Review: Fashion Spies

Review: Fashion Spies
Venue: Assembly George Square – The Box
Rating: *****
Reviewer: Sarah MacDonald

A celebration of comedy, campness and physical theatre – Quick Duck Theatre has produced another excellent show. This fast-paced, action packed spy/fashion adventure is a work of interactive genius. Be it you or your kids – there is humour for all. Who knew that two cardboard tubes had such versatility? (Don’t worry, they’re provided, you don’t have to bring your own.)

Kim Possible meets couture in this whirlwind adventure. The fashion world is left quaking in it’s boots as the world’s most fabulous items are stolen by a mystery assailant from Fashion Weeks around the globe. The audience helps to direct new SASS recruit, Agent Thunderbolt, to make some very difficult choices along the way in this masterpiece of contemporary theatre.

In the land of the Edinburgh Fringe where audience participation can often feel contrived; the actors’ enthusiasm is genuinely contagious and the narrative of the writing so consuming that the audience is aching to be involved. (A kid in the row in front of me was literally ready to join the stage and had to be lovingly held back by her dad.)

The show mixes excellent writing with fantastic physicality. Each actor shows themselves to be abundantly capable of characterising a range of personas, they show the creativity to ad lib, and comic ability akin to (if not surpassing) some of the famous faces that have joined us here in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival.

Above and beyond the comic and acting capacity that is captivating throughout Fashion Spies, the narrative includes some very relevant commentary on fast fashion and the importance of making ones’ voice heard. The writing manages to convey queer representation (and acceptance) as a matter of course. It is a must-see, family-friendly work of comedy and theatre not to be missed.

Get tickets here – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fashion-spies
Dates: 3 – 29 August (not 23)
Time: 13:00 (1hr)