Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir
by 21 Common
Directed by Lucy Gaizely and Gary Gardiner with Dan Brown
Zoo Southside (Main House)
6 August 2024
⭐⭐⭐
Expectations are everything, and for me this show is mis-advertised on the Edinburgh Fringe website. A dance spectacular it is not. The dancing that takes place in this show is performed, on the whole, in silence behind the lead actor when he is performing a monologue. The cast of 12 move in sequence secondary to the narrative with their quiet, disconnected line dancing moves.
Rather than the high energy, Grand Ole Opry-esque hoedown I expected, potential audience members should pay attention to the second part of this show's title 'A Memoir' - because that's what this is. A hard-hitting, shocking portrayal of one boy's upbringing and the violence and poverty that shaped his life.
It's a unique, very clever idea to use the wild west as an analogy for a turbulent family living room. The concept of mashing together a play about masculinity and trauma with karaoke and dance is an exciting one. But some aspects work better than others.
The lead performer is superb. An engaging, charismatic speaker, he also dances beautifully, fights with obvious skill and even sings. I will be honest, the promise of bare-knuckle boxing was what I was looking forward to the least, but it turned out to be the highlight of the show. Well choreographed and expertly done, it brought some much needed energy to the room.
The bar-brawl / fight sequence was also the only time when the music was upbeat. Most of the other karaoke numbers were from the more solemn end of the country and western music catalogue, and although performed with enthusiasm and with the attempt at added humour of bouncing horses and pint glasses above the karaoke lyrics on the screen, it did little to raise enthusiasm from the uncertain audience.
21 Common are a fantastic arts collective and charity based in Glasgow who are known for putting on pioneering and challenging works for and with their local communities. The ensemble for this show is made up of both professional and non-professional performers from Paisley, Linwood and Johnstone, but there's nothing on the posters or on the Edinburgh Fringe website to even hint at that. Although maybe not all traditional performance artists, the cast all do such a fantastic job. I was especially impressed by the actor / dancer who played 'The Boy.'
The audience were unfortunately a little bewildered at this show (I listened as we were leaving the auditorium) and I do think that is down to confusion over what they were going to see. The 'blurb' promising "a dance spectacular" and "feats of physical endurance" may get bums on seats during the busy Edinburgh Festival season but at what cost if expectations are not set accordingly.
'Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir' is an important, sometimes hard to watch, maybe even controversial story that uses western movie tropes as a metaphor for domestic violence. 21 Common should be commended for taking such a unique concept and a passionate cast and creative team to the Edinburgh Fringe, but for the performers sake I'd love if the audience were more in accord.
⭐⭐⭐
Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir plays at Zoo Southside, Edinburgh until 17th August. Jump to listings | Cast and creatives info
Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir is part of the Made in Scotland showcase.
📸 photos: Louise Irwin
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Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir Cast and Creatives
Directed by Lucy Gaizely and Gary Gardiner with Dan Brown.
Performed by: Miriam Baalke; Dan Brown; Neshla Caplan; Leo Convey; Minnie Crook; Gary Gardiner; Margaret McMillan; Cormac Myles; Carol Turner and Althea Young.
Associate Artist: Ian Johnston
Lighting Design: Benny Goodman
Stage Manager and Technician: Holly M Wright
Fight Director: David Banks
Executive Producer: Louise Irwin
Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir Edinburgh Fringe listing
Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir
By 21 Common
Venue: Zoo Southside (Main House)
Dates: 2nd - 17th August (Not 11th or 12th)
Time: 12:30
Content Warnings: Warnings and additional info: Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strobe lighting, Strong language/swearing
Age Guidance: 14+
Running Time: 60 Mins
Made in Scotland Showcase
The 2024 Made in Scotland Showcase supports fourteen shows from Scotland this August during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Artists, performers, creatives, and their communities from across Scotland will have their work presented as part of this year’s Made in Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 2024 programme will welcome fourteen shows from all over the country across a range of dance, music, theatre and interdisciplinary work. With international audiences, industry and media visiting the artists and performers will enjoy a unique opportunity to present their work with the potential of taking it to audiences across the world.
Established in 2009, this essential programme of work has supported 273 shows to date, has nurtured and encouraged international creative dialogue, and has been the catalyst for many exciting international collaborations. The onward touring fund component has supported over 100 productions in visiting over forty countries, providing an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Scottish work around the world.
This year’s showcase reflects the changing landscape of expression across the nation with traditional forms like theatre, which Scotland is known for, to new multidisciplinary works where voices in new forms are finding emerging audiences. Themes explored include international music collaboration, a musical love story, a Wild West dance spectacular, intergenerational ideas of masculinity, deforestation tackled in a miniature opera and life in the community after incarceration.
The selected works will be performed across ten venues throughout Edinburgh, including the Traverse Theatre, Summerhall, Assembly @Dance Base, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Assembly Roxy. Other spaces include live music venue The Queens Hall and club La Belle Angele. Fringe-specific venues also include ZOO Southside, Assembly George Square and New Town Church.
The Onward Touring fund component has supported over 100 productions in visiting over forty countries, providing an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Scottish work around the world. This level of engagement would not have been possible without ongoing support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund through Creative Scotland. Through this support, the vibrancy and vitality of Scotland’s cultural landscape will be proudly on display during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. From established, and award-winning companies, to new work from world class performers, audiences will be captivated by this year’s Made in Scotland programme.
Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture said:
“Scotland has a rich, internationally-renowned cultural heritage, and in bringing some of our best new talent to audiences around the world, the Made in Scotland Showcase highlights how that legacy continues to evolve in new and inspiring ways. The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing the international presence of our culture sector and we’re therefore proud to have supported this year’s showcase with £550,000 funding through our Expo fund, which is designed to help festivals innovate and maximise national and international opportunities for the artists who contribute to them.”
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: “The Made in Scotland showcase is a chance for our finest performing talent to be seen internationally and is an incredibly important platform for Scottish artists to have their work performed and promoted. All the works are chosen for the showcase by an international panel of experts and then presented at the Fringe to arts industry professionals from across the globe with a view to future touring and a life beyond the Fringe. Every year I’m amazed by the talent and creativity that make up the Made in Scotland showcase and I am proud that it has become a model of showcasing talent that other countries have recreated.”
For details of the full 2024 Made in Scotland programme visit: www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com
Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir, 21 Common, Zoo Southside, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I am an Edinburgh Festival Fringe accredited media reviewer and as such I receive complimentary press tickets in exchange for my honest reviews. My reviews and star ratings are always my honest opinions.
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