It is uncommon to come back out of a present raving in regards to the construction, however the uncommon plotting distinguishes Milly Sweeney’s two-hander. The younger playwright’s theme is the best way on a regular basis social pressures – the stress of finishing an artwork diploma present, the nervousness of beginning a job – can take a toll on psychological well being. With sensitivity, she traces the step-by-step course of that may take somebody from despair, compounded by circumstance, to ideas of suicide.
Her characters are Esme (Molly Geddes) – friendless at Prestwick Academy, remoted at Glasgow Faculty of Artwork – and Harris (Ryan J Mackay), seemingly on the up after touchdown a job as a kitchen porter in a Michelin-star restaurant.
The novelty in Water Color, named greatest new play within the 2026 Cats awards, is that the 2 younger individuals are unknown to one another. Their tales play out independently, aside from the numerous second once they cross, one inadvertently serving to the opposite on the level of biggest want. It’s constructed with the class of a determine of eight.
A three way partnership by the Byre theatre, Pitlochry Competition theatre and the Traverse, it’s punchily carried out by Geddes and Mackay, who assist narrate one another’s tales to create the phantasm of their taking place on the similar time. She performs his tyrannical head chef, whereas he performs her opinionated tutor, the 2 revelling of their malevolent caricatures in Sally Reid’s buoyant manufacturing.
This lightness of contact leavens the play’s critical intent. When Esme is affected by debilitating inertia, nonetheless in mattress at 3pm, Harris is the partying carouser with cash to burn. The roles are reversed because the play loops spherical on itself, illustrating the fragility of our emotional well being with out overstating the case. It’s a intelligent piece of writing, brisk and assured, portraying isolation even because it celebrates the ability of mutual help.
At Traverse theatre, Edinburgh, till 30 August
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Within the UK and Eire, Samaritans will be contacted on freephone 116 123. Within the US, you may name or textual content the 988 Suicide & Disaster Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the disaster help service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Different worldwide helplines will be discovered at befrienders.org
