Fringe Review: WEREWOLF, TechCube 0 at Summerhall

Photo credit: Lewis Ferris

For a moment, you think you are in the queue for Werewolf in Tech Cube 0 at Summerhall, but quite quickly you are brought to your senses and ushered into Safe House 656. The wardens welcome you in, but no dilly dallying now, because there’s been an outbreak. You’re not sure what of just yet - the chit chat must not run rife in the Safe House. We must all stay calm. 

Werewolf, by Binge Culture, sinks its teeth into you from the off - before you even enter the performance space. It is an immersive tour de force of horror-comedy, breaking the fourth wall at its very best. Wardens Hannah (Hannah Kelly) and Stella (Stella Reid) usher you into seats containing information booklets and are belatedly joined by another warden Joel (Joel Baxendale), creating a sort of comforting trio of incompetency. Armbands on, they are ready to maintain order and calm in the Safe House to protect the audience from whatever lurks outside.

Whilst Werewolf is a laugh-a-minute with pinpoint precision in its comic timing, there is also a thrilling suspense in the air. The tension builds throughout the performance as sinister lighting, chilling sound and hair-raising technical effects juxtapose the bumbling wardens. It is masterful comedy with smart, effective audience participation that leaves you slightly nervous for what might be coming next. Complimented by clever camera work and live recording, Werewolf is quite the theatrical feat.

The acting from Kelly, Reid and Baxendale is effortless, each commanding the room - even as the ramshackle wardens they present. Werewolf is a rollicking hour of slick theatre, but also a commentary on how crowds behave in times of unease. It brings to the fore how rumours can fly in a crisis, how blame is suddenly easy to apportion, and how attitudes can start to change and darken with increased time in increasingly stressful situations. 

Intelligently written and performed, Werewolf will transport you utterly and completely somewhere else for an hour. Immersive theatre at its best, you probably will want to escape the quarantine but as soon as you do, you’ll want to go right back in there - outbreak or not. This performance is theatrical excellence that is absolutely unmissable.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Hannah Goldswain

Werewolf plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 31 Aug, with further info here.