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While You Lie--Made in Scotland 2010

While You Lie--Made in Scotland 2010

Small lies, little lies, tender lies, well-intentioned untruths.

Ana calls Edward’s bluff on their disintegrating relationship and enters a deadly truthful world where honesty is celebrated in all of its dangerous glory. Read more …

They don’t make women like Helen anymore: loving mother, home-maker, wife. But beneath the civilised veneer of her life, a dark truth threatens to surface.

Two couples explore the threat of honesty and our perverse need for it in this blistering play from one of UK theatre’s most exciting new voices, Sam Holcroft. Her first play, Cockroach, was an instant sensation when it premiered as part of the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) and Traverse Theatre Debuts season.

Zinnie Harris is a playwright and theatre director. Her stage plays include Fall for the Traverse Theatre Company (Traverse Festival 2008) and the award-winning Further Than the Furthest Thing (Tron/National Theatre). As a director she has worked for the NTS, Tron Theatre and the RSC. Most recently she has been writing for screen including Spooks (BBC1).

Contains scenes of an adult nature.


The critical consensus

Some play, some topic, some black and bilious comedy.

****(*)Michael Coveney, WhatsOnStage.com

Pretty disappointing.

Kate Bassett, The Independent

There's something missing from Holcroft's dissection of the beauty myth.

***(*)(*)Neil Cooper, The Herald

When I say that this is a deeply unpleasant play I mean it as high praise

****(*)Ian Shuttleworth, Financial Times

An overblown drama...attempts to shock fall completely flat.

**(*)(*)(*)Shona Craven, Onstage Scotland

If the play is a bit of a mess, though, it features five undeniably strong performances.

***(*)(*)Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

The earnest efforts of the cast can't make any of their ever-shifting characters sustain a reality from scene to scene.

Gerald Berkowitz, The Stage

This is not a perfect play, but its brave considerations of identity, the body and sexuality make it compelling viewing.

****(*)Steve Cramer, The List

The Traverse does neither Holcroft nor the audience any favours by staging this stillborn play.

*(*)(*)(*)(*)Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Holcroft's script may be too ambitious...yet the performances...ensure that the play remains powerful and engaging.

***(*)(*)Ava Dennis, Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

Thought-provoking but not always for the right reasons.

***(*)(*)Claire Wood, The Scotsman

Sometimes, with it's in-yer-face tactics, you feel that less would be more.

***(*)(*)Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph

Holcroft clearly has talent to burn and the cast are excellent, but there's a woeful lack of control here. Shame.

Alice Jones, The Independent


Features about While You Lie--Made in Scotland 2010

Truth is stranger than fiction

Neil Cooper, The Herald

While You Lie

Kirstin Innes, The List

Where and when?

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from Thursday August 5, 2010, until Sunday August 29, 2010. Check the Traverse website for times and prices.. More info: www.traverse.co.uk

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