Lunchbox
★★★★☆ Packs a punch
Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 30): Wed 30 July – Sun 24 Aug 2025
Review by Sophie Good
Lubna Kerr presents Lunchbox, the powerful final part of her trilogy depicting her life as a Pakistani Muslim moving to Glasgow, at the Pleasance Courtyard for this year’s fringe.
Kerr has previously performed Tickbox and Chatterbox, covering different parts of her life story since she moved from Pakistan to a tenement flat in Govan in Glasgow in the 1960s, giving insights into her experience of moving from one culture to another.
Lubna Kerr in the trailer for Lunchbox. Screenshot: Æ
It’s now the 1980s and Kerr’s one woman show now depicts her life at secondary school which she says has been the hardest part to reenact, because she was ruthlessly bullied by a boy called Steven, a Scottish boy who lives on her street. She appears in a simple school uniform and puts us right into the middle of the action, reliving some of the fury and aggression from her perpetrator. It’s powerful stuff; and the scorn of that boy still lives clearly in Kerr’s mind.
As with her previous shows, Kerr employs a range of storytelling techniques; she directly addresses to the audience, as well as narrating her inner monologue back in the 80s, and plays a range of characters – primarily Stephen, Stepehen’s mother, their drama teacher, her own parents and a neighbour Jeanie.
It’s a small and intimate space in the Green and Kerr uses a minimal set to indicate some of the settings such as her teacher’s house (it was OK to go to your teacher’s house in the 80s, she tells us). Lighting and sound are again minimal, just to indicate a change of mood or scene. But it’s enough to accompany Kerr’s convincing and gentle storytelling which is as funny and light-hearted as it is serious.
fictionalisation
Unlike her other shows, Kerr has had to employ a lot more fictionalisation to realise Stephen’s side of the story. She knows only of his circumstances – the only child of a single mother who is struggling with alcoholism and has filled in the blanks to try and get to grips with what was going on behind the scenes and what was driving his abusive behaviour and cruel remarks.
Lubna Kerr in the trailer for Lunchbox. Screenshot: Æ
Things start to take a turn when both Lubna and Stephen are cast in the school play together in a somewhat transparent attempt from their beloved drama teacher ‘Granny Smith’ to bring them to a better understanding. They rehearse well and Stephen discovers a love of drama, but sadly the bullying continues whilst at school.
Jen McGregor has been dramaturg on this piece once again, and has done a good job at driving the narrative forward and tying the threads together. Director Emily Ingram has helped to bring a tight performance where all the characters that Kerr embodies are cohesive and convincing. Kerr also mentions that her son Ihsan Kerr, who is credited as creative producer, also co-wrote the script.
There are some thoughtful questions raised about nature vs nurture and what makes some kids bully others. For anyone who has had these kinds of experiences at school and know their long-lasting effect, Kerr offers empathy and insight which isn’t often addressed on stage or otherwise. It’s a piece worthy of your time for its intimate storytelling and attempts to resolve or understand difficult times from adolescence through Kerr’s unique lens.
Running time: 55 minutes (no interval).
Pleasance Courtyard (The Green), 60 Pleasance EH8 9TJ (Venue 33).
Wednesday 30 July – Monday 25 August 2025.
Daily (Not Tues 12, 19): 4.45pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*
Lubna Kerr’s Chatterbox (reviewed here) will return to Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Mon 18 – Mon 25 August 2025.
Chatterbox
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Pleasance Courtyard (The Green), 60 Pleasance EH8 9TJ (Venue 33).
Mondahy 18 – Monday 25 August 2025.
Daily (Not 19): 1pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Book here on EdFest.com.*
Lubna Kerr website: www.lubnakerr.co.uk
Facebook: @lubna.kerr
Instagram: @lubnakerr
*affiliate link.
ENDS
