#KaraokeKarma

Aug 23 2025 | By Sophie Good More

★★★☆☆ Fresh

Leith Depot (Venue 214): Tue 19 – Mon 24 Aug 2025
Review by Sophie Good

Epona Productions bring some fresh and funny new writing to Leith Depot with #KaraokeKarma, an entertaining karaoke comedy drama exploring workplace politics and mental health.

Originally performed in 2024 by acting students at Edinburgh College the show has since been re-written, and re-cast. Set in a karaoke room, booked for 20 people as a work place night out, only four ex-colleagues show up, which just combines the awkwardness of a low turn out with revelations of buried histories.

Cat McInally, Dylan Mooney, Gwen Dolan and Rebekah Clark. Pic Epona.1

Directing and writing credits are shared by Gwen Dolan, who plays bolshy, defensive Lucinda and Dylan Mooney who plays the shy and awkward Barry.

Having apparently worked together in the past, most of the four have gone their separate ways. Vivienne, played by Cat McInally, has moved on but come back to catch up with her work mates. Only the young and naive Isla played by Rebekah Clark seems to be still working there but doesn’t know about all of the skeletons in the closet that the group share.

It’s a play which covers a lot – and treads a fine balance between work place banter, some good comic one-liners and put downs, along with some more serious themes around male mental health.

It’s a tricky balance in an hour long play in a pub setting, and some of the references to the serious toll of mental health can feel a bit flippant. Furthermore, there is a lot of drama, and back story which needs to be filled in amongst the laughs and of course the karaoke numbers.

a fresh idea

Setting the play as they do in a karaoke booth, conceptualised by writers Dolan and Mooney, it feels like a fresh idea, and allows for conversation and banter then to be interspersed with songs.

Some are obviously part of the karaoke night, and audience participation is encouraged, whereas others for performed by the cast and act more as musical numbers where they are tied in with the plot and themes.

It’s during these performances that the other cast members freeze which can interfere with the otherwise very naturalistic feel to the piece.

Overall, #KaraokeKarma is an entertaining piece, with further character development required to make it the fully rounded piece of comic drama that it has the potential to be.

There is a collection for Andy’s Man Club to tie in with the themes in the piece and it’s this message which could be stronger with further crafting. It’s definitely a fun night out that will have Leithers singing along with their pints and a few laughs along the way.

Running time: One hour (no interval).
Leith Depot, 138-142 Leith Walk EH6 5DT (Venue 214).
Tuesday 19 – Monday 25 August 2025.
Daily (Not Fri 22/Sat 23): 9.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.