Windblown @ Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh

Karine Polwart’s Windblown started as a wake for a palm tree living within the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has since evolved into a short performance about life, death and freedom.

This singular tale explores the life and death of plants – but draws also on a wider message applicable to human life. The show’s unique structure, combining visuals, folk music and storytelling, means it is educational while remaining informal, as though it's a conversation with a friend. Karine Polwart's beautiful voice deserves nothing but praise for its smooth and calming feel. The songs themselves are sweet and poignant, creating a warm atmosphere that connects the audience to the palm tree Polwart came to love. Her heart is clear, and it is refreshing to listen to someone tell a story replete with both fact and feeling.

Accompanying Polwart’s performance is pianist Dave Milligan, and an enticing set with the tall, beloved palm tree in the centre, and calm, almost psychedelic visuals. All of these elements combined create the feeling of the wind blowing throughout the room itself, uniting the audience with the tree and the show’s larger message of connection to the world around us.

It grows into an undisputably tender show, though not without plenty of laughs and uplifting songs. While its free-spirited message might not be for everyone, it goes beyond the story of a single tree to show a truth beneath about humanity, colonisation and the environment – but ultimately, about the hope we can provide for future generations if we draw nearer to the world around us.

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Windblown, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, until 30 April, then touring Scotland including Byre Theatre, St Andrews, 2 May and Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, 8-9 May.