365

The cast have no names; they are random letters of the alphabet. They are the nameless ones, the children in care. At 16 they are considered old enough to go out to “practice flats” to learn to make their own way in the world. They have neither the practical, nor emotional skills to cope.
This is the bleak background to David Harrower’s new play for the National Theatre of Scotland - 365- which had its premiere last week at the Edinburgh Festival. With the runaway success of “Black Watch” two years ago the NTS know only too well that they have a hard act to follow. 365 will not be the play to repeat that success. It is too grim, too harrowing, with too many stories of neglect and abuse. Our emotions are worn thin by the sheer weight of background horrors we are hearing. We become desensitised, numb, exhausted. We are left with no hope of improvement at the end as wave upon wave of children come through the doors, all doomed to repeat the same experience.
And yet the play is beautifully staged by director Vicky Featherstone. There is a whimsical Babes in the Wood sequence to contrast with the industrial numbered set props that have appeared earlier. There is music and dancing and a balletic set with wires as used in Black Watch. There is the clever use of a tilted room that closes down upon the girl huddled under a table, trapped by her past and unable to move on. Fewer characters might have worked better. If a small group of characters had been focussed upon, the message might have been more intense, less sprawling. The insights offered are superficial and single-handed; there is no hope offered, no feeling that human nature can and does often rise above the most appalling adversity. A thought provoking, but uncomfortable play.
Till August 25 at Edinburgh Playhouse. 7.30pm