There was a lot of excitement around Any Liptrot’s 2016 memoir, The Outrun, which combined a searingly honest take on her alcoholism with atmospheric descriptions of her native Orkney. Eight years on, her story is back: as a film (the Opening Gala at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival) and a stage play as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Despite Isis Hainsworth’s commanding performance throughout the play’s running time, it’s very hard to care
Although such introspective source material is not unheard of in “art house” cinema, it’s arguably more challenging when it comes to popular theatre, which generally craves drama and a sense of “aboutness”. True, there is a frail narrative thread: the lead character’s growing sense of disconnection; her feeling that Orkney’s open spaces are increasingly suffocating; her eventual realisation that experiencing “everything” in the bars and nightclubs of London doesn’t actually leave her with anything.
But, despite Isis Hainsworth’s commanding performance throughout the play’s running time, it’s very hard to care, and her character’s isolation is underscored by sharing the stage with a nondescript chorus of nine actors—some of whom step forward to perform thinly-sketched school-friend, boyfriend, rehab peer, scientist.
As if to compensate, this is a production full of gratuitous metaphors: be they in the script – how a repaired wall “doesn’t have to be perfect, just strong enough for the storms” – or the massive video montages of natural textures and blurred cityscapes created by Lewis den Hertog. From music and soundscape to physical choreography, there is much to impress, but overall it lacks sufficient humanity to make us really care.
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WORLD PREMIERE
Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir is brought to life in an epic and elemental world premiere.
Olivier Award-winning playwright Stef Smith joins forces with Vicky Featherstone, former Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, to reimagine Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir. Edinburgh’s producing theatre The Lyceum returns to the International Festival to present this world premiere. A young woman finds herself washed up back home on the Scottish archipelago of Orkney. She has no idea how or if she can rebuild her life after a decade of addiction.
Flashing back and forth between Orkney and London, we get a glimpse into her former urban existence and its intoxicating temptations that pushed her to the point of destruction. She must find a way to navigate the alluring wildlife and wildness of both environments.
Smith's urgent retelling speaks to the impact of isolation and loneliness and – ultimately – the resilience of people.
There is a relaxed performance of the Outrun on 15 Aug at 3pm. This performance is available to access pass members only.
A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.
Based on the book by Amy Liptrot
Royal Lyceum Theatre Company
Vicky Featherstone Director
Stef Smith Writer & Adaptation
Luke Sutherland Composer
Vicki Manderson Movement Director & Intimacy Coordinator
Co-produced by Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.
Isis Hainsworth Woman
Paul Brennen Dad
Seamus Dillane Boy
Alison Fitzjohn Person
Reuben Joseph Scientist
Ros Watt Friend
Chorus
Tatiana Chater Davies
Sally Georgina Pitts
Lawrence Smith
Rose Stachniewska
Petre Dobre (D/deaf Artist for BSL performances)
Edinburgh International Book Festival will be hosting an event on The Outrun.
