Theatre: Beep boop, Assembly George Square, Edinburgh

Like the Boy With Tape on his Face if he'd just stepped out of a grave, a figure emerges, squeaking and slurping, his spider-like hands moving in the dark.

By Sally Stott

Published 13th Aug 2019, 14:59 BST

Beep boop, Assembly George Square * * * *

Accompanied by an equally gothic, ground-down woman on the mixing decks, he, like she, is permanently tapping away on technology – wedded to his mobile phone, clicking and clamouring around the audience, oblivious to the living, breathing people he bashes into with his grey rucksack and trench coat.

This is a guy who can't do anything without texting or taking selfies, logged into the online world but disconnected from real life. Brilliantly played by Richard Saudek, with his angular, expressive movements creating the dynamic silhouettes of a contemporary comic book strip, this heightened but all too recognisable character frequently seems to be at odds with his own body, a hunched over, crunched up man, as grey on the inside as he is on the out.

SALLY STOTT

Until 25 August

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