Review: REBUS: LONG SHADOWS, Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Inspector John Rebus has now retired from the police force but that doesn't mean he's forgotten about the profession that ruled his life for so many years. When he meets a young girl on his close steps he discovers that he knew of her mother- the victim of an unsolved murder 17 years ago.

As DNA testing has moved on since Maggie was strangled outside a pub she frequented, Rebus starts to look into her case again in the hope of conclusive answers. Rebus is haunted by the victims and they emerge from the shadows asking for his help.

Written by Ian Rankin and adapted for the stage by Rona Munro, Long Shadows is delightfully wordy. The majority of the drama onstage is spoken and so well written that it manages to hold the tension throughout.

While John Rebus is a flawed character, Ron Donachie makes him very likeable. Although his manner is rude and his methods unorthodox, he clearly cares about justice and wants to lay this case to rest.

Ti Green's stage design is wonderfully atmospheric. The scene is laid out as though underneath some of the ancient winding streets of Edinburgh- the perfect haunting location for this story.

For fans of the Rebus novels, the interaction between Rebus and 'Big Ger' Cafferty (brilliantly portrayed by John Stahl) will be extremely satisfying. For those unfamiliar with the books, this makes for a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable piece of theatre.

Rebus: Long Shadows is at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow until Saturday 2nd February.

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