The Truth About Trees
★★★★☆ Charming
Assembly George Square (Venue 8): Thu 6 – Sun 30 Aug 2026
Review by Matty Sheridan.
Apropos Theatre returns to Assembly George Square with a reworking of The Truth About Trees, their delightful play with a positive message.
The Truth About Trees written by Alex Zawalnyski, is deceptively simple but asks big questions. Why should we care? What power do you have to effect change? A gift from Grandad prompts a tale of the importance of trees but also what can you do when they are under threat.
Alfie and Grandpa. Pic: Darius Eastwood.
A book made by Grandad but holding stories written by the local trees, is a lovely device to immediately set us in the world of imagination. While Alfie’s increasing knowledge of trees grounds us in a familiar world and introduces some fascinating facts. All combine to create an absorbing story with an important message on the value of nature.
The cast of Zawalnyski, Morgan Ferguson and Niamh Blane work hard while making it look effortless and fun. Zawalnyski plays school boy Alfie, but also adds to the production with his puppetry skills. Ferguson and Blane bring the rest of the cast of characters, and set the scene with shadow play.
Characters are created quickly and simply. Grandpa is conjured with a hat and a hunch, mum with a scarf and a change of voice. The cast ask the audience to use their imagination but make it easy for them to follow along.
The show deliberately keeps things simple. These are not elaborate costumes or puppets, but costumes that can be found in a dressing up box; a hand-whittled puppet and torches as spotlights. The whole show encourages imaginative play and thinking about what you can do to make a difference.
imple but effective
The puppetry is simple but effective. Shadow images take us to the magical world of trees. Children’s toys are used to create shadows on the wall. Puppet Alfie is handled well by all the cast. When he climbs a tree, his nerves and elation at reaching the top are brought to life through the puppet’s every move and twitch. All combine to keep you absorbed in the storytelling.
This is continued in the scene when the trees are at risk of being chopped down. The soundtrack and lighting keep tension, while Ferguson and Blane create puppets magicked out of a couple of coat hangers, toy hard hats and children’s hi-vis vests. With a couple of simple moves, the lumberjacks trying to chop the trees down are visible and believable, the added touch of a couple of grunts about getting a cuppa adding humour.
There are no high-tech gimmicks here, just high quality acting and storytelling to encourage imagination.
The Truth About Trees is unashamedly analogue, encouraging children’s imagination rather than screen time. With any luck, it will have them diving into the dressing up box when they get home.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Assembly George Square (The Box), George Square EH8 9LH (Venue 8).
Thursday 6 – Sunday 30 August 2026.
Daily (not 17, 24): 10.45am.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Tickets direct from venue: Book here.
Apropos Theatre’s website: apropostheatre.com
Facebook: @apropostheatre
Instagram: @apropostheatre
Linktree: @apropostheatre.
Puppet Alfie. Pic: Darius Eastwood.
ENDS
