Showing @ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh until Wed 2 Nov – run ended

Heartbreak, isolation, love and regret form the basis of Kes, Catherine Wheels‘ impressive new production. Adapted from Barry Hines’ 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave, this new adaptation written by Rob Evans and directed by Gill Robertson, presents a new and ultimately very refreshing and united piece that gives new life to Hines’ classic tale.

Set in the harsh and cold work of 1960s Yorkshire, Kes follows The Man (Sean Murray) as he revisits and relives his childhood by watching his younger self, Billy (James Anthony Pearson) as he battles through everyday teenage issues, before finding, training and falling in love with an abandoned kestrel he names Kes. But fate is cruel, and Billy and The Man must face the painful events that changed the course of their lives forever.

Evans’ adaptation of Hines’ seminal coming of age story is an energetic, thoughtful, and above all, faithful adaptation of the book that presents a number of teenage themes, such as bullying, intimidation and passion, all combined with a feeling of nostalgia and heartbreak. Catherine Wheels’ latest production, while set in the 1960s, has a certain timeless quality to it, a sort of naïve charm that effortlessly elevates the play from a simple story, to the emotional, mesmerising and truly unforgettable production that Kes is. Under Robertson’s direction, both Murray and Pearson excel as the nostalgic older man and the young, put down teenager. Powerful, believable and beautifully choreographed and styled with Karen Tennent’s junkyard-inspired 60s set and supported by Danny Krass’ moving music, Kes is a sheer delight that celebrates Hines’ original novel and the young human spirit. Visually spectacular and emotionally involving, containing some unexpected moments of comedy and enviable physical prowess, the only thing wrong with Robertson’s Kes is that it feels much too short at just one hour long.