Elsa McTaggart: Capturing The Light
★★★☆☆ Charming
theSpace Triplex (Venue 38): Fri 7 – Fri 28 Aug 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Elsa McTaggart: Capturing the Light, from sruth-mara in association with An Lanntair at theSpace Triplex, is an unhurried show, both musically and visually appealing.
Musician and songwriter Elsa McTaggart celebrates the life of her great-grandfather William McTaggart (1835-1910), one of Scotland’s greatest painters.
Elsa McTaggart in Elsa McTaggart: Capturing the Light. Pic: Ralph Tonge.
His humble upbringings as a crofter’s son in Campbeltown and his success in Edinburgh are outlined in a show that combines music, storytelling and visuals. A striking and eternally popular landscape painters, McTaggart is celebrated here is ‘doing for the sea what Constable did for landscape’.
His work often mirrors that of the contemporary Impressionists, and like them his work was not necessarily always appreciated by critical opinion at the time – something dealt with here in a calm, even-handed and sympathetic exploration of his life.
Elsa McTaggart draws comparisons between her character and that of her ancestor. She also sees similarities between their artistic practices, with both using their faith and nature.
The storytelling elements of the performance are carefully paced, accomplished and enticing, with live musical illustrations using fiddle, whistle, guitar and voice. Judicious use is made of recorded sound, and the music also has an unhurried air that creates a very pleasing atmosphere.
expressive
Laura Cameron Lewis’s direction is expressive, while the show has visual impact thanks to the design of Robbie Thomson. Projections of the artist’s work, and details from it, appear on a canvas centre stage as well as a backcloth, and are extremely effective.
There’s an avoidable feeling of slightness, however. In what is a short show, the musical interludes often seem to be over as soon as they have started, and the amplified sound of McTaggart’s speaking voice can suffer from a boomy acoustic on occasion.
The use of animation on the paintings should probably have been avoided. We are told that William McTaggart could capture light and the crashing of waves on the shore; making those waves move does not work. Paradoxically, the animation gives less of an impression of movement than the original painting does.
It’s also possible that anyone with a low tolerance for the idea that praying to God might send you a Land Rover Defender might bridle at the explicit Christianity on offer.
Like everything else, however, this is presented in an unassertive way in a production that has great charm.
Running time: 45 minutes (no interval).
theSpaceTriplex (Big Space), The Prince Philip Building, EH8 9DP (Venue 38)..
Friday 7 – Friday 28 August 2026.
Odd date to Wed 19, Even dates from Thur 20: 11.40am.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Tickets direct from venue: Book here.
Elsa McTaggert website: music-info.elsa-jean-mctaggart.com
Facebook: @elsamctaggart
Instagram: @elsamctaggartmusic
sruth-mara website: https://sruth-mara.com/
ENDS
