Paul T Davies reviews Bitch, Antigone presented by Out Cast Theatre at The Space On The Mile as part of the Edinburgh Fringe
Bitch Antigone Edinburgh Festival Fringe
12 August 2019
4 Stars
Often at the Fringe you are confronted with the worst of human nature as play after play tackles those deep, hard hitting subjects. And you feel like hitting the crowds that are slow to get out of your way. Well, when it's time to wipe tears of laughter from your cheeks, catch Out Cast Theatre's irreverent, filthy send up of Antigone. It's Carry On Sophocles with a healthy slab of Up Pompeii. If you're too young to remember that, any drama student forced to study the play will roar with laughter at Steven Dawson's script.
Dawson himself plays the lead diva, clinging to the role while insisting it's time to retire. Matthew Roberts and Scott Middleton complete the chorus of temperamental queen's, and it's as if Ru Paul has spread his spirit over the competition as they compete for the acting prize. There is no such thing as too over the top here, if you're looking for subtle, thoughtful drama, that's what the Traverse is for!
The show is a hoot from beginning to end, with some cheeky lip syncing and every theatrical device has the piss royally ripped out of it. The trio also ad lib well, and the audience have a ball. Greek tragedy has never been so hilarious!
Paul is a playwright, director, actor, academic, (he has a PhD from the University of East Anglia), teacher and theatre reviewer! His plays include Living with Luke, (UK tour 2016), Play Something, (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Drayton Arms Theatre, London 2018), , (2019), and now The Miner’s Crow, which won the inaugural Artist’s Pick of the Fringe Award at the first ever Colchester Fringe Festival 2021. In lockdown 2020 he created the audio series Isolation Alan, available on Youtube, and performed online in the Voice Box Festival. He is the founder member of Stage Write, a Colchester based theatre company, and his acting roles include Rupert in How We Love by Annette Brook, first performed at the Vaults Festival 2020 and revived at the Arcola and at Theatre Peckham in 2021. Follow: @stagewrite_
Stay in the spotlight
Get the latest theatre news, reviews and exclusive offers straight to your inbox.
