Introspection within theatre has the potential to be selfish, abusing the presence of an audience to vent personal demons. However, when used effectively it can be provocative. American comedian Bo Burnham blends this brilliantly in Make Happy, arguably a performance art piece on the nature of performance. But in David Edgar’s latest work, he uses introversion similarly, but instead to deliver a more political message.

Trying it On is an autobiographical look at how fifty years affected Edgar politically. Starting by comparing his twenty-year-old self to his seventy-year-old self, he traces the events that changed him in a creative and intriguing way, often incorporating the views of old friends as a comparison. Further into the piece it becomes less about Edgar and more about society, using the initial introspection as the setup.

As Edgar’s first professional performance, there is a lot to be praised. He is confident in the space and brings out the humour in the fantastic text he has written. Entering the space and seeing the playwright and performer happily eating a banana and greeting the audience, peel in hand, certainly sets the tone. Although his performance felt slightly one-note at times, the strength of the text kept his performance permanently engaging.

Having initially expected an empty stage for a potentially serious piece, I was pleasantly surprised. The mountain of cardboard boxes engulfing chests of drawers gave the space an almost B-movie charm. There were lights, projections, music, but none of it was flashy because it didn’t need to be. However the shoestring budget creativity made the use of the space all the more exciting.

Frustratingly as a reviewer this is a particularly meta and subversive piece, making it hard for me to discuss much more without spoiling a lot of the show. Suffice to say that while there are no enormous, jaw-dropping twists, there are some moments that reveal the purpose of Edgar’s piece. Symbolic movement and challenging conversation add depth to what could have been a lifeless lecture, but instead is a marvellous work.

Fundamentally, Trying it On is the story of Edgar’s life to date, told earnestly while preserving a cheeky comedic touch; nothing is hidden from view, even amidst the humour. While Edgar’s performance won’t win awards, I feel a certain quality would be lost if an actor had played his part. Who could be more qualified to tell his story than him?    ★★★★☆   Jeremy Ulster    12^th June 2018