ghost

ZU-UK presents Radio Ghost, a walking game for three participants journeying through a haunted shopping mall. Premiering at LIFT Festival [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Sophie Leydon on Rapture at Pleasance London

Sophie Leydon (She/Her) is a Writer and Director whose practice centres staging LGBTQIA+ experience through interdisciplinary forms. She tells us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Claire Cunningham talks 4 Legs Good in BE festival

Garden State (8 – 11 June) is an art installation made up of hundreds of houseplants lent by local residents [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Paul Bourne talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre

Written by Fraser Grace (Breakfast with Mugabe, RSC), Bliss is based on a short story by censored writer Andrey Platonov. It’s at Finborough [Read More]

NEWS / Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced

Coming to Sadler’s Wells in September as part of its world tour, A Night At The Kabuki is a retelling [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • ZU-UK presents Radio Ghost
  • Sophie Leydon on Rapture at Pleasance London
  • Amit Lahav - Artistic Director of Gecko Theatre
  • Ameena Hamid on Tales from the Tombstone Tavern
  • Ben Lloyd-Hughes in Kiss Me
  • The Jungle Book is coming to the Southbank - but not as you've seen it
  • After All This- Ovalhouse
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Paul Hegarty
    Contributor

  • August 22nd, 2019
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook275TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!