LAND – A New Scottish Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

LAND – A New Scottish Musical continues at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, Edinburgh until 28 August 2022.

Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩

Kick the Door Theatre Company brings together a talented and passionate group of Scottish theatre-makers. Recently, their production of Thread showcased the potential in a full-length production. In this Fringe production, the staging has been pared back to the minimum and ensures a clear focus for the audience.

The cast of three: Bethany Tennick (also wrote the music and lyrics), Christopher Alexander (the mature man) and Robin Campbell (the young man) takes us through a series of conversations between the men in different circumstances and times.

One chain of conversation is between a young man, caring for an older man in a tenement flat. The older man is suspicious of the younger man, but gradually thaws and even welcomes the younger man as their relationship develops. Their conversation is almost banal, yet the younger man uses this as ‘normal’ to forge a bond and respect between them both.

Another conversation is between a crofter from long ago who takes in a younger man – a soldier. This 18th century story contrasts starkly with the contemporary context, yet the relationship between the men develops along parallel lines. The Crofter has a plethora of sayings, ‘homilies’ perhaps describes them better, but as he is illiterate the wisdom will be lost with his passing. The young soldier undertakes writing these down so they can go on into the future, long after they have all gone. In the meantime, they are building a mutually respectful relationship.

Throughout, music and song blend with the spoken word, often lifting the hairs on your arm in the beauty of the harmonies. Being both simple and complex, the musical narrative colours and expands the nature of the relationships between the younger and older men. The nature of collaboration reflects the unity of the team which created the show.  The concept was conceived by Fraser Scott, who also directs, and the book is by Iona Ramsay.

Tennick’s extraordinary voice is an absolute delight. The elevation of the language from the everyday to the poetic is sensitively handled, with Tennick’s narrative taking flight in the songs, accompanying herself on guitar.  The humour in the song ‘Rabbie the Cock’ serves as a neat change of pace and atmosphere, giving breathing space for characters and music to be a little more playful. The guitar underscoring the spoken word is soothing and adds a welcome dimension for the listening audience.

The audience was highly attentive and caught by the excellence in the performances. The message of Land being where you come from is explored throughout. The final song suggests that if people stood for their own land and stopped fighting wars for places that have nothing to do with their own land seems rushed and simplistic. With more development, Land has the bones of a very promising work.

Fiona Orr