Words: Trudy Lynn 
Image: Alex Brenner

5 Stars 

Peter McCormick’s Nesting is a difficult but necessary watch. It’s superbly acted, the script is fantastic, the direction and set perfect. But do bring tissues if you are prone to a tear. 

Trolley Company launched this year but clearly have a wealth of experience behind them. They know what they are doing in writing and performing this dark and dirty comedy, dealing with stark social problems. Nesting watches the decline of Francis (Billy Mack) as he develops motor-neurone disease and the pressure this puts on  both him and his pregnant daughter Emma (Francesca Hess). McCormick himself plays the well-meaning Dr Bell in a nuanced depiction of the NHS and the humans within the system. And Michael Guest is somehow a thoroughly believable gull who offers Francis a deal to make his and Emma’s pain go away. The physical theatre is superb alongside the dialogue. Emma’s pregnancy and strain takes demands on her body as her father degenerates. Both conditions are played with great research and sensitivity. And one wonders for how long Guest observed gulls to produce such an uncanny performance. 

For such a dark but realistic show about end-of-life care and the right to die, the humour could feel forced yet it works perfectly, adding levity and depth and is so very Irish and believable. The set is ideal for the play and the Fringe: stark, versatile, easily moved, allows for time to move on and characters to disappear behind the window-seat/hospital curtain cleverly. Killman’s soundscapes are also worth noting. This is theatre for theatre-goers and thoroughly deserves the stir it is making. 

Nesting
Old Lab at Summerhall
16:30 
6 August – 31 August (not 18; 25)