No Love Songs – Traverse Theatre

It probably helps that I was already a fan of the music of The View and Kyle Falconer. This was on my must-see wish-list, and boy was it worth waiting for. Certainly the best show I have seen at the Fringe this year, and I have seen a lot. This is review no. 50!

Brilliantly acted by John McLarnon as musician, Jesse andwith an absolutely knock-out award-winning performance by Dawn Sievewright as Fashion student, Lana, the story is a simple boy-meets-girl, which only starts getting complicated when two become three. The simplicity and universality of the story-telling is perhaps this shows greatest strength, for it allows the music to shine – the essential element that brought them together and the one that is tearing them apart.  

When Jesse leaves to tour America, Lana’s initial coping strategies with baby begin to slowly unravel. Without wishing to spoil what happens next, this has to be one of the best depictions of the slow slide into the quicksand of post-natal depression that I have ever seen, and it is what makes this such an important piece

The script by Laura Wilde and Johnny McKnight, is superb, the asides to the audience are golden. The music by Kyle Falconer, is woven so beautifully through the fabric that this is more gig than play, and the musical direction and arrangement by Gavin Whitworth is so sensitive to the subject matter. Directed with just the right pace by Andrew Panton and Tasha Gore. It’s a perfect thing.

I’ll stop gushing now. Just go and see the damn thing! If you can.

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 17th August 2023

North West End UK Rating: