one4review | On 11, Aug 2026

Following his 5-star Fringe debut with Operation Blank in 2025, Scottish playwright George Grant returns with something very different this year. In the Cold Light moves away from the absurdist comedy of his first play into a thoughtful drama about grief, identity, memory and the things left unsaid.

The play centres on a journalist who has become fascinated by the relationship between two long-dead friends: Arthur Johnson, a Victorian English scientist, and Andrew McLeod, described as an illiterate Scottish crofter living on Mull. Johnson made annual visits to see McLeod and, as the journalist digs deeper into their unlikely friendship, he begins to wonder whether there was more to their relationship than friendship.

It soon becomes clear that this investigation has a deeply personal resonance. The journalist has recently lost a lifelong male friend and is trying to come to terms with what their relationship meant to both of them. His relationship with his female boss, formerly a colleague and friend, is also strained, with suggestions of a history that may have gone beyond friendship.

The production makes particularly effective use of a large screen, with three characters appearing via Zoom calls with the journalist. The interaction between the live performer and the projected images works surprisingly well, while the screen is also used to illustrate other aspects of the story.

This is not a professional company, but the young cast perform with enthusiasm, and Grant’s script is strong. The narrative maintains a decent level of intrigue throughout and, while the eventual revelation isn’t exactly a great surprise, it is nevertheless thought-provoking and satisfying.

For me, this is what the Fringe should really be about: supporting emerging talent and giving audiences the chance to discover something new. In The Cold Light is an engaging, well-crafted piece with plenty to think about after the curtain falls. I would certainly recommend catching this performance.

****

Reviewed by Howard

Stephenson Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

Until 29^th August (not 16^th or 23^rd)

17.35 (55 mins)