Written by Paul Beeson

Directed by Bruce Strachan

Tickets: from £10.60

Relegation, victories, administration, war, relegation, take-overs, and relegation…

It’s been a long ol’ road for the Jam Tarts, Edinburgh’s oldest and most successful football club.

For those familiar with Two Halves Productions’ other notable works – A War of Two Halves and Sweet FA – they know the quality of work which the team produce. And where This Is Our Story may initially seem to depart from its predecessor’s drama and pathos, the outpouring of respect, history, and entertaining ardency for lovers of the club, and newcomers to Tynecastle, will turn anyone into a hardcore Jambo.

Well, nearly everyone.

Peppered with pathos, and hard-hitting moments in echoes of A War of Two Halves, Beeson’s script is primarily one of humour and entertainment – a tongue-in-cheek tour of the club’s history, taking as many shots at itself as it does teams of green or blue. It’s a fast-paced, clever use of timings – recognising that the show could easily hit and pass the two-hour mark but framed as a ‘ninety-minute’ tribute. Punchy, with a certain timeless quality to the chaptered narrative structure, the pacing of the comedy too makes perfect sense and heightens the show – offering a stopping point for sober moments to ferment, skits to end, and new ones to begin: but the influence of near-pantomime elements is almost always present, and hugely welcomed in this warming and communal show. The interactions, singing, and nudge-nudge gags are encouraged – as too are the occasional flubs which turn into scene-stealing moments of hilarity.

Lyrically, the show follows much of the pre-established comedy, save for a powerful sombre number of the club’s lost players during the First World War. Matthew Brown’s music dips and dives between genres of song, composed well, most often effectively to speak to each new generation of fans. The inclusion of the stadium’s big screens (typically rotating advertising or scores) plays as much of a role as the set dressings from the team, co-ordinated by Eve Murray featuring a mural from Alan Davison. It’s a hit and miss with the jumbo screens – offering lyrics for the audiences to get involved with the show, with some of the numbers standing out stronger lyrically than others and making frequent appearances showcasing the long-standing scores between Heart of Midlothian FC and those fellas down Easter Road. An ambitious inclusion, aids in deciphering some of the less-well-arranged lyrics, but ultimately proves to be as much of a distraction as it is an advantage.

Director Bruce Strachan’s direction makes tremendous use of the stage, one jutting out above the main stand, becoming an ‘attachment’ to the stadium itself – bringing those regular season holders into their usual spots for an entirely new sense of performance in the space. Large enough, the ‘Old Shed’ design allows movement for the performers to stretch their choreography for the musical sequences and offers enough hidden spots to allow a few surprise appearances and gags to come off and hit the mark brilliantly.

Representing the community on-stage with pride are Beeson, Ria McLeod, Luis Garrow, and Nikki Auld in a plethora of famous faces, villainous officials, and eager fans. Near-storytelling, the production’s episodic nature crams in a whole 150 years of history, and the entire cast is on the ball in picking up the pace where it may dip and pushing it to the back of the net of success. Individually, the characterisation and vocals and strong and carry through to the tops of the audience – but together, the production sings with a communal heart and firmness. The sobering realities hit hard, and the parodies cut deep.

The production, first and foremost, is for the community which built the club, and are (puns intended) the maroon hearts of the organisation: without whom, this team would not exist. In this sense, This is Our Story hits the mark and scores a hat-trick. In celebrating 150 years of the Hearts of Midlothian FC, Two Halves fill the (seemingly) dissipating gap of theatre and sport one show at a time. There’s a rich appreciation for the stage here, as much as the pitch. A cross-over event which brings those used to the stuffiness of the theatre to the unrivalled atmosphere of Tynecastle, and brings the intimacy of performance to those used to the half-time whistle. Like everything Two Halves Productions have produced, there’s a long and great life within the show – and to achieve all of this storytelling and enjoyment within ninety minutes? What a belter.

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