What the Animals Say by David Ireland, The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London, SW10 | until 24 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

Photo credit: Gavin Watson

What the Animals Say

by David Ireland

The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London, SW10 | until 24 October 2026.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

“Provocative, splendidly performed revival.”

Superbly acted and staged this production directed with the lightest of touches by Harry Burton of David Ireland's first play originally seen in at Oran Mor, the legendary Glasgow play, a pie and a pint theatre, seventeen years ago is one of those rare evenings in the theatre where everything is as it should be. In the ferry terminal at Stranraer, Jimmy, an out of work actor, is annoyed by the noise his neighbour, Eddie (Robbie Martin), who is listening to some music, is making and asks him to shut up. Jimmy (Matthew Blaney) is a dishevelled, lanky figure whose career as an actor is going nowhere fast. Eddie turns out to be captain of Celtic, an assertive, insensitive bully nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is. They discover – they are both from Ulster – that they were at school together and things take off from there. Jimmy wants to get a part in a film Mel Gibson is shooting and when next they pair meet discovers that Eddie has been cast in it, after which battle begins. Eddie has a problem – he cannot remember his lines. Jimmy teaches him and things turn very nasty indeed. The play launched Ireland's career as a writer – as an actor he was just like Eddie, heading nowhere – and has stood up to the inevitable test of the passage of time perfectly. There is a clever set by Alex Marker which takes us from the Stranraer terminal to Eddie's Winnebago where he is struggling with his script with the simplest of changes. Costume Designer Eleanor Landgrebe has found the perfect shabby overcoat for Jimmy to go downhill wearing as that role in the film escapes him, like success probably will everywhere, and smart figure flaunting sportswear for the assertive Eddie. The production really deserves an afterlife, but that could be said of many a play staged at the Finborough. This one is outstanding.

Cast

Matthew Blaney – Jimmy Culver

Robbie Martin – Eddie Harrison

Creatives

Director – Harry Burton

Set Designer – Alex Marker

Lighting Designer – Jodi Rabinowitz

Sound Designer – Joe Dines

Costume Designer – Eleanor Landgrebe