Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Low Down
Mackenzie Miller has spent three years at university, hiding the fact that he’s working class. At his graduation, his mother turns up to support him, whilst dad arrives with his own reward for his son getting through university – two tickets for the Oasis reunion gig at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. The problem is it’s two days away and despite keeping his father at bay for those three years, Mackenzie is now faced with hitchhiking with him up the spine of the United Kingdom in two days to get to the concert.
Review
GaggleHouse have produced a wonderful piece of theatre that is both hilarious and touching. The script is very well structured, taking in a lot of interesting stop offs along the way. The idea of hitchhiking up to Edinburgh in 2025 seems a little odd however once you buy into that absurdity, they keep the whole thing going. There are encounters with ex-girlfriends, truckers like Eric, the ever so chatty Dennis and a fortune teller with aligned chakras. The caper has the two of them at one point in jail, before mum sweeps in for the rescue. They get to Murrayfield where dad fulfils a promise he made to a seven-year-old Mac – that he will meet Liam Gallagher – kind of.
The pace of the action is great. Working class themes in a modern world where having parents who perhaps don’t know which cutlery to use in a dining room but are filled with heart and passion for the children, which at times may obscure their parenting, is celebrated.
It has been directed with an eye on just how intimate it is. Dad is constantly moving in and around the audience to engage them – stole a few crisps and got a few laughs from front row victims.
Technically, there is a sofa used for various cars as well as the big suitcase that doubles as back seats now and again. The number of outfits that Mum has to go through to play various characters is fitting that everything seems to just come out of a suitcase, like the idea of hitchhiking to Murrayfield.
I did not get a chance to see The Reunion the first time I tried due to a previous show overrunning. I’m glad I made the effort to come back because this homegrown Scottish company shone. They have a real understanding of how to make theatre work but not delve into the lower denominator to keep people onside. It has a sensitivity running through it. Some of the events and characters may feel larger than life, but there is no apology for exploring rather than exploiting heir foibles.
The Reunion hits the right notes in terms of being funny but also poignantly. Whilst two brothers get together to put their differences aside and make millions, the real richness comes in a father simply reuniting with his son.
