Words: Kiera Harper

5 Stars

Through the Shortbread Tin unpacks the complications, loss and pride that come with being Scottish.

Starting fully clad in tartan, writer and performer Martin O’Connor leans into the stereotypes given to Scots. He begins with the tale of James Macpherson and his book, Poems of Ossian, which popularised Scotland. O’Connor does better than just tell the tale; he questions it, pointing out the myths Macpherson creates. 

Coinciding with this, he tells his own story about his lack of connection to his culture and consequently his family, particularly his granda, who spoke mostly in Gaelic, which O’Connor from Glasgow wasn’t taught. Slowly peeling off the stereotypes, he gets to the core of the play, which is the true identity of being Scottish and how questioning your Scottishness is almost embedded into this.

The play mixes forms, with the whole story spoken in Scots and Gaelic songs seamlessly blending MacPherson’s story with O’Connor’s. Alongside this, representations of Scotland are woven through. From shortbread, stand-up comedy, isolation and our inability to speak to one another about what was taken from us and our role in letting part of our culture fade.

Through the Shortbread Tin ends by leaving the audience full of questions about their own identity, how they view Scottishness and if that Scottishness is really just a pantomime of our culture, so that we gain validation for being our own country. Most importantly, we’re asked how we can embrace our culture in the way it deserves, in the truest way possible, even if the truth is grounded in myth. 

Through the Shortbread Tin is a brilliant, must-watch for anyone at the Fringe wanting to know more about Scottish culture, whether that’s a culture you feel you belong to or not and maybe by the end you’ll feel more Scottish.

Through the Shortbread Tin
Netherbow Theatre at Scottish Storytelling Centre
16:45
6^th – 31^st August (no performances on the 12^th, 19^th and 26^th)