Words: Trudy Lynn 
Image: Jed Bury

5 Stars 

A searingly true portrayal of family dynamics in the wake of a tragedy. Collateral  Damage feels real and, as a rarity in the Fringe, it feels truly Scottish – written and acted by Scots for Scots. Michael Johnson’s script is well structured and shows a  slice of life with a steadily moving plot and satisfying but honest resolution all within 50 minutes. The dialogue is superb and shows a real understanding of psychology and the characters. It’s good storytelling without exposition. 

Collateral Damage shows the Laing family in the wake of two tragedies and a prison  sentence. Stacey (Lorna McFarlane), the volatile mother, turns to alcoholism. Her  two surviving adult daughters feel the desire for distance. Alex (Erin Clark) focuses  on her own struggles and rages. Hayley (Charley Crooks) tries to help everyone she  meets and takes on the peacekeeper role. Each actor plays their role with such  empathy and understanding which allows the play not to be a difficult watch despite  the difficult content. The fraught relationships between the three are the centre of the  play and the love shines through despite the shouting and pain. Crooks in particular  has a wonderful balance of fawning while trying to break the cycle of trauma. 

Set, music and lighting are all simply but well done. The directorial choices work perfectly. The art of theatre never detracts from the realness of the story and physical distance is used to great effect, only Rosie’s motif was too quiet. 

Without a doubt Compromise Theatre are one to watch for Scottish new writing. This play feels like it is both showing you real life and transforming it. 

Collateral Damage
Stephenson Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall 
20:45 
24 August – 29 August