Our government wouldn’t do this, would they? Here, the government has designed an electronic system that can predict when economic growth will be stimulated by everyday events: there’ll be a 5% increase in GDP if Finlay kills himself, thus HM Government wants this to happen. The pessimistic script is well-written, unravels in unexpected ways, and has characters of depth that encourage us to reflect on our own life’s value. The talented cast effortlessly balance the seriousness of the topic with well played dark comedy. The pacing frequently shifts abruptly, though, and while the play was consistently engaging throughout, it feels in need of some polish in terms of direction. It may be bleak and bloody, but you will certainly be drawn in.

Greenside @ Riddles Court, until 22 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Andrew Melrose]