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.
Pinned
Happy New Year from The Noise of Art, & thanks to more than 1000 subscribers.

neilcooper.substack.com/p/the-noise-...

For new subscribers, I’ve unlocked pieces on Bill Drummond & Tam Dean Burn’s HEAR HARD project & Fire Engines’ chrome dawns album.

Normal service will resume next week.
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, an epic biograohy of of the sixties soul survivor who reinvented herself as one of the eighties’ biggest voices.

Edinburgh Playhouse until Sat Nov 22 as part of a UK tour

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
An epic homage to Tina, and a warning to female artists held back by a toxic industry
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at The Playhouse Edinburgh marks an epic celebration of the esteemed singer's life, while simultaneously serving a…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #117

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

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Leith Depot: Unlimited Corporation: Studies in Photography: Upright Gallery: Kimpton Hotel: Hubcap Gallery: Leith School of Art: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Sanki: Leith Makers: etc…
November 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Herald review of Gravity, Kevin P. Gilday’s high-rise set lunchtime play for @playpiepint.bsky.social A Play, a Pie and a Pint.

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

Oran Mor, Glasgow until Sat Nov 15. playpiepint.com/whats-on/eve...
November 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Herald review of Friends! The Musical Parody.

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

King’s Theatre, Glasgow until Nov 15, then on a UK tour. www.atgtickets.com/shows/friend...

Edinburgh Playhouse Feb 6-7 - www.atgtickets.com/shows/friend...
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Because We Said We Would, Helen Fox’s play about a bond between two childhood friends, seen at Theatre 118, Glasgow over the weekend.

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
The power of music and friendship and two people's bond
Herlad critic Neil Cooper gives his verdict on Helen Fox’s new play Because We Said We Would at Theatre 118, Glasgow
www.heraldscotland.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Fini Tribe - Sheer Action

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

As Edinburgh provocateurs Fini Tribe
release an epic compilation of work from 1982-1987, they reveal a canon that sits with Polish theatre and German conceptualism as much as percussive post punk.
November 9, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Orangutang - A SOBS Story…

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

In honour of the Sexual Objects last stand tonight (Nov 8), my Noise of Art reflection on the SOBS’ archive collection and their place in rock’s rich tapestry is now gratis.

This is not a memorial…

@creepingbent.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 5:12 AM
My @flemingartcoll.bsky.social
Scottish Art News obituary of Ian McKenzie Smith, the former director of Aberdeen Art Gallery and the city’s Director of Arts who helped transform Aberdeen’s artistic landscape.

www.flemingcollection.com/scottish_art...
November 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Arlington, Enda Walsh’s dystopian thriller receiving an electrifying Scottish premiere by the Glasgow based Shotput Theatre

@traversetheatre.bsky.social Edinburgh until Sat Nov 8. www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/eve...

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
Enda Walsh’s Arlington: A love story rewired for the end times
Theatre, Arlington, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. The power is failing in Enda Walsh’s play, set in an inner city tower block where a woman called…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
As the @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social
new artistic director James Brining’s first production closes, Brining talks in @heraldscotland.bsky.social about future plans, which include Sam Heughan, a new football play and more.

lyceum.org.uk/whats-on

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
New era at Lyceum as artistic director James Brining reveals plans
The new artistic director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh James Brining has had quite a couple of weeks, finds Herald theatre critic Neil…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #116

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

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Leith Depot: Unlimited Corporation: Studies in Photography: Upright Gallery: Kimpton Hotel: Leith School of Art: Leith Makers: Hubcap Gallery: Bongo Club: Queen’s Hall: Voodoo Rooms: etc
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social
review of Death of an Influencer, Matt Anderson’s new play for A Play, a Pie and a Pint.

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

Oran Mor Glasgow until Nov 8 playpiepint.com/whats-on/eve...

Lemon Tree Aberdeen Nov 11-15 www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/ppp...
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Blood Wedding, Federico Garcia Lorca’s tragedy performed by final year BA students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

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

RCS, Glasgow until Fri Nov 7. www.rcs.ac.uk/whats-on/blo...
November 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Top 10 Theatre Shows to see in Scotland in November.

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
November 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
An absolute pleasure chatting with Jah Wobble tonight at Oran Mor in Glasgow.

In 50 minutes we managed PiL, Buddhism, William Blake, and some wicked impressions of members of Can.

Thanks to Ewan McNaught for making it happen, bringing me on board and taking this picture which I’ve nicked.
November 1, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart, Oran Mor, Glasgow, tonight.

Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm. oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
October 31, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart, sound checking at Oran Mor, Glasgow right now.

Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm. oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
October 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
My @theheraldscotland review of Let the Right One In, Jack Thorne’s adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s teen vampire novel performed by final year acting students at @rcsofficial in Glasgow.

www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

Until Oct 31 www.rcs.ac.uk/whats-on/let...
October 31, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Tonight (Oct 31) I’ll be chatting with with Jah Wobble at Oran Mor in Glasgow about life after PiL, revisiting Metal Box and anything else we can pack in before he and the band play a seismic set.

Doors 7pm. Q&A 7.30pm. Gig 8pm.

oran-mor.co.uk/events/an-au...
October 31, 2025 at 11:10 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of a new reboot of blockbuster Vietnam War based musical, Miss Saigon.

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

Edinburgh Playhouse until Nov 1. www.atgtickets.com/shows/miss-s...
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Sunny Afternoon, Joe Penhall’s play charting Ray Davies’s first explosive 4 years fronting The Kinks

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

King’s Glasgow until Nov 1 www.atgtickets.com/shows/sunny-...

www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
October 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Shop Local! #115

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

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Leith Depot: WASPS: Mote 102: Custom Lane: Studies in Photography: Upright Gallery: Kimpton Hotel: Leith School of Art: French Institute: Filmhouse: Populous Cafe: Leith Dockers Club: etc
October 30, 2025 at 10:19 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of Hauns Aff Ma’ Haunted Bin! Éimi Quinn’s new lunchtime comedy for Halloween as part of @playpiepint.bsky.social
A Play, a Pie and a Pint.

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

Oran Mor, Glasgow until Nov 1.
October 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
New on The Noise of Art…

Ray Davies and The Kinks - Sunny Afternoons, Plays for Today and Late Night Drama

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

As Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon opens,, a look at some of Ray Davies’ dramatic pasts, plus an archive interview with Sunny Afternoon writer Joe Penhall.
October 28, 2025 at 9:32 AM
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of A Piano Full of Feathers, Jane Livingstone’s celebration of Irving Berlin

Perth Theatre until Nov 1. www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com/whats-on/a-p...

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557269...
Theatre Review: A Piano Full of Feathers -'a guaranteed show stopper'
'A guaranteed show stopper': Theatre Review: A Piano Full of Feathers, Perth Theatre
www.heraldscotland.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM