Collateral Damage ****

The work of Scottish company Without Compromise Theatre is, simply put, essential. Their theatre is a brutal, unapologetic look into the conditions of life in Scottish working class communities. Often, and sometimes even to some aesthetic success, this section of society is presented in a stylised manner.

However, what we have in Without Compromise's latest proposition Collateral Damage is a truthful presentation of a family in crisis, written with great care, and performed with remarkable empathy. 

Lorna McFarlane plays alcoholic Stacey, whose daughter Hayley, a nurse, comes to visit. Hayley's sister, Alex, has recently been let out of jail. These are the conditions in which the drama begins to unfold. It's nicely written by Michael Johnson. His work is careful, simple on the surface but only because he's writing the drama so well. The characters he writes are living, breathing, aching — and their dynamics never stretch into something beyond belief, despite being condensed into a fifty-minute fringe slot. 

Lucy Pedersen's direction sometimes stretches the stage a little too much, on a stage as small as this playing with notions of splitting it don't really add enough to be justified choices. Furthermore, Stacey's flat, textually a dump, never really feels as such – easily fixed with a little more clutter. This being said, what Pedersen gets right is astonishing. What she pulls out of these three performers is a truthfulness and intensity which must be understood as some of the best acting I've seen this festival. 

Lorna McFarlane's voice, wavering, shouting, even when she's making small talk is utterly engrossing, and tragic. Charley Crooks grows into the performance beautifully and creates a troubled, unbearably kind Hayley who only wants to help as much as she can. Erin Clark is the standout performance in this piece — she's hardened, weary, but desperate to put her life back on track. It's a testament to these three actors that they can so beautifully transport you into this broken family and understand each other to such an extent. This is also, significant credit to the room which Pedersen clearly cultivated. 

Without Compromise Theatre are a serious outfit. They know what they're doing and they do it remarkably well. Collateral Damage is a handsome drama with serious themes. It is a slice of life many of us can recognise, delivered in an authentic and beautiful register. This is a company to keep on your radar, and they deserve the highest praise. 

TheSpaceUK Surgeons Hall, until 29^th August.