Comedy, Characters and “The Caravel” with Cuttin’ Aboot

All images of cast by Liam Forrest via Cuttin’ Aboot

By Jenna Morrison

I took a trip to Edinburgh on the 23rd of August to see “The Caravel" written by Milly Sweeney, during the renowned Fringe festival. Director, Bronagh Doherty, described the show as “an hour of Glasgow madness” and that it was.  

Set in 1990s Glasgow in the infamous pub, the story follows a group of teenagers navigating their way in the small city, naive to the danger surrounding them in their local.  

Milly explained that the show drew inspiration from her mum’s experience growing up in working-class Glasgow, “When I found out that the pub my mum and her friends frequented when they were younger happened to be run by lethal gangsters, it added a whole new layer to the story and the play began to write itself!” 

What made the show so captivating, was the relatable characters. Milly Sweeney and Fallon Doherty play a pair of best friends who spend their weekends blissfully drinking, underage, with the crowd at The Caravel. Although set 30 years back, their dynamic resurfaced memories of relationships I shared as a teenager - not quite so long ago. 

The unforgettable personalities explored throughout give the play such a unique identity, each one essential to make the story feel whole. Amongst the multi-layered narrative, each character has a backstory and individual struggles. I found this incredibly impressive; such an intricate tale was told with complete ease, in only one hour. The authenticity of the ensemble allowed the audience to identify with the characters. I recognised glimpses of myself and others from my past in the performers – it was both nostalgic and heartwarming, creating a truly remarkable experience.  

Milly indicated that this was intentional. Careful consideration had been given when constructing each character; “The characters were inspired by real people. I asked my mum about her friends growing up, their personalities and what roles they fulfilled in the group...” 

“...I really wanted to highlight similarities between a teenage friend group and a literal gang. They are more similar than you think!” 

“It is to remind those who were not there for the ‘90s that we are not so different from other generations!” added Bronagh. 

Emma Arbon gives an outstanding performance, portraying "The Boss,” a notorious Glasgow gangster utilising his pub as a cover up for money laundering. Despite the stark contrast between Emma’s character and that of the teenage girls, the audience quickly discern that he too is struggling. His unlawful lifestyle comes at a cost bringing many warranted obstacles. Emma's delivery fully encapsulates the tragedy of the character, blending humour and emotion into stunning effect. The play successfully explores themes of Glasgow gang culture and toxic masculinity, which are translated comedically through Emma’s performance.

“My character is unstable, as both a leader and a person. He acts on emotion over logic, he’ll do things without thinking about the consequences because he can’t keep a lid on his anger,” said Emma. 

The actor continued; “I found the character work so interesting - curating a past/background helped me understand him more.” 

Sam Baird’s skilful choreography added a vibrant flare to the performance. Dance scenes were effectively integrated throughout the performance, offering a lively atmosphere to the audience. It was particularly memorable watching a big-time gangster confidently move to dance music amongst teenage girls – this really struck the tone for me. The light-heartedness perfectly complimented the more serious topics presented in the narrative. 

Emma admitted, “I loved dancing with the ladies...obviously?” 

The cast worked so naturally together on stage and this was a pure reflection of the relationships built behind the curtain. Producer, Amy Clark said, “The rehearsals were so enjoyable. we created an environment where we were able to act like idiots and have fun as well as being productive. This resulted in discovering things that then stayed in the show...” 

“...Going for a few pints after rehearsals definitely helped with a bit of team bonding!” she added. 

The theatre company was established in 2021, following a zoom call during lockdown. Amy explained that the group shared an ambition - to share their art with an audience once the restrictions due to the pandemic were lifted.  

“Cuttin’ Aboot became an official company in 2022 and put on their first show “CAHM DOWN” that summer. It has since toured as a piece of community theatre as an opening act and for fundraising purposes,” she told me. 

The team are set to continue pleasing the people of Scotland with more nostalgic stories, with the next play titled “Moira’s bus.” 

Emma discussed, “The play is inspired by the bus I got to school and our bus conductor who we drove actual mental. The main plot is Moira is at risk of losing her job, so all the girls come together to stop it...” 

“...The play highlights how important it is for girls to have a place where they are not silenced. Also, women from the scheme have dreams man! To be a footballer, a writer, to be Banksy! It is about time we see that reflected in Scottish theatre.” 

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