Since 1999

Trusted News & Reviews

25

years

best of british theatre

Official
tickets

Pick
your seats

Since 1999

25 years

Official tickets

Pick seats

REVIEW: Prick, Space On The Mile ✭✭✭

Published on

August 16, 2023

By

pauldavies

Paul T Davies reviews Prick by Laurie Flanigan Heggie at the Space On The Mile presented as part of the Edinburgh Fringe.

Prick

Prick

Space on the Mile, Edinburgh Fringe

3 Stars

Book Tickets

This new play by Laurie Flanigan Heggie gives voice to the nearly 4000 wrongly accused people of the Scottish Witch trails, 84% of whom were women. Based on three women who were accused, this Napier University production is well researched and economically and effectively staged, but is slightly too long with a couple of unnecessary scenes, with some areas working more successfully than others.

It's a good cast, with effective doubling up and they work well as a team. David Clarkson is a convincing farmer whose wife becomes accused. Ewan Jardine is particularly strong as King James, and the women, Abigail McDonald, Lisa McIntyre and Carys Turner, form a strong sisterhood. Lev Siegal provides sinister comic relief and the play is smoothly directed by Maggie Greivell.

The use of a modern, television approach to some of the scenes is a clumsy way to provide exposition and jolts us out of some effective scenes, and the circling crows become repetitive. That said, it leads to a finely crafted final scene that brings home the misogyny and becomes horribly relevant.

The BritishTheatre.com website was created to celebrate the rich and diverse theatrical culture of the United Kingdom. Our mission is to provide the latest UK theatre news, West End reviews, and insights into both regional theatre and London theatre tickets, ensuring enthusiasts can stay up to date with everything from the biggest West End musicals to cutting-edge fringe theatre. We are passionate about encouraging and nurturing the performing arts in all their forms.

The spirit of theatre is alive and thriving, and BritishTheatre.com is at the forefront of delivering timely, authoritative news and information to theatre lovers. Our dedicated team of theatre journalists and critics works tirelessly to cover every production and event, making it easy for you to access the latest reviews and book London theatre tickets for must-see shows.