Cassandra
★★★☆☆ Moving
Scottish Storytelling Centre (Venue 30a): 31 July – 17 Aug 2025
Review by Eilidh Sim
Cassandra, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre for the first fortnight of the Fringe, is a touching story of prophecy and suffering, written and performed by Ailsa Dixon.
This one woman show follows the stories of multiple women who are faced with the curse of prophecy, and in turn are driven mad with other’s disbelief. Dixon bases her script on folklore, and the small number number records we have of those women who claimed the ability of prophesy.
Ailsa Dixon performing Cassandra. Pic: Supplied.
The set remains minimal throughout the play, with only a chair and two musical instruments: a harp and cello. Dixon makes effective use of the staging, moving between instruments and pacing the stage, allowing for an engaging performance as she doesn’t just stay in one place.
The production starts off with the story of a woman from Edinburgh who, unable to meet her friends at parliament, walks each hill in the city. On this walk she is met with whispers in the wind which tells her of women through time who have been burdened with visions of prophecy.
She hears of the Trojan princess Cassandra, who was granted the gift of prophecy by Apollo – but also cursed so that no one would ever believe her tales.
The similar stories of Mary Campbell, who warns townsfolk of the misfortune that will befall anyone who cuts down the tree planted in her garden, and Janet Forsyth, questioned when she begins to save sailors from sinking boats, are also whispered to the woman through the wind.
tension
Dixon plays both the harp and the cello, in addition to singing, to move the story along. She uses these musical interludes to switch perspective between each woman.
Dixon also uses the cello to build tension during the performance. She plays music in the background during some points of the story, adding an intensity, as she gets faster and louder. Beside adding depth to the production, the cello creates an emotional and sorrowful atmosphere.
Although the show focuses on the stories of Cassandra and the other women who suffer from the hearing of prophecies, which in turn drives them mad from not being believed, there is more focus on the woman from Edinburgh and her journey around the city’s different hills. The main focus is on her struggles and how she is using this walk as a means to avoid meeting her friends at parliament.
Cassandra is a moving story, combining folklore and real life experiences, which also leaves you feeling that have learned something along the way.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
The Scottish Storytelling Centre (George Mackay Brown Library), 43-45 High Street EH1 1SR (Venue 30a).
Thu 31 July & Sat 2 – Sat 17 August 2025.
Daily (odd dates from Tue 5, not Wed 13): 5.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Ailsa Dixon website: www.ailsadixonstoryteller.com
Facebook: @AilsaDixonStoryteller
Instagram: @ailsadixonstoryteller
TikTok: @ailsadixonstoryteller
Linktree: @AilsaDixonStoryteller
ENDS
