Hang Time (EIF)
★★★★☆ Shattering
Lyceum: Thurs 20 – Sun 23 Aug 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Zora Howard’s Hang Time is an overwhelming juxtaposition of racialised violence and interior possibility. The Flea Theater of New York’s production, written, directed and produced by Howard, is having its European premiere at the Lyceum as part of the International Festival.
There have been too many plays to count at the various festivals in recent years that are set – as this is – in a ‘liminal space’ somewhere between life and death. Rest assured that this one is on an altogether different level.
Hang Time. Pic Andrew Perry.
The three characters seem to be hanging in mid-air, and (although the time, place and situation are never made explicit) it appears to show the aftermath of a lynching. The play opens with several minutes of silence and, periodically throughout, silence falls again while the three men turn and twist before apparently waking once more.
The shattering depiction of the violence done to Black men through history and in the present day is contrasted with a raw, poetic, often oddly humorous dialogue about life, love and the blues.
Blood (Bryce Foley), the youngest, insists on the plausibility of the dreams that he will never fulfil. Slim (Kamal Bolden) conceals his bitterness behind bravado, while the older Bird (Julian Rozzell) is a sorrowful philosopher.
astonishing performances,
These are astonishing performances, not least physically. Although they hardly seem to move at times, the effort the performance takes is clear to see at the curtain call.
That the tiniest movements carry such weight puts great emphasis on Howard’s direction and the movement direction of Charlie Oates, which are more than up to the task. Neal Wilkinson’s set design, meanwhile, is a marvel. Once again it is apparently minimal at first, but conceals huge complexities making the vision come true.
Reza Behjat’s lighting and Megan Culley’s sound have a brutal solemnity that is entirely fitting. Dominique Fawn Hill’s costumes are cleverly chosen to stress that this could be happening a hundred years ago or right now.
There’s a rare clarity and an empathy to this production.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Lyceum Theatre, 30 Grindlay St, EH3 9AX.
Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 August 2026.
Thurs – Sat: 8pm; Sat/Sun: 3pm.
Tickets and details: Book here with the Edinburgh International Festival.
Hang Time. Pic Andrew Perry.
ENDS
