The Space @ North Bridge

15/17/19/21/23 August

17.15

£5-£8

It was while watching this special little play that I thought, god bless the Edinburgh fringe. The artistic diversity that this month tosses into the Apollonian aether is simply mind-shattering. I went into see Spectrum quite blind – I knew that it was about an autIstic woman, but not in a million years did I expect the show I was about to see. Set in the world of 50’s Oklahoman cattle-slaughtering, Temple Grandin is an intelligent Autistic woman, brought to life both in body & spirit by Meave Bell. We follow Miss Grandin from her early years, when she was thought to be retarded, to the glorious moments when her innovative techniques in cattle-husbandry take the american mid-west by storm.

Production wise, the play has some excellent moments using sound & light that bring the inner turmoils of autism into A stark reality. The supporting cast is also a fine complent to Meave’s work, with near-perfect american accents & quality comic timing, they were a real treat to watch. Especially so was Dermot Nelson, who definitely deserves some kind of starring role in the future. A magnificent, & thought-provoking FIVE STARS

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Reviewer – Damo Bullen