When Nick Chisholm collapsed with a stroke on the ruby pitch in 2000, the future prospects for him were horrifyingly bleak. Now in this one woman powerhouse of a show by Renee Lyons, Nick’s story is given a vibrant and heartening lease of life, as his incredible, inspiring battle over adversity is both preserved and celebrated. Making up a whole world of characters, witty and wonderful, just from the conviction of Lyons’ acting and some precisely placed stage-craft and lighting, ‘Nick: An Accidental Hero’ is a heroic production in its touching sincerity and original storytelling. Never lapsing into gushy sentimentality or over-dramatisation of illness and disaster, this show offers a master class on faithfully adapting real-life tales with impressive creativity.

Assembly George Square, until 26 Aug, 3.15pm.
tw rating 4/5 | [Katharine Wootton]