Brothers
★★★★☆ Heartfelt
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53): Mon 12 – Sat 24 Aug 2024
Review by Hugh Simpson
Raised Voices’ Brothers, at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall for the last two weeks of the Fringe, has a praiseworthy emotional clarity.
Raised Voices is an Edinburgh-based charity that works creatively with people with experience of homelessness, mental health issues or addiction. Brothers draws on the lived experiences of the cast, and deals with such topics sensitively, in a way that hits hard while being humorous.
The Cast of Brothers. Pic Archie Gray.
Being based on real experiences does not mean there is no creativity on display, of course. On the contrary, this is a well structured and carefully considered piece about Eddie (Colin Brown) and his much younger adopted brother Grant (Matthew Power). Their previously close relationship is under strain; Eddie drinks too much, while Grant’s problems with anxiety are not helped by the fact that Eddie won’t pay back the money he borrowed.
Both Brown and Power give their characters real depth and believability. Brown’s struggles are depicted with heartbreaking clarity, and he manages to give the character a liveliness and sympathy. Power embodies the younger man’s fears and frustrations very well.
Katy Greeney, as their mother Louise, has an emotional power, as well as providing a fine double act with her friend Christine (Liz Hill).
the narrative is clear
The rest of the ensemble (Keith Chalmers, Andy Dickson, Liz Wamaguru and Peter Sabine) function effectively as a chorus commenting on the action and providing other characters.
There may be a little too much crammed into the storyline at times, but the narrative is clear and involving. At the one moment when it seems about to settle for easy answers, it takes an unexpected turn that adds considerably to the complexity.
There are also odd occasions where things threaten not to go as planned, but the cast always smooth over such times. It is rare and gratifying to see a production where the desire of the cast to tell the story comes across so strongly.
Archie Gray’s direction is lucid and always at the service of the story and the performers; Martin Splatt’s technical design is very good indeed.
This is a piece whose sincerity of intent and execution shines through. It may not be the most polished production on the Fringe, but few have more heart.
Running time: 45 minutes (no interval)
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Stephenson Theatre), Nicolson St, EH8 9DW (Venue 53)
Monday 12 – Saturday 24 August 2024
Daily (not 18) at 11.55 am
Details and tickets at: Book here
ENDS
