REVIEW: Hold the Line, Sam Macgregor, EdFringe 2025 ★★★

Hold the line follows the story of an unemployed actor working for NHS 111, in particular a deeply traumatic shift where his advice ended one life and saved another. It is deeply political and highlights the struggle of the underfunding of the NHS from the inside, and how the blame is put onto the workers, not the government.

This is a difficult watch, but a deeply insightful one, detailing the emotional impact and high stress environment of the workers within the NHS.

Though the story was compelling, I did not find it gripping enough, and found the long dialogue-heavy scenes difficult to stay concentrated on, especially in a warm dark room in the middle of the afternoon. I also found, aside from one scene which featured a choreographed dance symbolising the fast pased and busy nature of the 111 call centre, that the staging was lacklustre and sometimes inaccessible, with prolonged scenes taking place with characters in the aisles of the seats, meaning they were performing behind a significant amount of audience members for seemingly no reason.

I was unsure about the messaging of the conclusion of the piece, that could be interpreted as including the patient within the reasoning that the NHS was under stress. The cast told the audience not to call 111 unless seriously ill – and this did not resonate with me as a message, instead one that I found more counterproductive and unsettling. A rallying message exploring solidarity with the NHS might have found more appreciation.

This is an interesting piece, but make sure you read the content warnings before booking.

Recommended Drink: Pair this with a glass of water, to keep hydrated and healthy.

You can catch Hold the Line until August 25th (not the 18th) at Bunker Two at Pleasance Courtyard from 16:25 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.