Living the Dream
★★★☆☆ Sympathetic
theSpace on the Mile (Venue 39): Sun 9 – Sat 29 Aug 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson. ★★★☆☆ Sympathetic
A subtle and affecting portrait of young men, Steel Antler and New Celts’ Living The Dream at theSpace on the Mile does not always succeed in forging its own identity but has much to recommend it.
In 1997, four friends from Kirkcaldy are keen to get to the Oasis Be Here Now tour. But not only are Scotty, Spider, Adam and Ryan unable to afford tickets, they also have other problems.
The cast of Living the Dream
While the Oasis tour is the peg on which the play hangs its hat, nostalgia-fuelled Gallagher obsessives drawn by the play’s publicity might be disappointed. There’s surprisingly little about the band here, and most of it consists of trenchant criticisms about their third album that even fans might struggle to contradict.
Instead, it’s a considered and sympathetic examination of friendship, masculinity and health both mental and physical. Spider (Tom Rees) has addiction issues that are impinging on his relationship with his young son. Ryan (Raegan Walker) has the chance to go away to university but struggles with self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
Scotty (Niall Thomson) has given up both a promising football career and a college course, and a recent car crash may not have been accidental. And Adam (Myles Mckenzie) has split up from his boyfriend and has unexplained health problems.
The four performances are considered, committed and empathetic, with Meghan Wallace’s careful direction creating an ensemble feel. All four impress, but Walker’s unforced naturalism and Thomson’s gritty self-doubt stand out.
care and humanity
The characters and their dilemmas are immediately delineated and distinguished, to the extent that it can verge on the formulaic. Having created credible characters, the narrative then seems unsure what to do with them, and it is in danger of being an issues-led affair rather than a truly compelling drama. However, there is always enough care and humanity to sustain things.
Lewis Linning’s technical work is beyond reproach, while Jamie McAllister’s fight choreography is all the more impressive for not drawing undue attention to itself.
The dialogue, meanwhile, is believable and full of humorous observations. There is the odd note struck; thirty years ago the American term ‘scalper’ for ticket tout was virtually unheard of this side of the Atlantic. And legendarily combustible Dundee United manager Jim McLean would have blown a fuse if anyone pronounced his name to rhyme with ‘seen’.
These moments are outweighed by the cohesion and sympathy of a production that is low-key, oddly sweet and largely successful.
Running time: 55 minutes (no interval).
theSpace on the Mile (Space 3), 80 High St, EH1 1TH. (Venue 39).
Sunday 9 – Saturday 29 August 2026.
Daily (odd dates only): 3.15pm.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Tickets direct from venue: Book here.
Instagram: @steelantlertheatre
TikTok: @steel.antler.theatre
ENDS
