Review: The Institute, The Fiddler’s Elbow (Venue 71)

Commendably raising awareness of (and money for) victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this Free Fringe show does get my endorsement despite the low star rating.

Star rating: * *

The story of paramedic Ben, mentally ruined by the death of a young girl on his watch, is told in parallel with that of two shady men in black forcing people to repeatedly relive traumatic experiences, in what seems to be a clandestine mental health experiment.

It’s rushed and hard to follow, but The Institute deserves credit for taking a well-informed and non-linear approach to showing that PTSD is a frighteningly challenging problem confined not just to military servicemen.

Until 19 August. Today 12:45pm.