Ironworks, Inverness, 4 June 2011

A BOLD new venture in the Highlands, Play Pieces is inspired by Oran Mor’s enduringly successful “A Play A Pie and a Pint” – lunchtime theatre with lunch included in the ticket price. It’s easy, with hindsight, to understand the latter’s success in the heart of Glasgow’s West End virtually round the back of the University. Inverness is altogether another kettle of herring.

Any qualms about Sneck residents’ appetite for drama and pies were allayed at the sight of the tables in the Ironworks where scarcely a seat was to be had. Lindsay Dunbar, in her welcoming remarks, asked who had come a long way – a forest of hands went up and ‘Stornoway’ was one of the answers, showing the wisdom of aligning with the Farmers’ Market.

From the Handprints in the Snow poster

And so, finally, the pies were eaten, the house lights went down and Elastic Concoctions’ Jesse Paul introduced the concept of gloveology – the collection and analysis of lost gloves, those poignant relics passed on pavements or chanced upon in parks and graveyards. A curious and endearing idea was used brilliantly as a device to tell a story which started as quirky, became intriguing and grew darker and darker – no spoilers, as this surely will not be its only outing.

The sharpness and economy of the writing was matched by Paul’s utterly convincing performance, donning each glove in her collection and transforming into each owner using only voice and posture. At the end it was a shock to see just one slight figure taking her well-deserved bow – where were the cast of characters she’d conjured?

A stunning opening to a monthly series (running until November) which should now be on the fixture list for everyone interested in exciting theatre, Handprints in the Snow has set the bar very high for its successors. Congratulations all round.

Oh, you wanted to know about the food (donated by MacDougall &Hastie and Artysans Cafe)? Delicious.

© Jennie Macfie, 2011

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• Play Pieces
• Jennie Macfie