@ North Edinburgh Arts Centre, on Fri 23 Oct 2015; and
@ Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, on Sun 25 Oct 2015; and
@ Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh, on Fri 30 Oct 2015

The portrait of a young Indian man looms literally and metaphorically over this fascinating family history piece, which tracks three generations from roots in early 20th century Kerala, South India, to modern day Edinburgh. The young man is PM John, a poet and writer, whose granddaughter Annie George never knew him in life, but is here this evening piecing together his life for us, based on his writings, family legends, and that portrait, with its commanding, self-certain gaze.

The story is told by George herself in the guise of various family members across the decades. Simple props and a large family tree projected on the backdrop keep us straight as to who we’re watching. Sound, by Niroshini Thambar, is highly evocative, and for a solo storytelling piece it’s visually quite absorbing. George calmly and serenely controls the stage while the projected backdrop and the foliage hidden behind it magnify the performance by filling the space out to its full height and depth.

Even if the setting of Colonial India is unfamiliar to audiences, the play doesn’t lack for potential personal resonances. The simultaneous literary renaissance and burgeoning independence movement in Colonial India has obvious parallels with modern Scotland. “Independence” takes on a dual meaning too – it’s both national, and personal (in her grandfather following his own route to becoming a writer, and her parents breaking free of family ties to move to the UK).

And while there is a physical “bridge” mentioned early in the show, the real “bridge” of the title is across generations and continents. In the part-real, part-imagined persona she weaves of her grandfather from his portrait, there’s a pang we can all feel when confronted with reminders of our forbears.

This is a captivating piece which, while paying rightful respect to the man PM John, avoids hagiography, instead illuminating an interesting corner of history and drawing out something universal about an individual’s relationship with their family.