THEATRE
*****
Belt Up’s Outland
C Soco

Return to the loft set high up in a tenement above Edinburgh to experience the second in the trilogy of work being presented by Belt Up theatre at this year’s fringe.

The interesting thing about Belt Up’s choice of shows this year is each one allows one of the three performers to take the central role. In this one Dan Wood comes to the fore in a tale that asks the audience to step through the looking glass, down the rabbit hole and beyond the wardrobe with Fur coats hanging inside to discover what dreams are made off. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s final work, director Dominic J Allen weaves the author’s life story with his undoubted masterpiece “Sylvie and Bruno”. The result is simply amazing and astounding.

Dan wood performers the role of Charles a man who is using the depths of his imagination and dreams to make up for the reality he must face up to in life. He also plays multiple characters during his dreams which are helped by Lucy Fawcett also doubling up as Sylvie and Muriel. Once again I found myself captivated by the performance of Jethro Compton as Arthur and Bruno. Their combined ability to seamless shift between characters before the audience eyes is memorizing and further enhances a wonderful production.

What belt up does to such wonderful effect is including the audience as the central force within each play. As a viewer you truly believe your living the show not watching a piece of theatre. It’s also the combination of excellent writing, director and above all else actors which make the shows work.

Take the journey back to that warm, comforting loft high above the streets of Edinburgh where dreams become reality for a moment and you ask yourself just where those dreams will take you?