ED2015 3/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

Light Boxes (Grid Iron)

By Rebecca Jacobson | Published on Thursday 27 August 2015

Entering ‘Light Boxes’ is like falling into a children’s book. Wood chips cover the floor, silver balloons float overhead and the air smells of mint. The sound design – folksy strings, haunting vocals, electronic effects – is gorgeous. Scottish company Grid Iron have been creating immersive theatre for 20 years, and it shows. But the story, based on Shane Jones’ 2010 novel, is a narrative morass. It’s about a father, mother and daughter trapped in a perpetual February: the cold never ends, all flight has been banned, and children keep disappearing. As resistance mounts, ‘Light Boxes’ recalls Caryl Churchill’s ‘Far Away’, another dystopian tale about nature and war. But the stakes never reach real heights here, and the closing sombreness feels unearned.

Summerhall, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Rebecca Jacobson]