Neil Cooper
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neilcooper.bsky.social
Neil Cooper
@neilcooper.bsky.social
Writer & Critic The Noise of Art - neilcooper.substack.com
coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com
The Herald, The List, The Drouth, Scottish Art News, MAP, Hungry Beat.
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New on The Noise of Art…

The Noise of Art Annual 2025 - That was the Year that Was

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From DJ Kulu to Creeping Bent, with Band of Holy Joy, The Sexual Objects, Irvine Welsh, The Kinks and Cabaret Voltaire between.

This is where I came in.
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of The Woman in Black, Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s gothic novel. Still scary after all these years…

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

Theatre Royal, Glasgow until January 24, then on tour. thewomaninblack.com/tour-dates
January 22, 2026 at 5:12 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #126

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Leith Depot: People’s Leisure Club: Custom Lane: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Sanki: Scottish National Portrait Gallery: Atelier Gallery: Safari Lounge: Custom House Gallery: Fruitmarket: Pianodrome: Sneaky Pete’s:
January 22, 2026 at 10:35 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of The Shawshank Redemption, starring Joe McFadden & Ben Onwukwe in Stephen King’s powerful prison drama

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

@lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social until Jan 24, then touring. www.kenwright.com/productions/...
January 21, 2026 at 2:32 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of The Burns Project, James Clements’ dramatisation of Robert Burns’ life and work.

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

The Georgian House, Edinburgh, Jan 19, 22, 24 and 25 at 12.30pm, 3.30pm and 7.30pm. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-burns-...
January 19, 2026 at 2:28 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social obituary of Frank Dunlop, maverick theatre director, director of Edinburgh International Festival between 1984-91, founder of the Young Vic in 1970 and much more.

www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/obit...
January 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
My Herald obituary of Frank Dunlop, maverick theatre director, director of Edinburgh International Festival between 1984-91, founder of the Young Vic in 1970 and much more.

www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/obit...
January 17, 2026 at 11:27 AM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #125

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Leith Depot: People’s Leisure Club: Custom Lane: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Sanki: Scottish National Portrait Gallery: WASPS: Banshee Labyrinth: Leith Arches: Leith: Embassy: Filmhouse:
January 15, 2026 at 10:27 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social
review of Fawlty Towers The Play, a ‘simmering period portrait of 1970s little Britain on the verge of breakdown’

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

King’s Glasgow until Jan 17 His Majesty’s Aberdeen Jan 20-24 Playhouse Edinburgh Jan 27-31 fawltytowerstour.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

From the archive, David Bowie - Some Live Like Lazarus

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January 10, 2026 at 11:42 AM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #124

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Leith Depot: Custom Lane: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Scottish National Portrait Gallery: Home: The Caves: Sanki: Embassy: Gilmerton Social Club: People’s Leisure Club: Duncan Place: Reid Concert Hall: etc..
January 8, 2026 at 11:57 AM
New on The Noise of Art…

Jim Haynes, Citizen of the World - Thanks for Coming

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On the 5th anniversary of Jim Haynes’ death, my archive tribute to pop culture’s greatest Zelig figure, plus how he became the front man for After Eight mints.
January 6, 2026 at 7:23 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

The Rocky Horror Show - Closes, Citizens and Corsets

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As Richard O’Brien’s glamtastic sci-fi rock & roll musical returns, a look back at some of the show’s roots at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre

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The Rocky Horror Show – Closes, Citizens and Corsets
The Rocky Horror Show – Closes, Citizens and Corsets
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January 5, 2026 at 11:03 AM
As 2026’s theatre seasons crank into gear, my look in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social at 8 shows large and small opening in Scotland in January, from a staging of a well loved sit-com to a community show in Aberdeen.

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
January 4, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Singer Maggie Nicols circa 1973 at the Edinburgh festival (presumably the Fringe) in Pucka-Ri (Goat King) a Celtic/folk/rock etc opera by Irish musicians Dave Callinan and Mick Lynch.

Callinan wrote about it on Substack. davidcallinan.substack.com/p/i-saw-pier... youtu.be/hZfC45NJmP0
Pucka Ri @ Edinborough Festival 1973
YouTube video by Mick Flynn
youtu.be
January 3, 2026 at 7:06 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

The Noise of Art Annual 2025 - That was the Year that Was

open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop...

From DJ Kulu to Creeping Bent, with Band of Holy Joy, The Sexual Objects, Irvine Welsh, The Kinks and Cabaret Voltaire between.

This is where I came in.
December 29, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Merry Fassbindermass from The Noise of Art…

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December 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #123

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Leith Depot: Edinburgh Castle: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Scottish National Portrait Gallery: BMC Club: Paradise Palms: Out of the Blue: Custom Lane: Bongo Club: Voodoo Rooms:

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Shop Local! #123 – W/E 25.12. 2025
Not the only fun in town…
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December 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Shack - La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. 16.12.25
December 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Robert Plant’s Saving Grace with Suzi Dian and a wonderful band covering blues, folk, Americana and even the odd Led Zeppelin number at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

Usher Hall, Edinburgh tonight (Dec 18).
December 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #122

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Leith Depot: Studies in Photography: The House of Smalls: Upright Gallery: Edinburgh Castle: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Scottish National Portrait Gallery: Banshee Labyrinth: Outhouse:
December 18, 2025 at 10:16 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of It’s a Wonderful Life… Mostly, Morag Fullarton’s ingenious pocket sized staging of the ultimate festive feelgood film that is part homage, part pastiche.

Oran Mor, Glasgow until December 28 (not 17, 24 or 25). oran-mor.co.uk/its-a-wonder...
Neil Cooper: Oran Mor’s inventive take on It’s a Wonderful Life is a festive triumph
Theatre, It’s a Wonderful Life… Mostly, Oran Mor, Glasgow
www.heraldscotland.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Creeping Bent - The End of Definition (Edinburgh) Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art - 13.12.25
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The Nectarine No.9 / Gareth Sager / The Sexual Objects / Mackenzies / Port Sulphur
December 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Oh, what a night.

Creeping Bent - The End of Definition - Edinburgh
December 14, 2025 at 12:37 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of MAMMA MIA! the now 20-something musical in which ABBA’s greatest hits meet prime time British drama.

Edinburgh Playhouse until January 4. www.atgtickets.com/shows/mamma-...

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
'After 26 years, the sheer joy of this nostalgiafest shows no sign of dimming'
Theatre: Mamma Mia! The Playhouse, Edinburgh, Neil Cooper, Four stars: After 26 years, the sheer joy of this nostalgiafest shows no sign of dimming
www.heraldscotland.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Creeping Bent - The End of Definition

As @creepingbent.bsky.social Bent terminates 30 years of activity with 2 gigs and the Douglas MacIntyre’s memoir, Creeping Bent: A Leap into the Void, a bonus look at my intro. Or just buy the book.

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Creeping Bent - The End of Definition
This weekend sees the Creeping Bent Organisation terminate its 30-year mission as purveyors of pop/art underground entryism par excellence.
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:08 AM