The second week of Theatre Uncut is really strong, dividing its focus between plays considering whether austerity makes us more right wing and those looking at the potential impact if Scotland votes for independence.
Project Night by Tanika Gupta
Tanika Gupta offers a gentle opener featuring a principled politician writing a speech propounding the view that all foreigners should go back where they came from.
James Hillier’s character suffers as his Albanian maid interrupts with news of the needs of his team of illegal helpers, not to mention a friendly Russian lady of the night.
Theatre Ad Infinitum
The plucky, young members of Theatre Ad Infinitum took up the challenge of a brief offered by the TEAM to create a talking point in only two hours and have created a gem.
In it, the multinational quartet wrestle over the symbolic banana of free speech, before discussing amongst themselves and audience members the right to remain in our beloved country.
By the end, if they used their principles, the UK would be as sparsely populated as Antarctica.
The 12.57 by A J Taudevin
In 2016, two officers of Berwick-upon-Tweed Temporary Home Office Law Enforcement (spot the acronym) stand guard as the Euston-Edinburgh train approaches.
Their powerlessness and pride say it all, as does a homely mother from the wrong side of the border.
Party Pieces by Rob Drummond
What feels like a light comedy manages to touch the heart.
A family is gathered at an occasion and each delivers his / her party piece. There are some songs (to leave the spectators humming as the play ends). In addition, Cousin Norman drunkenly recites Burns and Granny remembers historic illicit sex.
However, the lynchpin in this allegory is Rebecca Benson’s 16-year-old Ruth who asserts her independence from 113 years of tradition, shocking all in the play and also the audience.