Adapted by Oliver Gray

Directed by Jennifer Fletcher

Review by Judith Neeson

A reconnection of community and theatre comes to the Royal Lyceum this week. Celebrating its 60th anniversary The Royal Lyceum’s creative team led by artistic director and CEO James Brining beautifully crafts a concept that whole heartedly hands the love of theatre back to the Edinburgh people. When life can feel sometimes a far cry away from the personable “The Lyceum at home on stage” rebuilds a sense of togetherness and commonality in its homage to the city of Edinburgh and the diverse community within it.

The Royal Lyceum theatre company’s expert team of creatives had a vision to bring a series of monologues into 36 homes. At the beginning a video clearly states the artistic premise then transfers over to the minimalist staging designed by Claire Williamson, Alex Tosh and Dan Dixon. By utilising key objects from the people’s homes the team create the set representing the range of community spaces the plays were originally performed.

Linus Pomroy as head of lighting uses different styles of lights overhead each representing a different atmosphere of each home. The softness and comfortable chairs mismatching together presents a comforting memory of times in student accommodation when the basics simply strip away to equality in the warm environment created. Heart, soul, passion, fear, loss, grief, beauty and joy are painted beautifully on this canvas over a two-hour piece of personal journey’s led by a cast of four excellent performers.

Beginning with “Dylan’s big day” played by Ryan Hunter his story highlights hope and prosperity even when it can appear hopeless. Writer Stephen Greenhorn communicates successfully how the connections and close-knit ties of a community are sometimes forgotten in a fast-paced city. Dylan’s story essentially asks for forgiveness as he hopes for redemption as he welcomes his new role as a father. Hunter’s delivery is comedic, likeable and entertaining. His performance is well balanced with pathos, and the audience responds with kindness and relatability instantly.

Katrina Allen then shifts the mood to one intially jovial which then transends to something more sombre as she delivers a heart wrenchingly raw performance of Isla Cowans “The Sights”. She outlines how Edinburgh’s rise in tourism has lost individual identities as she reflects over her own connections, she once had that are now gone. The message of this piece is truly reflective and confronting. Cowan challenges the audience to remember it is the people who make up the city not just the attractions within it nor the commercialisation of the history surrounding them.

Apphia Campbell’s “Loved too hard” monologue brings a welcome change to a comedic tone into the second half directed by Zinnie Harris. Actor Natali McCleary captures the wit and quirky character’s motivation as she talks about her dream move to Edinburgh whilst house sitting for a couple of social media influencers. McCleary’s delivery is well timed and paced as she commands the stage with energy and sass projecting an idealist view of what it is to leave somewhere for what they believe projected on social media is the reality. Living life through someone else’s lens pushes the audience to reflect on the use of social media platforms with intrigue and sadness into the characters circumstances. Her story reminds us to be cautious and remember that people are complex even if their “home” presents perfection.

The final monologue is presented by Graham Mackay-Bruce who performs “Love letter to a city”. It’s a fitting conclusion to the journey experienced. As memories meet the present, Mackay-Bruce paints a mental picture of a living, breathing city entirely made up of human connection and the choices shaping those connections. Every person who ever studied in Edinburgh can relate to the description writer Alexander McCall Smith recalls of nights at student hang outs and the deep conversations that last well into the small hours of the morning radicalised by hope and innocence of times gone by.

The Lyceum at Home on stage reflects the beauty of theatre in one’s front room but also reminds us that people make a city not just the places and famous attractions within it. Edinburgh is a “home” to so many, and the lyceum successfully brought us that. They brought the audience “home” and all the comfort, safety and community we can discover within it onstage. This is well worth a watch so look out for it when it next comes to the city. It’s one performance that’s not to be missed.

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