FringeGuru's review of this venue

The impressively-named Hill Street Theatre isn't quite as grand as it sounds - it's a temporary venue like the rest of them, split over three floors of a Masonic lodge on a narrow street to the north of the city centre. But a little overstatement is justified for this well-loved and much-respected venue, which regularly wins plaudits far beyond the expectations set by its modest size. Indeed, this must be one of the only venues to present its own award... implausibly christened the Golden Cockerel.

Striking out on its own again after a short-lived link-up with the Assembly, the change hasn't affected its creative direction, centred around a serious-minded programme of drama and physical theatre with a strong international theme. It's perhaps inspired by artistic director Tomek Borkowy, who has written openly on their web site about his earlier life in communist Poland and his passion for freedom of expression. There's an art exhibition, too, to occupy the idle moments before your show.

The venue itself is slickly and efficiently run - unusually for the Fringe, by a professional salaried staff. Both the Theatre on the top floor and the smaller Studio beside the bar offering proper raked seating, and a decent view of the stage; they're not the most comfortable seats on the Fringe, but they're a long way from being the worst. The conversion to a theatre sadly hides the detail of the Masonic hall - though wood panelling and a glimpse of a vaulted ceiling hint at grandeur just behind the wall-hangings.

Eating and drinking at this venue