EDINBURGH 2016 - Review: THE SURGE, Greenside @ Royal Terrace, 16 August

The Surge is a new play from The King's Players of King's College London, inspired by contemporary British politics. A new MP gets involved in a student campaign, but as protests she speaks at turn to violence, the media accuses her of supporting riotous behaviour. She is then forced to consider whether she is able to make any sort of worthwhile change in a dismissive, uncaring Parliament.

In theory, it's a topical piece, given the current position of the Labour Party and its leader. Equally, a number of the politicians presented as part of a Commons debate were rather evidently inspired by specific Conservative parliamentarians.

The production takes the form of a number of episodes, some naturalistic, but many making frequent and effective use of stylised movement. An impressively well-disciplined ensemble cast work hard to skilfully evoke the mood of protests and to slip in and out of different characters. Multimedia is also used throughout, with videos of protests from the suffragettes to anti-poll tax campaigners, all helping to set the scene.

Sadly, it does become rather a case of style over substance. Some episodes are less successful than others, with lines such as "Riot is my new favourite colour" coming across as trite navel-gazing.

Most unfortunately, for a play about politics, it does not appear to have much to say. Themes such as the frequent futility of protest, the media twisting reasonable statements, and politicians choosing between principles and their careers are all rather hackneyed and not explored in any real depth or new way here. We never learn what exactly the students of the piece are protesting about, nor are Audience members left with any new understanding of issues examined in the play.

That's a shame, as the cast and director clearly have a strong theatrical vision, but, perhaps like the politicians it portrays, The Surge needs to find something to fight for.

The Surge is at Greenside @ Royal Terrace until August 27 (not 21).

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