She Burns
★★★★★ Her noblest wark
Johnnie Walker Princes Street (Venue 215): Tue 13 – Sun 25 Aug 2024.
Review by Sophie Good
She Burns is a feminist reworking of the story of Scotland’s very own Bard, in an enlightening and entertaining show, playing for just six performances across the Fringe at Johnnie Walker Princes Street.
The four women who appear on stage with mics, one armed with an acoustic guitar, tell us that they are witches and wish to summon the spirit of Rabbie Burns. They do a fair bit of conjuring and along the way, sing some beautiful renditions of some classic Burns songs and poems and tell us about a different side to his life.
Sarah MacGillivray, Lori Flannigan, Eilidh Hughes and Nicola Alexander in She Burns.
This is an original piece of writing – the main story and narrative devised and performed by Sarah MacGillivray who has read a few books and fills in a brief history of Burns’ background and life.
Despite this being well trodden territory for many who have primary school memories of Burns, there is a fresh perspective here and some illuminating details – often using Burns’ style prose but much more accessible.
The thing that really lifts the piece and creates a very special and intimate atmosphere is the musical direction from Nicola Alexander whose arrangements and uplifting harmonies with fellow performers Lori Flannigan and Eilidh Hughes are sublime to listen to and transport you right into the middle of the story.
Hearing about the tragic tale of Highland Mary, or the ill-fated affair that inspired Ae Fond Kiss and then listening to the sonorous voices of the three singers bring these to life is a joy to experience. Sarah MacGillivray reads original Burns texts beautifully but more importantly asks how much do we really know about his short life and most important of all, for this show at least, what about the lassies who in turn inspired, supported and bolstered his artistic career.
confidante and biggest fan
The central point of the narrative lands on Jean Armour; his confidante and biggest fan who was his musical partner as well as housekeeper and mother to his children, some of whom were illegitimate and brought under Jean’s wing. Her story, like many other women in history has been overlooked and dismissed.
MacGillivray’s script brings all of this to life along with four strong performances from a company which has developed the piece from scratch. It is a great example of grassroots theatre bringing something new to a familiar tale. MacGillivray captures the essence of folk story traditions in passing some unknown tales on to the audience in a unique voice and encourages us all to embrace story telling and to ‘speak your truth’ just like Burns did.
An atmospheric and captivating hour, well worth experiencing for those familiar or new to Burns alike who will be carried along by the many voices and tunes of the Bard and his Lasses O.
As Burns wrote in the final verse of his Green Grow the Rashes, O:
Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest wark she classes, O:
Her prentice han’ she trie’d on man,
An’ then she made the lasses, O.
Running time: One hour (no interval)
Johnnie Walker Princes Street (Label Studio), 145 Princes Street, EH2 4BL (Venue 215)
Tuesday 13 – Sunday 25 August 2024
13/14, 16/17 & 24/25 only: 4 pm
Details and tickets at: Book here
Instagram: @sheburnstheshow
ENDS
