Anna Burnside reviews a production that is ‘the perfect mix of uplifting and funny.’
Craig, Jay and Donny meet at an Edinburgh community centre’s addiction group. At regular meetings they develop an inter-generational friendship based on Celebrations, Nandos and the difficulty of coping with the 21st century without intoxicants to numb the pain.
Donny, a diffident older chap who has recently lost his mother, confides to his new pals that he loves dancing. He knows the name of many dances - there’s a great comedy list - and is terrible at all of them.
Jay, the Gen Z TikTokker, films Donny’s clunky moves and, behind his back, turns him into an internet phenomenon.
The Traverse has chosen this PPP hit, from earlier in the year, as their December show. There is nothing overtly festive about it, but Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith’s script is the perfect mix of uplifting and funny.
Under PPP creative director Brian Logan’s direction, the performances zing. Craig McLean is a bouncing member of the young team, seeing the potential in Dancing Donny, discovering an entrepreneurial streak previously dulled by coke and booze.
Lee Harris is the show’s quiet glue, full of quiet rage that bursts into flames in a monologue about shame and invisibility.
Stephen Docherty, usually seen in a wig and lashes at this time of year, is outstanding as Donny. He nails the disappointment of a life wasted on Blossom Hill and Morrison’s own-brand vodka, then blossoms in the shared project of making a sober life with his new friends.
It takes an accomplished physical performer to dance badly, but with genuine joy and he pulls that one off too.
At 70 minutes this is a delicious little Christmas miniature.
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Dancing Shoes performs at the Traverse Theatre until December 20, 2025. For further details, go to the theatre’s website.
Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
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