Jim Brown's Sea Changes is a play that delightfully and unashamedly embraces the info-dump, to the extent of having most of its characters directly introduce themselves to the audience, and then going on to drip-feed us, as and when required, with background details required by this introduction to the Fisheries Research Vessel SS Explorer, which carried out important maritime science between the 1950s and 1980s and is currently berthed in Leith, undergoing restoration.
An enjoyable introduction to an overlooked part of Scotland's nautical history.
Back in the day, the ship was apparently crewed by many larger-than-life characters: engineer Wullie Gardner (a stolid performance from David Magowan) who knows every nut and bolt of the ship's engine but considers it sufficient that he remembers the names, if not the ages, of his seven children; the prematurely bald, inoffensive drink-loving Tommy Keir (an ever-delightful Charles Donnelly, always able to find emotional truth behind broad comedy); Hamish Munro (Chris Alexander), the good-natured cook with a nice little sideline in supplying Leith restaurants with fish; and the shy, somewhat defensive science student Aaron Presley (an endearing Gregor Davidson).
Our way onboard, however, is in the company of Sean Docherty, who worked on the ship after a short spell in prison and, unusually, eventually made the leap across the significant (and clearly sign-posted) divide between lowly crew members and the regularly changing teams of scientists. Current drama student Charlie West copes well embodying a character whom we see at two distinct stages of his life: first as the settled scientist, husband and father who travels to Leith to see the Preservation Project for himself, then as the young “cocky wee sod” who initially came on board with no particular desire to be there.
Director Mark Kydd casts well, keeps everything moving smoothly and makes the most of the venue—which is, fundamentally, a lounge bar. This includes the important contribution made by guitarist/singer Al Clement and fiddler Laure Paterson, two highly skilled and talented musicians just sitting by the side of the “stage”. Overall, the result may not be the deepest of dramas, but it’s certainly an enjoyable introduction to an overlooked part of Scotland’s nautical history.
