Review: Swan Song, Sweet Grassmarket (Venue 18) and theSpace on North Bridge (Venue 36)

This is an intriguing but overwritten relationship drama by Katie Ebner-Landy and Catherine Haines, who have clearly had a good education and want to show it off by shoehorning as many unusual words as possible into the dialogue. Why say “agree” when “acquiesce” is an option?

Star rating: * *

Revolving around a man who finds a mysterious woman in his flat, it has an interesting set-up and some atmospheric, if brief, pieces of animation from Edouard Groult.

Poetry folded into paper swans features heavily, and while there are some playful attempts to poke fun at the content, the performances and writing are overly self-conscious.

Until 17 August at Sweet Grassmarket; 20-25 August at theSpace. Today 9:05pm.