Testing the Echo @ Traverse

Ah the good old' life in the UK. Tea, rugby, beer, cold nights, woolly scarves and of course honouring her majesty. That's about right isn't it?

David Edgar's new show Testing the Echo looks at the idea of life in the UK and what it means to be British. Based on the stories of eight characters, it is an intelligent and searching examination into the gap between conventional notions about what life in Britain ought to be like and the reality of life itself. It .

Edgar makes potent swipes at naive bureaucracy, by contrasting the absurd 'Life in the UK' booklet, upon which questions for the naturalisation test are based, with the stories of people fleeing war damaged countries and lives of struggle and destruction. Intertwined with scenes of 'typical' British life from the working class to middle- upper class stereotypes, Testing the Echo boasts strong opinions on the widening gap between governmental legislation and everyday life.

Brilliant stage management and strong character performances direct this quick paced production through a speedy yet well devised narrative. Through cleverly written and satirical prose the play highlights the often complex situations surrounding the naturalisation process. The cast manoeuvres cleanly and cleverly between multiple characters, supported by simple yet effective scene changes.

Teresa Banham, as Emma the ESL teacher, gives the stand out performance: her character epitomises the complex circumstances and experience which combineto create an individual, while highlighting the fact that we all play a role in making up 'society.' Through her outstanding performance, a strong foundation is laid for the presentation of the key political themes and social issues.

Directed by Matthew Dunster, the production boasts a loud and explicitly left wing comment on the idea of Britishness. Testing the Echo is a humorous, satirical and extremely relevant production