Critics’ choice - William McEvoy

Who are you?

I am a university lecturer in contemporary theatre and performance, and have been reviewing for The Stage for nearly ten years.

What is your favourite type of performance?

Physical theatre at its most inventive can be brilliant. I particularly enjoy innovative adaptations of the classics and any production with a strong directorial vision.

What are you looking forward to the most this year?

Seeing Strindberg’s The Father, directed by Kevin Williams, at Roman Eagle Lodge. The play is a violent dissection of paternal paranoia and is performed by a fantastic cast.

What are you least looking forward to?

Cobblestones and rain.

What is your best piece of advice for visitors?

Be curious and adventurous in seeking out shows off the beaten track. Word of mouth in Edinburgh is a real part of the festival buzz.

William’s top five shows

• The Bacchae (King’s Theatre) by the National Theatre of Scotland, starring Alan Cumming. Cumming was born for the part of the gender-bending god Dionysus, and director John Tiffany’s Black Watch at last year’s festival was extraordinary.
• Incarnat (Assembly Aurora Nova) by Lia Rodriguez Companhia de Dancas. Rodriguez’s company blend physical theatre and choreography to create stunning images and a highly charged atmosphere.
• Score (Terre d’Arene) (Assembly Aurora Nova) by Au Cul du Loup. A French company which creates a witty and sensuous theatre of sound, music and movement.
• Long Time Dead (Traverse) by Paines Plough. Rona Munro’s work is always exciting and Paines Plough brings vision, imagination and discipline to its productions.
• The Arab & the Jew (Pleasance Courtyard) by Gecko. Gecko is a fabulous company and this promises to be a daring piece of physical theatre with a political edge.