Edinburgh Youth Theatre charity, Strange town, return to the Traverse this week with three shows and this is the second of them. On stage tonight are the Tuesday 14 – 18-year-olds and they certainly put on a spirited and well rehearsed show, with no obvious line blunders, a well-drilled cohort who are a credit to director Catherine Ward-Stoddart.
I’ve seen a few shows by Strange town over the years and what always comes across is the unbridled enthusiasm and commitment to the creative process from all involved. It’s always great to see the acting youth of Edinburgh taking over one of the best performance spaces in the Capital.
Writer, Daniel Orejon was tasked with producing a short play on the theme of, Nobody wants to work anymore. In the centre of the stage a poster pronounces, ‘Our Gods spoke and the word is Work’. Intrigued, it had me thinking before any dialogue was even spoken of how much longer we will all have the luxury of work in an increasingly AI dominated world. Perhaps the holy right to work, the thing that gives us purpose, pride and identity may soon be a thing of the past.
Unfortunately, this was not the direction of travel for Orejon, who took us down an altogether stranger rabbit hole that few in the audience could follow, and I wonder if he could? Without a clear and relatable story, the theme of work and its importance to human identity soon became lost in a series of sketches about prophets, miracle makers, burning bushes and trains crossing deserts. Disappointing.
Acting and diction by Dylan Lloyd in the lead role of Joel was excellent, he brought a solidity and gravitas, but he can only be as good as the writer allows him to be. His sidekick, Amy Macleod as Ruth also shone brightly, although again with limited material. The biggest laugh of the night was served up by Finn Sheldon, whose bling-costumed turn as the mute- turned miracle mouthy teenager was full of energy if not purpose.
Something of a missed opportunity for a company obviously riven through with talent and commitment and passion, but who need a simpler story that the audience can follow and relate to and get behind and words that the actors can really get their teeth into.
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 19th June 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr
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