Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Enough
Moonstone Theatre
Genre: Drama, New Writing, Theatre
Venue: The Space on the Mile
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
The narrative structure revolves around night time shifts in a Mancunian police force where a newbie is put along with two established police officers. Both police officers are female so you would think they would automatically be predisposed to support her. From very early on it is quite clear that her engagement is not something that is wholly forthcoming.
Review
There is a real authenticity in the delivery and set up as Irie, the newbie, played by Riah Amelle, is of a different colour to her partner, Toni played by Gemma Green, and sergeant. It’s not long before you hear, “you people,” disguised in conversation. It begins subtly and with hardly a glance before the prejudice begins to seep into behaviours and more extreme attitudes as Irene, they hope is “one of us.”
As it descends into corruption and Irie dare to speak out the ritual humiliation, after being told how well she had been doing, brings the destruction of her personality increasingly to the foe – this giving the bullies a chance to claim foul when confronted as Irene may be being overly aggressive in defending herself.
The sergeant, Christine, played by Emily Hunter, who picks Irene out for special attention, makes you think things are going to go down one avenue because sergeant takes Irie for a drink before it then takes a very different pathway. The script manages twists and turns in a subtle and engaging manner, allowing the narrative to build rather be a bold scything through of the issues.
Once allegations are made, Irie is in their collective dock, despite the fact that we know the guilty ones are her shift partner and supervisor.
By this point we have bought totally into the chats and discussions which have been on the one hand trivial whilst obvious clues as to the eventual conclusion. It ends with Irene under investigation, and the sergeant facing promotion.
All three actors manage each turn and twist with skill. The tone and the pace never wavers from being on point throughout. It also shows great skill in the direction as the various scenes are navigated with deft control – minimal set and some nice lighting touches help.
Set within a small intimate space, this becomes a key element and is perhaps one of the reasons why it is most effective, allowing us no escape from the issues – we confront, comprehend and understand what it is that people like Irene have to face not only as a woman but also as somebody who looks very different from the majority. This is a different take given that it provides a female perspective not just from the oppressed but also from the oppressor and casts doubt upon the validity of a woman chasing a masculine career.
