Showing @ Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh until Sun 25 Aug (not 12) @ 18:10
From the pen of Taggart creator Glenn Chandler and based on the letters of three of the country’s most notorious murderers, Killers both questions our fascination with the serial killer whilst at the same time benefiting from it. Dennis Nilson, Ian Brady and Peter Sutcliffe take turns replying to their pen-pals and their replies – pompous, angry, deluded – give us real insight into their characters.
There is of course the danger that humanising these men could lead you to find some sympathy for the devil, but Chandler is canny and selective enough with the letters to never let the enormity of their crimes be diminished. Despite the fascination engendered by the letters, the performances are far too superficial to do more than hint at the characters behind the pen. Aaron Usher’s Nilson is too over-the-top and Gareth Morrison is overly fond of the mad-eyed stare. Only Edward Corey as Brady feels as if he’s vaguely challenging the moors murderer. For those with a fascination for true crime this will prove a draw, for others it has some elements to recommend it and there are probably worse ways to kill and hour.
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