Scotland
Donald Stewart
The best of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe…
Deuteronomy, PigPen Productions, ZOO
What it was: Student two hander which was in an uninspiring slot for performance with an unassuming media presence, but I was totally bowled over from beginning to end by acting.
What I said: “It’s been a long time since I have seen a performance that was this good. As someone who is no lover of Beckett, this was partly in homage to his most famous of works but also completely at odds with it. It initially left me conflicted. What solved that inner turmoil were the performances of both actors. Young and acting well beyond their years, they portrayed a knowledge that was clear and beautiful in the context of some ugly truths.”
One that I liked so much I saw it twice…
SCOTS, Fishamble, Oran Mor and then Ghillie Dhu at the Fringe
What it was: Something I went to see at Oran Mor as part of the Play, Pie and Pint season, loved it so much decided I wanted to review it at the Fringe as I had not done so in Glasgow. It was even better in Edinburgh, not something a west coaster would say without very good reason.
What I said: “Scots is an irreverent story, based in truth, about a country and what it means to be that country—Scotland. It starts and is told by a toilet. Yep, a toilet. Not an auspicious way to start, but by the end (I do apologise) we are all flushed with success…
"The greatest strength here is that it asks you about what we should be and not what we ought to become. It is about the here and now. To find myself with tears rolling down my face because I want to scream my answer, makes that theatre thing all the more worthwhile, does it not?”
One that melted my theatrical prejudice…
Aganeza Scrooge, Tron Theatre Company, Tron Theatre
What it was: A panto. I hate panto… Oh yes, I used to…
What I said: “It is unashamedly panto with no Twist but plenty of Caroling and carousing—Christmas on a stage. Full Stop.”
One that should not have worked but it did…
Wolfie (Some sort of Fairytale), Tron Theatre Company, Tron Theatre
What it was: A fantastic tale about two sisters separated just after birth, one brought up by a wolf and the other brought up in a care system that is broken—guess who fares better or just as well as the other… no prizes…
What I said: “Playing all the parts, Byrne and Russell-Martin manage to nuance and scream how traumatised children and young people tear their houses down. The first act, serving as a clever set-up, establishes many of the themes which lead to a triumphant second half. Aside from their development of the Sharkey twins, the Boneyman and the mannequin boyfriend are exceptional, as is the relationship between Strontium and Francium. When Francium, now a mother of twins, goes out in search of new things, she finds a familiar face behind a counter. It was then the actors asked each other if we could start again. As a final message, its poignancy was not lost, simply because the set-up was so beautifully poised.”
One that celebrated diversity…
Another Nice Mess, The Southside Group, The Tramway Theatre
What it was: Disabled adult group from the Southside of Glasgow in an original piece of theatre which blended performance with video with charm, flair and high production and performance values.
What I said: “An astonishing piece of theatre. In the shadow of the latest Critics Awards in Theatre, Scotland (CATS), awards which did highlight the work of disabled artists, this would rank up there in terms of both process and performance—for disabled arts to thrive and flourish it needs depth. It needs more and not less. This is just a perfect example of why.”