We enter Summerhall’s famous Dissection Room through its almost unknown Histology Lab. In itself this is a little treat (Although Summerhall virgins will be unaware of the excitement of discovering a new space in Edinburgh’s beloved cultural HQ).

We’re asked to download an app, and fill out an online questionnaire, age-based, that essentially pigeonholes us by attitude. We’re then funnelled into the room with our phones as critical tools of the show.

La Mecanica is a Majorcan theatre company that has unquestionably grasped the potential of technology to create an ‘immersive theatre journey’, and the immersion includes the live performances by father and daughter characters who, typically, have generational issues but clearly love one another. The dance is convincing and earnest.

The show is about generational differences of opinion that are the same old, same old. We’ve always had to deal with teenage angst: something, it seems, started in Aristotle’s generation. Gen Greek?

The show treats us to dance, a spot of ukulele playing, and an opportunity to engage with fellow audience (cast?) members as we weave around the Dissection Room

The tech is unquestionably on point.  It divides the audience by generation and attitude but ultimately helps to demonstrate that teen angst is nothing new, and that generational differences are merely time-shifting complications. It’s certainly immersive and it’s certainly fun.

But at the end of the day is it actually saying anything particularly new? Because it’s not really actually saying anything particularly revelatory.  Yes, teens and parents have a different POV and, yes, Boomers don’t get the new tech (actually they all made it work).

It’s an enjoyable 45 minutes. The tech is clever, but it fairly quickly runs out of steam. And then where are we? We’re just left with humanity. Old school.

‘A Teen Odyssey‘ is at Summerhall – Dissection Room until Mon 25 Aug 2025 at various times.