Twelve Twelve Theatre @ Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh

Producing twelve plays within twelve months is a challenge, right? Twelve Twelve Theatre, a new eclectic Edinburgh-based company, have taken this challenge in their stride and triumphed as the last of their twelve plays hit the Wee Red Bar as a triple bill.

Then I Met You – Katy Nixon (★★★★)

Set in Leith, a young female artist is focused on a music career, but her delusional manager Barry Beats is holding her back. From this local story you can expect blackmail, outrage, love, sexism, a dominatrix, the odd Proclaimers song and a whole lot of laughter.

Katy Nixon gives the voice of a young generation of females as she opens on the topic of objectification and ends with empowerment. Directed by Saskia Ashdown, Then I Met You is packed with modern issues whilst not taking itself too seriously. Hamish Wyllie’s proud and misogynistic  Beats is a brilliantly horrific central character who can do no wrong in life, and we all unfortunately know a guy like him. With well-rounded characters, a strong ensemble and some fantastic one-liners, it’s both a laugh a minute, and a necessary story. 

Interventions – Andy Robertson (★★)

After his break up, Phil enters a spiral of anger, alcohol, and cigarettes. His friends want to help but are utterly useless, so they decide to stage an intervention.

Directed by Johnny Cameron, Robertson's piece has a great concept, but the delivery falls a little flat. There's a lot going on – mental health, alcoholism, broken relationships – but no clear focus. The romance and drama of the piece gets a bit lost in all the volume and physicality of the action; the end result is that it all lacks tension. There are some quirky lines but Interventions hangs between comedy and drama.

F***ing Cars – Gemma McGinley (★★★)

You ever heard of that Queen song I’m in Love With my Car? Well F***king Cars takes that sentiment to a whole new level. Gemma McGinley's play takes us on quite the ride (involving a McDonalds drive-thru) as sassy vehicle Kelly finds herself in a love triangle with humans.

In her role as Kelly the car, Saskia Ashdown a breezes through a tricky concept with her Alexa-style tone and lovely innocence. Directed by Hannah Louise Bradley and Sean O'Brien, the play mocks its own theatricality and highlights the universal nature of complex relationships. Some moments are a bit screechy but it’s full of energy, it’s wacky and it’s a lot of fun.

---

Twelve Twelve Theatre @ Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, until 21 Mar, more info: https://www.facebook.com/twelvetwelvetheatre/