If you hold something as fragile as a butterfly too hard, you crush it. This is exactly what artist Andy does when he kidnaps his beautiful muse, Valentina. However, this is not a simple tale of a wicked villain snatching a damsel in distress. Andy sort of stumbles in to his role as captor, and Valentina is a strong woman who builds a genuine friendship with her jailer. Of course, the experience is life-changing and scarring for her, but the mundanity of everyday life is also beautifully evoked when Andy and Valentina bicker over what TV programme to watch. This is a multi-layered production that sensitively addresses its hard-hitting subject matter, and one of the strongest dramas I have seen at the Fringe this year.

theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, until 17 Aug, 12.10pm.
tw rating 5/5 | [Melissa Steel]