Birthmarked arrives back in the Old Vic after its short run last year in Theatre on the Downs and now as an Edinburgh fringe preview. Described as a ‘new concept gig’ it tells the true story of Brook Tate’s life as a young gay Jehovah’s Witness as he comes to terms with his sexuality and the effect it has on his life and family.

The show is definitely fringe material, featuring a talking whale, a painted transformation into a zebra and a tap dance routine performed on platform high heels. The celebrated Sally Cookson of Wonder Boy and A Monster Calls provides direction.

The story of Tate being ‘disfellowshipped’ when he was thrown out of the church by the elders (two window cleaners and a plumber) is performed partly using songs he has written over the past six years, and through skits with Gail the Whale. He is well supported by a five-piece band through a series of ballads and full-bodied arrangements.

They go along with the whale’s idea to swallow them all up and, once inside, change out of straight grey suits and slim black ties into tight black leotards with frills. Much of the show still depends on some semi-improvisational aspects which give it an ongoing energy.

So far so good, and it was clear from Tate’s appearance in the stalls before the show that many of his friends in the audience thought so too, warmly cheering his journey and celebrating his sexuality as just as much a part of him as the birthmark on his brow.

Tate is a consummate performer, highly confident and at his best when totally committed and undistracted. However, there are more than a few occasions when he loses focus. Being accompanied by some of the shyest band members ever seen on a stage does not help. When they drag up at the end, they seem more bashful than brazen. A bit more razzamatazz is required. The curious lack of drama in the voicing of the whale by the reticent band’s drummer also detracted from Tate’s story and made the dialogue seem more one sided than it should.

The songs are well performed, and Tate is a good if not a great singer and at times the high notes became far too shrill. That most of the songs were nicely choreographed could not help rescue them from being unmemorable. 

Always highly imaginative, at times whimsical and at others profoundly moving, the story is an unusual and very personal one dealing with the loss of family and one identity while gaining another. His rekindling of family relationships late on in the show shone out as one of the more sensitive moments. I will follow Brook Tate’s career with interest and am keen to see where it takes him after Edinburgh and whether he can tell any new stories in as imaginative way as with Birthmarked.

★★★☆☆      Bryan J Mason   21st July 2023