One Day In Spring @ Oran Mor

Subtitled How To Stage A Revolution In 18 Easy Lessons, this ambitious production spans 24 hours across the Arabian nations, as depicted by 24 young writers- and it is a venture that is as erratic, exciting and interesting as something of such scope should entail, also utilising material from various internet blogs, protests on Facebook and other dissenting sources.

The impassioned young duo of Sara Shaarawi (excellent) and Seif Abdelfattah, who is gamely struggling along on a wheelchair, having broken his leg in a fall, present eighteen skits and scenarios ranging from the playfully provocative to the brutal: here, the fourth wall is not so much broken as bludgeoned and improv moments work as well as scripted, sometimes better. In spite of occasionally iffy lines (the earnest teenage “smash the system” stuff which bookends the production) and a few ideas which don’t get a chance to develop properly due to time constraints, the pair’s infectious energy is hard to resist.

Stereotypes are frequently lampooned throughout, then eschewed for a bigger sucker punch where nothing is off-limits: virginity tests; abuse, censorship, torture, sexuality and martyrdom. This is where the work is at its strongest- troubling and enlightening in equal measure. David Greig’s zippy direction keeps it all taut, and for the most part it is a pithy and brilliant show which will make you feel like revolution is possible - at least for an hour or so.