• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

Ed Fringe 2016: Glasgow Girls at Assembly Hall

August 31, 2016 by Scarlet Evans Leave a Comment

Review of: Glasgow Girls at the Assembly Hall
Produced by:
Pachamama Productions, National Theatre of Scotland and Regular Music

Reviewed by: Scarlet Evans
Rating:
4
On August 31, 2016
Last modified:August 31, 2016

Summary:

David Grieg's musical Glasgow Girls is staged as an ensemble piece, with the girls and their teachers doubling up as parents, home office officers, and Scottish first minister Jack McConnell.

More Details

‘What kind of country do you want to live in?’ one of the battle cries of Glasgow Girls asks Scotland. A production that aims to humanise asylum seekers, this new musical retells the true story of a group of high-school Glaswegians who took on the British home office itself. At the Edinburgh fringe, this does feel like something of a wasted question. The answer the girls obviously want to hear is a country where every child in Scotland is valued equally, and in the socially conscious Edinburgh every audience member seems to feel this way already.

David Grieg’s musical is staged as an ensemble piece, with the girls and their teachers doubling up as parents, home office officers, and Scottish first minister Jack McConnell. It all works surprisingly well, with only simple costume changes necessary to support the actors’ consistent and slick reactions to each situation. This all takes place on a giant primary school playground set – one that multi-functions just as much as the actors do. Every element of the direction, choreography, and tricky transitions are planned and executed perfectly. As a production, Glasgow Girls would easily sit in a long-running West End theatre.

Glasgow-Girls-1024x672

The musical itself is a predominantly beautiful tribute to Scotland’s musical heritage, with a violinist (Laura Wilkie) onstage and playing throughout. Her haunting fiddle melodies invoke folk songs in almost every scene, effortlessly tying together the themes of the play with the musical style. As the girls sing about integration and the power of together, it is the music over any other aspect that makes these themes relevant not just to present Scotland, but to its history. Sadly, there are songs in the play in which this musical style is dropped and replaced with more ‘classic’ musical theatre sounds, or even bassier dance music, an illogical artistic decision that seems like an attempt to pull in heavy crowds. A real shame, not to mention unnecessary, and the musical is most successful when it ignores all elements of musical theatre tradition.

None of this is to say that Glasgow Girls doesn’t work, or that it doesn’t achieve its aims. It’s an incredibly powerful piece of theatre, and though perhaps biased as an avid lover of the musical form, I think it surpasses the boundaries of genre. It would be remiss of me not to admit that one unexpected moment had me in floods of tears that never quite subsided. As it tours, this is a show to not miss, and perhaps more importantly to take your friends to – particularly those who are not as sympathetic towards asylum seekers as they could be.

Author: Scarlet Evans

Filed Under: Review

Join the discussion Cancel reply

NEWS / Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced

Coming to Sadler’s Wells in September as part of its world tour, A Night At The Kabuki is a retelling [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Paul O’Donnell talks about Shoot Festival

Shoot Festival returns this year with a mix of commissioned pieces and showcases of the best of Coventry’s arts scene. [Read More]

Review / The Man who Knew Too Much at Omnibus Theatre

A packed Omnibus Theatre lapped up the entertaining antics of The Man Who Knew Too Much. Co-Director and Co-writer Olivia [Read More]

Spotlight / Inua Ellams at 05Fest Lewisham

Inua Ellams, the Albany and WE ARE LEWISHAM  presents………. 05Fest, 10 – 19 March Poetry takes front and centre stage [Read More]

Review / Eng-er-land at the Alleyn Theatre

This new play, Eng-er-land  kicked off a UK tour with its opening performance in the Alleyn Theatre at Dulwich College [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • A Streetcar Named Desire- A cry of pain- Young Vic
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Paul Hegarty in conversation with INK Festival,East Anglia
  • Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced
  • The Disappearing Cripple: Disabled Actors - A Problem of Access or Perception?
  • Iphigenia in Splott
  • Crowdfunding In Theatre - An Overview
  • Scarlet Evans
    Author

  • August 31st, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook27TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!