Theatre To Save the Sea Tron Theatre , Glasgow When Greenpeace activists occupied the Shell UK owned decommissioned Brent Spar oil store off the coast of Shetland in 1995 to prevent it being sunk in the North Sea, little did anyone know that thirty years later it would inspire a new musical. This is exactly what the Sleeping Warrior company have done, however, transforming the Brent Spar story into a rousing radio friendly pop drama that chimes with the times while remaining easy on the ear. Writer/directors Andy McGregor and Isla Cowan set out their store on Brent Spar itself, brought to life by designer Claire Halleran as an iron and steel arena the Greenpeace activists make their own.
The group are a motley mix of idealism and experience as epitomised by Matthew McKenna’s de facto leader Karl and Katie Weir’s hard liner Engel, with enthusiastic new recruits Colin, played by Nathan French, and Kara Swinney’s young mum Rachel also in tow. As personal and political commitments are tested and serious mistakes made, all this is framed by Kaylah Copeland’s action girl journalist Brianna. Read More: 'Reaches for the stars': So Long, Wee Moon — review Review: Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me at Glasgow's Tron Theatre Back at Shell UK, meanwhile, the executives led by Helen Logan and David Rankine’s tellingly named Karen and Rupert, are aghast.
The politicians, alas, are not for turning in a series of office bound routines that at one point sees then prime min.