Psychologist logo

Outstanding theatre in Edinburgh

Society President David Murphy is a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This year he’s already caught more than 20 shows; here are his brief thoughts on three that have stood out for him.

07 August 2019

Who Cares – at Summerhall

Absolutely excellent performances from three of the actors who gave life to the real words of young people who were carers of parents with physical and mental health problems. Lizzie Mounter's moving portrayal of a young carer's frustrations at being excluded by health professionals was one of the best theatrical performance I've seen in a long time. The fast-paced choreography was flawless and created a powerful sense of the constant and unpredictable pressures young carers face on a daily basis. This is outstanding theatre which also provides the audience with a deep insight into a such a crucial issue. 

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/who-cares 

My Dead Best Friend – at Summerhall

I really enjoyed this unique one woman show. In theory, an autobiographical story based on memories of teenage frustrations and optimism growing up in Dunedin, New Zealand, coupled with the story of grief and tragic death of a friend shouldn’t fit with irreverent humour about the Backstreet Boys, outdoor toilets and a possum! But there was something magical about Anya Tate-Manning's authenticity and infectious humour that allowed the audience to experience grief and joy simultaneously with no absolutely contradiction and feel good about having done so.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/my-best-dead-friend

Fragility of Man – at Pleasance Courtyard 

David William Bryan’s solo performance was absolutely electric in this compelling, moving story of a young man’s journey through violence, prison and drug addiction in search of hope. The whole audience was gripped from the first second to the close, so much so that I think there were several periods when I forgot to breathe! 

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fragility-of-man

Meet David in an online interview https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/i-feel-i-can-make-positive-contribution-what-critical-time