Ben Kay
Raw, gritty, and full of heart. Edinburgh’s emerging stars shine in Without Compromise’s Collateral Damage, tugging at the heartstrings and hitting all the right notes.
Fans of Graeme Armstrong’s The Young Team might be onboard for this one, if you grew up in working class Scotland and have unresolved generational trauma, this show is maybe for you. Most members in the year-round Edinburgh theatre scene probably know Without Compromise by now, after the success of Derby Day (also written by Michael Johnson) at Fringe last year and the continuous projects they’ve contributed to the circuit since.
They’re on a mission to tell authentic working class Scottish stories, and in a festival (and industry) where these are so often not given the light of day, it is absolutely crucial that this work is celebrated and recognised for its evident quality, and that the conversations they propose are properly nurtured and listened to.
The standout of this production are the performances. Alone on an almost bare stage with nearly no scenic elements, Lorna Macfarlane shines in this play, masterfully balancing the vulnerability of a drunken, grieving mother, with the screeching brutality of the council estate. Despite us not being able to see the continually referenced mess she lives in, we never once falter in our belief that this character is truly suffering, this is an exceptionally sincere performance; her raw talent for spirited, gut-wrenching characters is absolutely clear.
Recent Spotlight Prize Finalist and Queen Margaret University graduate Erin Clarke is equally as admirable as ex-convict daughter Alex, skillfully supplying the energy, wit, and raw emotion the text requests. Charley Crooks’ performance is the most intriguing of the three, initially reading as slightly timid, naive and lacking a bit of presence. But as the play unravels, she grows into her role impeccably: the younger sister stuck in the middle of a family feud, forced to try to mend the broken relationships and make the most out of what she has.
A truly heartbreaking character, her life revolves around trying to nurse things too far gone back to health, she almost looks too young for this play, and as the story develops we see how she has been forced to grow up. This is a seriously beautifully presented character progression, it is rare to see such depth and vulnerability from an actor so early on in her career.
Despite being a little rough around the edges, Pederson directs Johnson’s characters with such control, empathy and emotional intelligence it is an absolute joy to watch. Without Compromise are making a clear statement with this pattern of work. They are not the complete article but have all the talent, grit, and vision to become an absolute powerhouse in Scottish theatre. Undoubtedly one to watch out for in years to come.
Recommended Drink: A cup of tea – you may cry at this and could probably do with the comfort.
Catch Collateral Damage from 24th to 29th August at 20.45 (50mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Oli Fuller
Isobel Jacob
Ellen Leslie
