ED2015 4/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

An Oak Tree (Tim Crouch)

By Stephanie Withers | Published on Saturday 15 August 2015

This is the tenth year Tim Crouch has performed ‘An Oak Tree’, and it still feels fresh. An un-rehearsed actor is directed live by Crouch and handed various scripts to sight-read. It’s comfortably confusing, both for the actor, whose first experience of the play is live on-stage, and for the audience watching. Through the fragments of story, the audience and actor together uncover the tragic after-effects of losing a child. A lost character played by a lost actor, both trying to find their way; the form complements the themes elegantly. Guest actor Aoife Duffin had a wonderful vulnerability which was mesmerising to watch. An interesting, transfixing concept, in places it felt slightly repetitive, but overall a very moving performance.

Traverse Theatre, until 30 Aug
tw rating 4/5 | [Stephanie Withers]