Theatre / 120 min / £18(£13, £6), £20(£15) / 14+
Showing @ Traverse Theatre, until 26 Aug, times vary
Who we are is defined by the choices we face, the people we meet and the places we go. Identity has long been an important part of Scottish culture and theatre. This intelligent and thoughtful coupling at the Traverse brings together two critically acclaimed playwrights and two contrasting plays that are linked by themes of politics, identity and how both have been affected by nuclear weapons.
Responsibilities, obligations and priorities are challenged by morality, ethics and fear. David Greig and David Harrower together have drawn a line between a small town and the big city. Greig’s, set in No. 10, is a one-act play in which the PM must write a letter of command following a hypothetical nuclear attack on Britain. Harrower’s is set in Helensburgh, in the Seaview Hotel, where a middle-aged woman meets a young man and makes a life changing decision as a result of their encounter. Both plays contrast in design and style, but are neatly juxtaposed to incite comparison and discussion. The priorities we have, the consequences we face and the risks we take forge our identity. In the next two years, as we consider the possibility of Scottish independence, who we are as Scots, Britons and individuals will doubtless be an increasingly important topic in contemporary theatre.
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