Words: Elodie Marriott

With a minimal set of a table, a few chairs, a water jug, and two video cameras, a heavy tension is present before An Interrogation has even begun. A detective, young and female, is tasked with interviewing a man who is a key suspect in the case of a missing woman. She’s convinced he’s guilty, but with time, her boss, and the lack of evidence working against her, the possibility of the murderer escaping capture grows increasingly likely. 

The plot is inspired by a real case, which comes across in its certainty that there will be a reveal, with the suspense around the when and how it will happen, rather than the if. An Interrogation maintains a strict pace, succeeding in keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the show.

The icy perceptiveness of Jamie Ballard’s potentially murderous character is unnerving, as he seesaws from cooperation to aggressive defensiveness. The shifts in power between him and Bethan Cullinane’s detective are thrilling, a game of cat and mouse being played in one tiny room. 

The show is a nerve-wracking interview, in which both characters struggle for control. The detective inspired by her desire to fight injustice, and the suspect’s aim of preserving his reputation.

An Interrogation
Summerhall, Old Lab
13.10, 22.20
13, 15-20, 22-27 Aug