What could be cooler than hanging out in the Nation Museum of Scotland, having a few drinks, seeing some top notch performers and seeing some cool new exhibits? Maybe my expectations were too high, but I felt this could have been made a lot more entertaining.
The idea in itself is a great one. Two bars were set up in the main hall of the museum and the stage was built between them. The hall itself is impressive, creating a wonderfully serene and elegant atmosphere, accentuated by the towers of candles dotted throughout the area. One thing unavailable, though, was seating. Although a couple of tables had been put in the hall, there were absolutely no seats, which is odd considering it’s a three and a half hour event involving many women in uncomfortable shoes. No seating had been put out for those watching the performers either, so be prepared to do a lot of standing.
On the whole, the performers were excellent. Mainly physical theatre, acts from across the globe took their turn entertaining the guests. From Russian mime to a Japanese circus act, the physical theatre of the performers was unparalleled. One disappointing act, however, were the female acapella group, who attempted to project into the huge abyss of the museum hall without microphones. Sadly, I can’t comment on their vocal abilities, since they were barely audible from the audience.
The Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition was excellent, as expected from the National Museum. Tickets to this event include entry to see this new exhibit, which is well worth a visit – particularly after a few glasses of wine (averagely priced, I couldn’t complain).
