As many theatre fanatics do, I spent the entirety of August in Edinburgh to enjoy the bizarre collision of the arts the Fringe had to offer. While admittedly I saw fewer shows than I did last year, I saw a variety of sane, insane, and puzzling works that won’t make their way into mainstream theatre. Examples include: a stand-up routine entirely about shoes (including a shoe burlesque routine); a woman moving at a snail’s pace while covering herself in snails; and a five-minute show performed entirely while sat on a park bench.

Because I was seeking out the weirder side of theatre, I didn’t get the chance to see Penelope Skinner’s Meek while it was in Edinburgh; which is why I was delighted to see it in Birmingham, fresh from the Fringe. Set in a dystopian world dominated by religion, occasional singer-songwriter Irene (Shvorne Marks) has been arrested for her supposedly subversive views. Speaking to her best friend Anna (Scarlett Brookes) and her lawyer Gudrun (Amanda Wright), we see how Irene’s investigation develops, and exactly why the government want to silence her.

Having come straight from a full run in Edinburgh, you can tell that everything has been finely tuned. This is a phenomenally slick production that could easily make its way to the West End. Everything from the claustrophobic set to the insular lighting brings the world of Skinner’s play to life; and while this world is terrifying, it is equally captivating.

I’ve read Skinner’s Eigengrau and thoroughly enjoyed the bleak yet lightly comedic script and her unique voice as a playwright. Now with Meek she brings this voice to a very modern tale that brilliantly satirises religion and our social media obsession in a way that feels organic and detailed.

While there are moments that the performances feel somewhat flat, this trio of actors pack a real punch and all shine in this production. As the piece progresses, the performances crescendo and become incredibly moving. Combined with Skinner’s sharp and exciting script and Amy Hodge’s superb direction, Meek sets the bar for productions of this kind, and shows how exciting and creative contemporary plays can be.

Having seen the good, the bad, and the wacky in Edinburgh, I’m so glad this was the first play I saw after coming back to Birmingham. The REP hosts a magnificent range of works, and this is amongst some of the best work I’ve seen there. With an exciting season ahead, I can’t wait to see what else is in store before the year is through.

★★★★☆    Jeremy Ulster    5^th September 2018