Mother, Maiden and Crone – theSpace @ Niddry St

Based upon the witches of Macbeth, Mother, Maiden and Crone retells this classic tale in the setting of Club Limbo (or should I say Limbo Bar and Kitchen) — a gay bar in which the witches work. Mother (Lewis Gemmell) is the bar’s only drag queen, Maiden (Ewan Burns) is the signature messy twink bartender, and Crone (Fin Watt) is the feral, nonconformist DJ. Together they face the horror that is a straight hen-do, who have booked into Limbo for the night. With gay-adjacent bridesmaid Brandi (Zara Kennedy) having booked the venue, the rest of the gaggle aren’t best pleased, so Mother, Maiden, and Crone have a little fun stirring the pot, leading to McBride’s (Erin McGivern) demise.

Ewan Burns’ writing makes for a hilarious evening, with dialogue from Macbeth being campified and modernised to incorporate gay slang of today. Not only is it hilarious, but also substantial, as it addresses the issues that come with the intrusion of ignorant straight women taking up space in predominantly queer venues. Interestingly enough, there were some very drunk women in the audience who seemed to fit this bill. As well as that, we see Maiden drag the token-gay of the group for his rejection of his own queerness and internalised homophobia, which he takes out on the patrons and staff of the bar.

Fast-paced and deliciously salacious, Mother, Maiden and Crone is a hit — which, for a first-time production, is something of a marvel. Directed by Lewis Gemmell, he adds flair and sparkle to this production, captivating the audience with the way in which the action is played and the general workings of the show. Not only has Gemmell excellently brought this play to life, he also stuns as Mother, leading his rag-tag team with power and grace — truly stealing our attention with his presence.

Both Watt and Burns give us exactly what we need, offering fun and playfulness while also bringing the monstrous brides back down to earth with their grounded, yet exuberant, attitudes. And of course, the hen party added some chaos into our mix. Zara Kennedy gave us big diva energy, Kennedy Thomson as Layton was spot-on with his portrayal of the classic mean-gay, and Evie Mortimer crept up on us with her descent into a coke-fuelled villain. Her feud with the queen of the night, McGivern, was riotous — McBride was a perfectly fitting title for the aggressive and judgmental depiction McGivern gave us. Such a stacked cast — all bursting with energy and each hitting the comedic notes perfectly.

What I’m most excited about, however, is Hecate (owner of the club) being played by four different local drag queens throughout the Fringe run — this role is the Mama Morton of Mother, Maiden and Crone, if you will.

This is an absolute gem of a show — a guaranteed good time with an exceptional creative team at its heart. It’s clear so much work has been put into this show, and I’m sure it won’t be in vain. Something wicked this way will certainly come for Mother, Maiden and Crone’s future as a show. Mother, Maiden and Crone runs until the 19th of August at theSpace @ Niddry St, with tickets available at https://www.thespaceuk.com/shows/2025/

Reviewer: Jessie Martin

Reviewed: 11th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: