Seall Presents... The Fantastic Life Of Mini Rubinski

Explore the unique world of Minnie Rubinksi in this immersive production. Minnie Rubinski, now in her eighties and living in a care home, looks back on her fantastic life. But what is real and what is fantasy and does it really matter?

Brought to you by award winning and ground breaking Scottish Puppet and visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, the Fantastic Life of Minnie Rubinski is an installation theatre piece. Enter a giant brain, hear Minnie’s fragmented thoughts and follow pulsing synapses to where her memories are stored.

Her recollections from childhood to the present day are recounted through filmed vignettes with characters played by a cast of beautifully carved marionettes, placed in perfectly detailed period sets.
You are invited to piece together Minnie’s remarkable life story.

Audiences are admitted in small groups every 30 minutes and are invited to experience the work at their own pace. Advanced bookings should be made for a specified time slot. Please contact the Festival office to find out more and book.

Booking info: This show runs every day with multiple shows throughout the day. It is advisable to book in advance through our website or pop into the office the day before to buy a ticket For this show, people enter every 30 mins, but it is restricted to 6 people per viewing. It has been selling out so pre-booking is the best option. Please note: This show is suitable for audiences aged 12+

Reviews
The Scotsman ★★★★★ “…it’s perhaps the rich detail of that real-life origin that makes The Fantastic Life Of Minnie Rubinski such an outstanding piece of work; full of love for an astonishing woman, and profound recognition of all that this generation of elders have known and been, in their long lifetimes.”
Full Reviewhttps://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/theatre-reviews-love-beyond-poor-thing-the-fantastic-life-of-minnie-rubinski-4025784

Bouquets & Brickbats 4.4 STARS “…The characters are puppets, moving around custom-built sets, which are presented in intricate detail – check out the sequence in a 1950s supermarket and take a close look at the hundreds of items ranged on the shelves. The attention to detail is astonishing!”
Full Reviewhttps://bouquetsbrickbatsreviews.com/2023/02/10/the-fantastic-life-of-minnie-rubinski

Corr Blimey ★★★★★ “A journalist, mother, gallery owner, wife, writer, child, and saviour of the world from giant reptiles – there’s a lot to take in during The Fantastic Life of Minnie Rubinski, which translates the words and thoughts of one woman’s life, now living with dementia, and turn these glinting pieces of their personality into a scale-filmed legacy, utilising puppetry to craft an often surreal, though occasional mundane and domestic, world for audiences to walk-through….”
Full Reviewhttps://corrblimey.uk/2023/02/14/the-fantastic-life-of-minnie-rubinksi-fruitmarket

Radio Summerhall Arts “Edinburgh based Vision Mechanics, Symon Macintyre and Kim Bergsagel, have married their not inconsiderable imaginative powers with yet another style in their latest work, The Fantastic Life of Minnie Rubinski…..”
Full Reviewhttps://radiosummerhallarts.com/2023/02/13/the-fantastic-life-of-minnie-rubinski
EU Contemporary Puppetry Critical Platform “Moving, attentive to detail and a spectacular display of a concentrated artistic vision, it is simultaneously an epic and intimate triumph.”
Full Review
https://www.contemppuppetry.eu/information/the-fantastic-life-of-minnie-rubinski1/

FEEDBACK FROM AUDIENCE MEMBERS
“It was the most exquisite and beautiful representation of a colourful life and memories.”
“I loved the gradual realization of what was happening .and the story coming together.”
“It was a poignant and beautiful experience. Full of tenderness and sadness and also a joyously playful exploration of a life richly lived. The form so cleverly suited the content. The sets and puppets were beautifully made. I hope I can revisit one day.”
“I loved the detail in each scenario, the intimacy of the scenes, the way relationships between characters felt so real – tension, eroticism, longing, passion – and the way my whole experience of Minnie’s life grew in layers as I watched and listened. And the music was fantastic throughout!”
“I can’t begin to tell you how thought provoking – and emotionally evocative – this piece is! What a technical feat and a triumph of artfully applied tenderness and care.”
“This is an amazingly evocative show which gives a glimpse into the power of memories – and the feelings they carry with them. Especially love, excitement, longing and regret.”
“Beautifully crafted sets were captivating, clever mix of marionettes and animation with mood setting music was very engaging. The whole concept was well conceived and brought together in a wonderfully immersive and at times poignant experience.”
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