Words: Haneul Lee
Image: Mihaela Bodlovic

5 stars

Patched-up knees, climbing a tree, and conversations about doggy—this is all within the first three minutes of Julia Grogan’s new play, Playfight. The fog, blue stage lights, and bright pink ladder create a childlike ambience, invoking flashbacks of childhood imagination. But beneath the surface of witty banter and crude jokes about sexuality lies a complex exploration of growing up and leaving your past behind,
without leaving your friends. The play draws you in with humour, only to unravel the deeper emotional struggles that follow, setting the tone for a story that is both poignant and relatable.

The initial dialogue thrusts the audience into a whirlwind of chaotic youthful energy, but as the characters mature, the deliberate slowing of pace mirrors their journey into adulthood. Directed by Emma Callander, the play guides us through the years 15 to 24 in the lives of Keira (Sophie Cox), Lucy (Lucy Mangan), and Zainab (Nina Cassells). What starts as a light-hearted portrayal of teenage life shifts into a nuanced exploration of identity, friendship, and the burdens of growing up. Callander’s direction relies on the actors’ evolving performances and subtle shifts in tone to convey the characters’ ageing and the deepening of their relationships.

As teenaged Keira vents, “I feel old, and tired,” the audience is reminded of the insecurities that come with the brink of adulthood. Their friendship becomes the only constant in a rapidly changing world—much like the old oak tree, offering stability amid the uncertainties of growing up.

Playfight
Roundabout @ Summerhall
17:30
Aug 15-19, 21-26