Rock, Paper, Scissors – Traverse Theatre

Established in 2016, Tandem Writing Collective comprising of three young(ish) writers Mhairi Quinn, Jennifer Adam and Amy Hawes, gave us a sneaky peek of a trio of (in workshop) new plays to a rapt and enthusiastic audience at the subterranean Traverse 2 tonight, for one night only. And with the juicy promise that all three will become fully developed plays later this year.

Accompanied very nicely by musos, Celloist Jessica Kerr and keyboard player Aaron McGregor on stage, actors Kim Allen, Natalie Arle-Toyne and Betty Valencia, with scripts in hand bring the three workshop pieces to beautiful and dynamic animated life, to the obvious delight of the writers sitting in the front row with beaming smiles.

And why not, all three pieces sounded and looked great and the actors, to a woman, did a brilliant job, particularly given that they had only had a single day to rehearse and block each play.

In the spirit of the workshop nature of this event, my opinion here is more of a summary, rather than a critical artistic review. Likewise, I have not allocated a star rating to this piece.

The first play by Mhairi Quinn is entitled ‘Hush Now’, and follows an outspoken American feminist, Joceline Mitchell, who has had enough of the status quo. Women, ‘are supposed to comfort, we are not allowed to crack’. Like a female, Michael Douglas in Falling Down she has finally snapped and now she is angry with just about everything including Yoga and Pilates classes, which are clearly just a ploy to dampen down the female spirit. So, she has started, ‘I’m an angry little b*tch’ podcast, for similarly disillusioned females everywhere. And it is very popular. The other actors play various roles including, Belinda the host of Hot or just not, and male callers to the phone-in show who all express their dismay and anger with the growing movement that Joceline has started. But this is only the beginning for Joceline, the would-be supplanter. Her army of supporters is growing, her book is riding high in the charts and a world tour beckons. Where will it all end?

Natalie Arle-Toyne is particularly good in the role of Joceline, as if the discovery of a new fearless approach to life has set her free in more ways than one. Whilst this play has plenty of humour it also raises serious questions about the changing role of women in society and the health benefits of letting it all out.

The second piece, Ivor, by Jennifer Adam is certainly thought-provoking, and it starts with one of the actors marking on the floor a very large chalk shape. We find out soon enough that the delineation is ‘Ivor’, the Iceberg, recently delivered and installed in the kitchen of the, mother and daughter, family home. Ironically the freezer was damaged during the delivery. Happy Birthday Darling! Untouched and mineral free and made from water that last flowed when dinosaurs walked the earth, and completely authentic. Afterall Iceberg ice is not just primeval, it is also pristine, $185 per bottle!

Captured in Disko Bay, on the West coast of Greenland, where pack dogs outnumber residents, by Iceberg Cowboys, before it died and melted, Ivor has already had quite a journey!

Can frozen freshwater save the planet? Maybe. And what is the weird relationship between the mother and daughter, and how will it end? So many questions!

The final piece after the interval is Introverts: The Musical, by Amy Hawes, with music by Aaron McGregor. This is a very nicely put together three-hander with some quirky and catchy songs, beautifully sung in gorgeous harmonies, and with some great dialogue, which takes you to some very unusual places! A neurotic, introvert mother, an anxiety -ridden teen daughter and her imaginary friend – does it for me! I want to see the whole thing – now!

This project funded by Creative Scotland and National Theatre of Scotland, and supported by The Traverse Theatre reminds us that new writing, acting and the creative arts in Scotland is not dead. There is hope! In the wake of three pretty lousy years for the Arts North of the border, here are some green shoots that may well flower into some very impressive blooms later this year.

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 22nd April 2023