This is a bravura performance from Saltire Sky Theatre Company. Full of energy and drive, the 8-strong company of cast and musician go full-pelt in this engaging piece of immersive theatre. Focussed around getting tickets to see Hibs in the Scottish Cup Final in 2016, Scott-Dunn’s text is a well-written piece which, while centred around football, brings up the themes of family, grief, working class poverty and the importance of friendship.
The title of the play comes from the year that Hibs first won the Scottish Cup Final in 1902. In this production, they are in the cup final again and Deeks (a strong performance from Scott-Dunn) has borrowed £1,000 from drug-dealer and moneylender Craig (a suitably menacing Jonny Tulloch) so that he and his friends – Frankie, Zippy and Sambo (Josh Brock, Cameron Docker and Alexander Arran Cowan, all in engaging form) can go. However, they all struggle with repaying the ticket cost to Deeks, in order for him to pay back the moneylender and from there it all goes awry. Barmaid Mags (a feisty Ella Stokes) offers to help, but Deeks’ big brother Tony (a layered performance from Sands Stirling) gets involved which causes unintended consequences.
The production is performed in Leith Arches, an atmospheric and fitting site for the play, not far from the Hibs ground. The audience is tightly packed in, and as this is an immersive piece, the action is up close and personal. Interactions with the audience worked well and Scott-Dunn and Stirling’s co-direction makes strong use of every element of the space. Musician Sandy Bain complements the piece, accompanying the football songs and the moving final song, Sunshine on Leith. This is a loud show, and the echoing from the space sometimes causes words to be lost, but overall, this ensemble piece is an enjoyable show that will ultimately tug at your heartstrings.
Show Time: 20-25,27-30 August @ 17:00; 19:30
Ticket Prices: £10-£12