Alright Sunshine

Aug 18 2025 | By Marion Geoffray More

★★★★☆ Arresting performance

Pleasance Dome (Venue 23): Wed 30 July – Sun 24 Aug 2025
Review by Marion Geoffray

Alright Sunshine, written by award-winning Edinburgh playwright Isla Cowan was originally commissioned by A Play, A Pie and a Pint back in 2022 with further support from the Tron Theatre.

Now, under Debbie Hannan’s direction and produced by Wonder Fools with support from the Pleasance and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, it’s at The Pleasance Dome as part of their new Edinburgh National Partnership initiative. With such a strong history and team behind the show, it’s no surprise that it’s a festival hit.

Molly Geddes in Alright Sunshine. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.

This hour-long, hard-hitting monologue, expertly performed by Molly Geddes, is arresting in both tone and delivery. Geddes’ character, PC Nicky McCreadie, is followed through her daily patrol in the Meadows – an iconic Edinburgh landmark beloved by all. Cowan’s writing is sharp and witty, the implacable rhythm of the lines echoing the gentle hum of the cityscape in the background.

There’s an almost nature-documentary quality to the way McCreadie observes and describes, with astute detail, the microcosm that is the Meadows at various times of day – think David Attenborough, but Scottish working class. Cowan cleverly captures here the local fauna: yummy mummies, cyclists, dog walkers, rebellious teenagers, students, office workers, and more – all in search of fresh air and a green corner in the city.

boozy battleground

But the natural world rapidly descends into true crime: the sun transforming the park into a boozy battleground by day; and by night, morphing into an upside-down world where your worst nightmares come to life.

Molly Geddes in Alright Sunshine. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.

Geddes’ performance becomes more heightened and raw as she dissects her internal struggles and progressively unravels the depth of her traumas. The simple staging, with effective lighting by Robbie Butler and evocative sound design by MJ McCarthy allows McCreadie to be the focal point throughout. She commands the space with her physicality, and the audience holds their breath every time she draws a new one.

This poignant and powerful point of view reveals what goes on beneath the uniform: the personal vs the political, the gender vs power dynamics, the constant suffocating pressure between a sense of duty to the force and to yourself. It’s not the most comfortable performance to watch – but it’s necessary, and urgent.

Running time: One hour (no interval).
Pleasance Dome (Jack Dome), 1 Bristo Square1 Bristo Square EH8 9AL (Venue 23).
Wednesday 30 July – Sunday 24 August 2025.
Daily (Not Mons): 4.20pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*