Troubled unfolds in the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, a space that retains its old-world charm with curved tiers and a sense of stillness that feels well-suited to intimate solo work. The architecture holds the performer in an elegant kind of embrace, lending a solemn dignity to a story that’s both fragile and fragmented.
Suzy Crothers brings us into the inner world of Alice – a woman navigating a complex relationship with her past, her mental health, and the ghosts of Belfast’s troubles, whilst seeking love in the debris. What elevates the piece is Crothers’ vocal dexterity. She moves fluidly between characters, especially the internal voices of Big Red and Little Red – echoes of Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams – whose interventions veer from humorous to unsettling. Various other demons voice their opinions from the shadows, but all may yet be thwarted by Alice’s very own Patronus in the form of Martha, the mythical slayer of dragons.
There’s warmth here too, a reminder of the famous Irish hospitality and kinship. The offering of tea, biscuits, and blankets on arrival may sound trivial, but it subtly reframes the piece, reminding us that in stories of trauma and survival, gentleness has its own weight.
The show integrates projected visuals very effectively, from grainy footage of school children hurrying past gun-totting soldiers in Belfast, to the ‘Mozzarella moon’ of Lisbon to a caricature drawing of Kaza (her mum) and Shaza (mum’s friend). The real strength here though lies in the writing, and the performer’s ability to deliver it with naturalism and quiet strength. If there’s a shortcoming, it’s emotional depth, or rather, the avoidance of it. There are moments when you sense that the performance could go further, delve deeper, become more intimate, and there is a hint that a show about the death of her father is already in development. You get the feeling that Crothers is building up to that one, and it will be well worth a watch.
The performance I attended was lightly attended, which felt undeserved. There is something valuable here – not radical, perhaps, but thoughtful and sincere. The space suits the material, and the performer makes good use of it.
11:45 Daily (except 11th and 18th) Till 25th August
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/troubled
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 6th August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr
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