Right then, let’s address the question that’s been floating around faster than a flyer on a windy Royal Mile:
“Why are Theatre Village giving out so many 5 star reviews this year?”
Are we suddenly feeling extra generous?
Have I slipped and dropped all the stars from my satchel?
Has Andrew (our theatre whisperer and godfather of good taste) been sipping star juice behind the press desk?
No, my darlings. Not even close.
We’ve handed out a solid handful of 5 stars this year because the shows we’ve chosen have earned them. That’s it. End of scene. Curtain down.
Before we even packed our notebooks and emergency oat bars, Andrew spent weeks — weeks, I tell you — researching, scrolling, filtering, and unearthing hidden gems with the potential to blow the roof off the Fringe. He looked at preview footage, read every press release under the sun, and even stalked a few past productions like a theatrical detective on a mission. The man can smell a 5-star show from 100 miles and two spreadsheets away.
So when people say “You’re giving out too many 5s!” we say, “No, we just did the legwork.”
We’re not wandering into random venues, half-asleep and handing out stars like flyers.
We’re targeting brilliance. And guess what? Brilliance delivered.
Take a glance at our Top Ten List – it’s on the right sidebar if you’re on desktop (if you’re on mobile, well, scroll and stretch those thumbs, love). Notice anything? Most of those shows are now picking up awards, extra bookings, and other 5-star reviews from critics across the board. We didn’t follow the crowd – we led the parade.
Here’s the thing:
For us, five stars doesn’t mean “perfect.” It means a show, as it is right now, is destined for great things. It’s got that spark, that zing, that gut-punch or belly-laugh or goosebump moment that says: “This is something special.” It displayed something fantastic – whether it was in the acting, the writing, the delivery, or that magic thing you can’t put into words.
So no – we’re not carried away. We’re just carrying quality.
And let’s be crystal clear – a 4-star review from Theatre Village is still a massive win. We don’t do half stars here (too fiddly, and I once cut my thumb on a paper star – don’t ask). Four stars means a show is great, thoroughly enjoyable, and something we’d absolutely recommend to our readers. It might just need a little polish – like Granny Stacey’s chinaware collection that lives behind a doily and only comes out at Christmas. A small tweak here, a smoother transition there, but make no mistake – 4 stars means you’re onto something really good.
And if your show is one of the lucky ones who made it into Grace’s satchel of stars this year – well done, darling. You’re not just good. You’re going places.
Grace x
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