Writer: Andrea Cano Molina
Director: Elsa Strachan
This ambitious ensemble piece from Acting Coach Scotland is a good showcase for its six performers. A lot is crammed into the show’s fifty minutes. If anything the drama is a little over-condensed, with short scenes punctuated by even shorter transitions, as what look like Greek tea-chests are efficiently hauled about to provide the set.
There’s plenty here for the alert viewer to engage with. Inspired by the mysterious disappearance in 1900 of the three keepers of the Flannan Isles lighthouse, the story is set in the early 1970s, opening with a stranger washing up on a beach with no memory of who he is. His mind seems to hold some echoes of the older mystery.
Meanwhile a different drama is playing out. With the lighthouse facing closure, which threatens the livelihoods of the the islanders, they’re divided about whether to stand up to the authorities or abandon their home altogether. We get a portrait of a community, complete with some soap opera style intrigues, such as an extra-marital affair. There are hints of the supernatural, which are underlined by the islanders’ superstitions, some of whom hold a deep suspicion of outsiders.
As with any short drama that opens up multiple plot lines, as the end approaches they have to be closed down pretty smartly. In this case some of the resolutions are a little corny, though Andrea Cano Molina has ensured that all of the threads in her script are tied up. She’s a Spanish-German writer and actress based in London, who trained at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. She has an impressive array of projects on the go and this will no doubt bolster her creative CV.
The show is frenetic – don’t blink or you’ll miss something – and it’s performed with high levels of energy and commitment. While it strains to be contained within a Fringe slot, it also succeeds in standing out from the crowd. The blocking is excellent and Elsa Strachan’s direction ensures that the key points of the story are highlighted. It’s enjoyable to see this young company pulling together and developing their skills.
Runs until 23 August 2025
