Review: NIGHT WAKING at Citizens Theatre

Night Waking follows Anna, an Oxford academic living on a remote Hebridean island with her husband Giles and their two young children. Already overwhelmed by the pressures of motherhood, Anna’s world shifts when she discovers the remains of a baby buried in the garden, sparking an investigation into the island’s history of infant mortality.

Nicola Jo Cully is a compelling performer and does impressive work carrying the production solo. She switches between characters effortlessly showcasing amazing talent - her voice acting alone is supremely engaging. Nevertheless, the material itself feels too expansive for a one-woman show. At two hours and twenty minutes, the play begins to lose momentum, particularly in the second act - despite Cully’s efforts, sustaining engagement for that length of time becomes difficult.

The play tackles complex and important themes including infanticide, postnatal depression, and changing attitudes towards parenthood, all of which feel worthy of exploration onstage. Under the writing of Shireen Mula and direction from Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, however, the production occasionally struggles under the weight of its own ambition. Cully really does the best she can with what she has.

The show is striking visually. The set does a lot with a little: projections move fluidly between different time periods, at times incorporating Gaelic translations, while the central dirt grave transforms into a variety of symbolic images in a way that feels inventive and intelligent.

There is a strong play within Night Waking, but it needs to be half the length.

Night Waking is at the Citizens Theatre until the 16th of May

Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic

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