Cringe (EICF)
★★★★☆ Unapologetic
Scottish Storytelling Centre: Sun 31 May – Wed 3 Jun 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Cringe, from Ross MacKay and Scottish Theatre Producers at the Storytelling Centre as part of the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, is a wildly energetic, deceptively smart piece of theatre.
MacKay’s play tells the story of Reid Aitken (Scott Fletcher), who manages to keep his head down when he starts his first year at High School, having moved across the country. He avoids the attentions of the bullying Gorgons and even makes a friend. But then an unfortunate incident in PE, involving a too-small pair of hand-me-down gym shorts and a too-large pair of boxers, brings him notoriety and shame.
Kirsty McDuff, Scott Fletcher and Scott Hoatson. Pic Eoin Carey.
Pitched just right for an audience aged 10-15, this is a pacy, humorous and involving piece. Fletcher does a wonderful job of portraying the central character in all of his anxieties, insecurities, foibles and faults. Scott Hoatson, as Reid’s fellow outsider Graham, is also wonderfully larger-than-life without sacrificing any nuance. Kirsty McDuff, meanwhile, plays an array of teachers, parents and other pupils (with occasional help from Fletcher and Hoatson) with real energy and brio.
There’s also a wonderful energy to the direction of Joe Douglas. Shifts from outright comedy to more serious moments are handled with skill, helped by Kate Bonney’s lighting and Ben Fletcher’s extremely effective sound design.
gorgeously inventive
Sonya Smullen’s design, moreover, is gorgeously inventive. The walls and floor act at times like a giant blackboard, while imaginative use is made of props. That these props include an overhead projector and a CD definitely anchors this story in the pre-mobile phone era, which to the intended audience may as well be pre-history.
Not that it matters, as there is so much going on that youngsters are bound to be captivated (especially if they like the idea of a lot of synonyms for the ‘creeping snake’ that may or may not have escaped from Reid’s shorts).
Scott Fletcher, Kirsty McDuff and Scott Hoatson. Pic Eoin Carey.
Indeed, there could be a little too much going on. Friendship, bullying, homophobia and the loss of a parent all feature in the narrative, which might be just one issue too many for comfort.
Nevertheless, it all flows beautifully, with the cast and director executing some handbrake turns in mood with ease. What is particularly impressive is the way that the play stays rooted in truth but steers clear of any kind of preaching, and gives considerable insight into the way that bullies are made without ever being too upfront about it.
Indeed, anyone who has ever been in a school will recognise a great deal of truth in a play that is sad, silly, clever and ultimately great fun.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Sunday 31 May – Wednesday 3 June 2026
Sun: 7pm; Mon – Wed: 10am; Mon, Tue also 1pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley PA1 1EZ
Friday 5 June 2026
One perf: 7pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
The Lemon Tree, 5 W N St, Aberdeen AB24 5AT
Monday 8 June 2026
Tickets and details: Book here.
Kirsty McDuff and Scott Fletcher. Pic Eoin Carey.
ENDS
