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