Review: Wish You Were Here, EdFringe

It’s a long way from the lights of Princes Street to the factories of Glenrothes, but Without Compromise Productions bring a bitter taste of working-class life from the depths of Fife to the lovely Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Wish You Were Here takes us to a small flat where a couple are announcing their engagement. Erin (Arlene McKay) is expecting their first child. Reece (Michael Johnson) already has a boy from a former failed relationship whom he sees only infrequently, so they are looking forward to a brighter future. Also in the flat is Marcus, played by Robbie Hail, who is a likeable scally with a dark background. We’re told he no longer has a relationship with his dad after something happened to his mum, who is clearly dead. Marcus’ schoolfriend Tommy (Kennedy Thomson) returns from university, where he’s come out as gay, to join the celebration, and by way of flashbacks, we learn about their formative years together and their current distance. 

Johnson’s script is neatly crafted, packing in a multitude of important social issues and observations, yet never losing the humour that is often a core part of working-class trauma. Spotlighting themes of broken homes, found family, a failing educational system, drug abuse, suicide and homophobia, the work unflinchingly draws the causes together with the consequences, with emotionally devastating results. There are perhaps some clunky moments in the staging as characters circle on and off the stage, but it feels like this might perhaps be a limitation of venue space or lighting design budget, and it doesn’t detract enormously from the overall focus.

The characters are beautifully drawn, each distinctive and unique yet avoiding becoming clichéd. Economy in exposition brings clarity, with their relationships often given profound depth by unspoken words. And there’s a huge amount of comedy here in the recognisable behaviours of youth. Even the seedy Keegs, played by Lewis Robertson, stays just the right side of believable in his role as dangerously manipulative drug pusher with the outward face of a loser.

It’s the performances in the show that make the fine writing work shine so vividly, each a dazzling, convincing portrayal. I love me a bit of vernacular, and the thick Scots accents are fabulous, immersing the audience in a grittily authentic world; causing the international audience to lean in and listen carefully while giving a more local audience a familiar hook with which to connect. It’s hard to pick anyone out above others, but the relationship between Marcus and Tommy is heartbreakingly raw and authentic as Hail and Thompson magnificently give their all to the characters, surely leaving not a dry eye in the house as the tragedy plays out.

This is a fiercely impressive production, forefronting important and urgent messages that have been left unheard for far too long. They are here made accessible and understandable in an excellent, moving piece of theatre that really deserves a wider audience.

Written by Michael Johnson
Produced by Without Compromise Productions

Wish You Were Here has completed its run at EdFringe.