Steak Out – Gilded Balloon

Steak Out is the latest offering from Edinburgh born writer and actor Ruaraidh Murray, providing a dark comedy with a lot of local flavour. Set over two nights before Christmas, the play follows an Edinburgh family as they seek good fortune and revenge.

Murray stars as Pilton butcher Archie, who hatches a plan to steal the best cuts from his ex-employer, Smedleys of Stockbridge. Aided by his girlfriend Karen and her out of work actor son Thomas, he finds himself committing a more serious crime than the one he’d originally planned. The performances are excellent. Murray is very believable as the rough and ready Archie, constantly being berated for his language by long suffering girlfriend Karen. Reanne Farley displays range as family matriarch Karen, scolding the men in her life for their ineptitude but showing a vulnerable side to the character as well. Sean Langtree’s Thomas brings a lot of the comedy, and his situation as a struggling actor will be familiar to many a Fringe audience member.

There is also a lot of promise in the script. Murray proves himself to be a talented writer, both in this and previous work, and weaves in plenty of local references. However, the heist storyline feels as though it is missing a payoff, with the most crucial parts of the action briefly alluded to. The addition of the mostly offstage baby character doesn’t seem to add to the plot much either, which feels like a little bit of a missed opportunity for more comedy. There are some very funny scenes, in particular Archie being caught short whilst driving, which Michael Nardone’s direction deals with well. The stacking box staging is versatile and cleverly used in the scene where the trio steal from Smedleys, but opaque rather than clear boxes might have been more successful. Although the stage is sparse, set and lighting combine well to create scenes as diverse as a getaway van and a walk-in freezer.

Overall, this is a play with great potential to go further, and an entertaining hour with local talent.

Steak Out runs at Billiard Room, Gilded Balloon Teviot until 31st August (not 17th or 24th) with tickets available at https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:7121/

Reviewer: Torya Hughes

Reviewed: 16th August 2026

North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: