ED2015 2/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

Echoes by Henry Naylor (Henry Naylor/Gilded Balloon)

By Andy Leask | Published on Monday 10 August 2015

As an attempt to grapple with some important issues, ‘Echoes’ is too safe, too conventional and, worst of all, too superficial to have any impact. It tells two stories: Tillie is a 19th Century woman who marries a soldier and follows him to Afghanistan while Samira, a 21st Century schoolgirl, runs away to marry a soldier in ISIS. Serious issues abound, but the play seems determined to undermine itself with its facile stance. One example: it’s anti-Empire, yet Tillie, the white woman, is the one who leads the Afghani people to rebel against the British. The actors do a fine job in conveying emotion and generating sympathy, but the script never manages to match their skill.

Gilded Balloon, until 31 Aug.
tw rating 2/5 | [Andrew Leask]