Theatre review: Chronicles Of Long Kesh

Published on Monday 17 August 2009 21:07

*** ASSEMBLY @ ASSEMBLY HALL (VENUE 35)

HAVE you had enough of dark, depressing prison dramas? Are you ground down by visceral re-creations of all that bullying and torture stuff? Do you want to check out the lighter side of the Troubles? Why not try Chronicles Of Long Kesh, an exuberant exploration of life inside the notorious Northern Irish prison better known as The Maze, where prisoners break into song and dance, bicker about Bob Dylan and talk to the seagulls.

Since premiering earlier this year, Martin Lynch's play has delighted Belfast audiences and, judging by the reaction on the day I saw it, is having the same effect on Edinburgh Fringe audiences.

However, its depiction of the daily prison grind veers perilously close to sentiment and away from credibility, as does the portrayal of hardened paramilitaries as loveable rogues who like to while away the hours until their next dirty protest by singing Motown medleys. (Though, thankfully, at least some scenarios are too grave for levity – the hunger strikes of the early 1980s are dealt with soberly and pragmatically.)

The six actors clearly relish the challenge of keeping the ball in the air throughout this physically demanding two-hour production, but the fast-moving, tightly choreographed ensemble approach to testimonial theatre has been staged more inventively, such as in Black Watch.

• Until 30 August. Today noon.