THE EFFECT [2015]                        

Hawick / Borders / Edinburgh                                                                writer Lucy Prebble

dir Richard Baron / Firebrand Theatre                                               

Lucy Prebble's celebrated play was given its Scottish premiere by Firebrand Theatre, a company set up in 2010 by Ellie Zeegen and Janet Coulson in the Borders.

Admissions Procedure sees two young volunteers enter a drugs trial, changing into clinical outfits, undergoing tests and measurements, and given their initial drug or placebo dosages in a very tightly choreographed routine which took much practice to perfect.  The rhythmic breaks all contain specific sounds and actions as data is entered into the doctor's iPad and relayed by video projection.

Making Love is a series of time-lapse tableaux, some with dialogue, some just silent scripted action, where the characters undress and make love; the 10 musical phrases were cued individually with lighting to allow the performers some space, but designed to flow as one whole cue leading into the interval break.  

The scene change is an energised moment, drawing on the EDM of the admissions procedure and fading into the new scene with the sound of a heart monitor.

director

designer

lighting

cast