Werewolf theatre review: Surreal safehouse whodunnit
Trapping Fringegoers in a safehouse, this immersive, panto-esque thriller has twists aplenty and is tailor-made for aspiring sleuths
This is not a review, it's a tale of survival. Thanks to the emergence of a new deadly virus, the team at Binge Culture performance company has been forced to transform Summerhall into an airlocked safehouse for the duration of August. You can enter, though there are no guarantees you’ll get out.
Werewolf begins the moment the audience walks through the plastic curtains that separate Safehouse No. 656 from the outside world. Roaming around the room is a trio of cautious wardens (Stella Reid, Joel Baxendale and Hannah Kelly), who take a headcount as they usher unsuspecting civilians to their seats. On each seat sits a unique card, written on it a small piece of information that will help the newly formed community establish the facts surrounding the disease that is transforming innocent humans into werewolves.
It may sound like hard work, but Werewolf twists and turns with a velocity that makes it difficult not to get invested in this pantomime-inspired whodunnit story. With everybody made to feel included without anyone having to do much, the witty Kiwi trio execute crowd participation perfectly, crafting a clever show that will appeal to Fringegoers of all ages.
Werewolf, Summerhall, until 31 August, 9pm; picture: Lewis Ferris.