REVIEW: Parakeet, Summerhall, Edinburgh Fringe ✭✭✭✭

Paul T Davies reviews Parakeet presented by Boundless Theatre and Boom Shakalaka Productions at Summerhall as part of the Edinburgh Fringe 2019.

Photo: Jane Hobson Parakeet Summerhall, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

9 August 2019

4 Stars

Book Tickets

Gig theatre is getting stronger and very much in evidence this Fringe. Pulsing with a punky best, Parakeet flies in with a vibrancy and youthfulness that is hard to resist. Originating from Margate, the piece has a strong environmental message that never preaches and gives hope for the future. When a tree, home to the Parakeets of Thanet, is threatened with being cut down, three friends come together and find empowerment through music to fight the developers.

Photo: Jane Hobson

The company, Lula Mebrahtu, Isabel Oliver, Michelle Tiwo, Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy are a fantastic plumage, working as one unit of sound and fury- and fun! I particularly enjoyed Graham in his pants! In places, the writing is a little naive, but that's a minor quibble as the production soars with life and optimism, Tom Allen even does the voice over!

Boundless Theatre and Boom Shakalaka Productions have created a piece that is bringing a young, active crowd into the theatre, and that's brilliant to see. The music is pretty damn good too!