Despite an intriguing premise and a compellingly quirky performance, this show doesn’t quite soar to the heavens. Blending Irish folklore, the history of flight and song, the audiences are treated to stories of Mad Sweeney, aeronautical development and the aerial photograph phenomenon of the 1980s. Throughout, snippets of ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ are sung and played, sampled and looped into an ambient soundscape. Though skilfully created, this accompaniment has unfortunately soporific side-effects, and I found my attention wandering. Ultimately, the lack of a coherent message limits the script’s impact. The conclusion implies that we should approve of drones and satellite surveillance taking the place of Sweeney and the birds’ oversight, which sits at odds with the tone of earlier segments.

Summerhall, until 31 Aug. 
tw rating 3/5 | [Andy Leask]