one4review | On 05, Aug 2025

On a Monday afternoon with an Amber weather warning alert meaning a lot of Fringe shows were cancelled, there was still a strong audience in attendance for Kate Ireland’s solo theatre debut. In ‘Golden Time (and Other Behavioural Management Strategies)’, Kate reflects on a primary school reward system which will be familiar to many people. Golden Time is a dedicated block of free time for pupils to do something fun – but only if they have behaved well. 

 

At the beginning, Ireland declares that she only has one hour to tell her story, a full 60 minutes to earn the privilege of the crowd’s time and prove the show a worthy part of everyone’s tightly packed Fringe schedules. She succeeds in this pursuit, delivering an impressively engaging and creative show which combines spoken word and comedy. Kate’s infectious energy effortlessly charms the audience. She engages them to participate and think of their own time in the school system – even providing a special incentive to do so! The show does not just reflect on the school system, it expands further on trying to fit into neurotypical standards of productivity and time management when you don’t fit this norm.

 

In the audience of this Monday’s show, there were many teachers who identified with Kate’s observations and critiques about a mainstream education system which does not account for every child. As a neurodivergent person myself, I was incredibly moved by the performance and could identify with a lot of the content and so I would especially recommend this to anyone with a neurodiversity or to parents of neurodiverse children. Overall though, I think everyone can take something away from this show. Kate Ireland presents the audience with the opportunity to forget the schedules and responsibilities of adult life and invites them to engage with their childlike wonder again.

*Accessibility Note: this show is creatively captioned

*****

Reviewed by Niamh O’Hara

Pleasance Ace Dome

13.30 (1hr)

Until 25 Aug (not 11 or 18)