Anna Burnside reviews Grid Iron’s adaptation of the acclaimed novel.
Male friendships, forged in a post-industrial Scotland where real men did not listen to “How Soon Is Now”, are made of a special type of steel. Andrew O’Hagan’s 2020 novel captures this lifelong love, tested to its limits by terminal cancer.
Contrarian and charismatic to the last, Tully enlists his best friend Noodles’ help to go to Dignitas to die, against the wishes of his exasperated partner, Anna.
Grid Iron’s adaptation of O’Hagan’s novel, in an industrial space in Leith, takes the bones of the original and reshapes them to make the connections between the past and the present even stronger.
Two talented young actors, Kieran Devine and Jude Bain, bring the Irvine desperados to life. The older Noodles, played by Matthew Pidgeon and by this stage known as Jimmy, wanders among them, fleshing out the story and explaining their constant film references.
He looks on as his earlier self embarks on the defining weekend of his music-obsessed youth, a trip to the Tenth Summer in Manchester festival. He and Tully, plus an entourage of other pals, finally get to see The Smiths and The Fall. Then it’s fast forward to a text message, projected on the wall, from adult Tully who needs to talk.
Pidgeon anchors the production, giving grace to his sweet, daft, Edith Sitwell-reading self, desperate to honour his friend’s final wishes but exasperated by his refusal to include his wife.
Graham Mackay-Bruce nails indie dad, defiant in his Dr Martens and donkey jacket, while Lucianne McEvoy is heartbreaking as the partner left feeling like a third wheel.
Director Ben Harrison layers theatrical devices into the already evocative space. Scaffolding along one wall becomes a DJ booth and a swimming pool. There’s a caravan with flowery folding chairs built in beside the entrance, flanked by gig posters and a cardboard cutout of Hacienda owner Tony Wilson. Lewis den Hertog’s projections add texture and period detail: brown and orange floral prints for Tully’s childhood home, postcards and maps to switch up the geography.
The soundtrack is basically Now That’s What I Call Weirdo. There is a magical moment, when the young team are going nuts to “Candyskin” by The Fire Engines, and old Noodles and Tully do their dad dancing best to join in.
There are pop culture references that some members of the audience will enjoy discussing late into the night, but Mayflies is more than that. Harrison’s real achievement is to make a show that could be niche universal.
Mayflies performs at Brown’s of Leith until 30 August 2026 at 16:00 (95 minutes). It is currently sold out. For further details, go to Grid Iron’s website.
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