In Time (EICF)
★★★★★ Gorgeous
Traverse Theatre: Mon 1 – Thurs 4 Jun 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
In Time at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival is an absolute gem of a show. This beautiful depiction of nature and humanity is aimed at audiences aged from three to seven.
Performers Andy Manley and Claus Mandøe created the piece with director Bjarne Sandborg, and Gill Robertson as dramaturgical consultant. A Scottish/Danish production from Teater Refleksion of Aarhus, Andy Manley and De Røde Heste, co-produced with Catherine Wheels and in association with Randers Theater.
Røde Heste and Andy Manley are In Time. Pic: Christoffer Brekne.
Manley and Mandøe are ‘A’ and ‘O’, who become responsible for a tiny plant, which they nurture with the aid of various items found in the drawers of a wondrous, towering wooden cabinet.
The practically wordless narrative is paced just right for the intended audience, and is consistently visually interesting, inventive and funny. The stagecraft of the two performers is so accomplished that it appears effortless, and there’s something of the classic comedy double act about them.
Manley’s humorous connection with the young audience is a joy to behold, while Mandøe’s ability seemingly to age decades just by picking up a cane is a reflection of his control. There’s a lightness of touch, an unassuming physicality, an exactness of gesture, careful puppetry, and an inviting gentleness about all of it that approaches perfection.
Something deeper is going on
Amanda Axelsen Sigaard’s design is similarly well-judged; that capacious tower is superb. The music of Danny Krass and the lighting design of Morten Ladefoged help shape the narrative effectively.
Something deeper is going on, too. As well as this being a funny and touching portrait of human caring and nature that would be an ideal introduction to theatre for a youngster, there are other resonances.
Røde Heste and Andy Manley are In Time. Pic: Christoffer Brekne.
It’s all achieved with extreme finesse and delicacy, but the evocations of parenting, love, rivalry, friendship, the environment, growing up and growing old will be all too clear to any oldies accompanying a youngster to this.
There may not be very much dialogue, but every interaction between the two performers has real weight. And it’s all done with such grace that the audience is bound to absorb some of the themes by osmosis.
an object lesson
But if you just want the beautifully presented, gorgeously funny tale of two well-meaning (if bumbling) people looking after a mysteriously growing plant, you can ignore all of that.
In Time is an object lesson in how to make eternal situations seem new again, and how to make the apparently simplest things stimulate the imagination. Anyone who gets to see this as their first experience of live theatre would be fortunate. Indeed, anyone of any age who gets to see this should count themselves very lucky indeed.
Running time: 40 minutes (no interval)
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, EH1 2ED
Monday 1 – Thursday 4 June 2026
Mon, Tues, Thurs at 9.45 am and 11.45 am; Wed 1.30 pm and 5.30 pm
Tickets and details: Book here.
Røde Heste and Andy Manley are In Time. Pic: Christoffer Brekne.
ENDS
