Athens of the North
★★★★☆ Choose Edinburgh!
The Scottish Storytelling Centre (Venue 30): Fri 1 – Sat 23 Aug 2025
Review by Marion Geoffray
Edinburgh born and Edinburgh bred, actor Mark Hannah returns to his hometown to perform Athens of the North, his first full-length play. This year at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, a step up from the Hibs Supporters Club he made his own last year.
Edinburgh in August is nothing like the city during the rest of the year; most local residents will tell you as much. Penned as a love letter to its people, Hannah’s play paints an accurate, slightly nostalgic, and affectionate portrait of the capital—rich in colourful characters, local references, insider knowledge and iconic landmarks.
Mark Hannah in Athens of the North. Pic: Scottish Storytelling Centre.
On stage, a single old-fashioned red leather bus seat takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the city in just an hour, from Gilmerton to Leith, Peffermill Road to St Giles’, Stockbridge to Easter Road.
This is Edinburgh seen through the eyes of its inhabitants — four distinct voices on stage all embodied by Mark Hannah. There’s Mark himself; Alan a single dad and mattress delivery guy; Liam a visiting uni student falling in love with the many charms of the city; and Maureen a pensioner lost in her memories.
The mosaic of East Coast and English accents forms four cleverly interwoven stories, subtly stitched into Edinburgh’s unique urban landscape. On the city’s streets, ghosts of past, present and future shuffle to the sound of an old radio station playing in the distance.
powerful and engaging
Hannah’s performance is beautifully layered under Fraser Scott’s direction, with seamless and ingenious transitions. He delivers a powerful and engaging stream of consciousness throughout.
His writing has grit. It’s sharp. At times it gets dark, only to pull you, out of the blue, into a warm embrace. It’s the perfect metaphor for Edinburgh itself: four seasons in one day—or in this case, one play.
Edinburgh and Athens share a hilly backdrop, a taste for (neo)classical architecture, a rich history, and a constant flow of tourists. But above all, what unites both capitals is their people—those who shape the city beyond the clichés, behind the scenes.
With this evocative snapshot, Mark Hannah lays bare the very soul of Edinburgh.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
The Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow), 43-45 High Street EH1 1SR (Venue 30).
Friday 1 – Saturday 23 August 2025.
Daily (odd dates only from Sat 9): 3.15pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Instagram: @athensotnorth
Instagram: @markhannah
Mark Hannah in Athens of the North. Pic: Scottish Storytelling Centre
ENDS
