Edinburgh Fringe: Leather – C Nova
Writer: Dean Graham
Director: Dean Graham
Reviewer: Deborah Klayman
The Public Reviews Rating: 
Written and directed by Dean Graham, Leather is a cleverly-staged piece of new writing with some very strong performances and novel ideas. One of the finalists in the International Student Drama Festival, the play is set in a nondescript space comprising an office desk in one corner and a red leather sofa in the centre, all the action takes place on or around these few items.
The play centres around Gaius (Jimmy Morehouse) and his cocaine-addict girlfriend Venia (Amy Szypusz), a couple who inadvertently get drawn further into a criminal world of drugs and violence after Gaius and his Kiwi compadre Timo (Jack Bruce) steal a truckload of sofas that have hidden value. Despite the positives, there were some aspects of Leather that could be improved or developed. There are some issues with diction, and there are points at which it is very hard to understand or hear what is being said, and also some uncertainty with lines. That said, the cast managed extremely well when, for some unknown reason, ninety percent of the audience arrived five minutes late and traipsed in during an intimate, establishing exchange between Morehouse and Szypusz.
Overall, Leather is an engaging play with a committed cast. Strong performances from Martyn Horner-Glister as the Boss and Alex Danny Ridealgh as the dithering Vet add to the texture of the script, and the superb use of effects compliments its stylised nature. Graham is certainly a playwright to watch for the future.
Until 27th August
Edinburgh Fringe: Leather – C Nova,Tags: 2012, Abigail Smith, Alex Harvey Sporle, Danny Ridealgh, Dean Graham, Dean Tristan, EdFringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Joseph Murray, Leana Sherwood, Leather, My Son Tristan, New Writing, Nicholas Holden, The Lincoln Company, Theatre
5:37 pm on August 17th, 2012
I think you will find that this play has been written by Dean Graham and not Dean Tristan. I think the company is called “My Son Tristan”. I managed to watch this play in Sheffield at the ISDF (International Student Drama Festival) I enjoyed the performance then as much as I enjoyed it this time around. It’s quite a quirky play. I found it fast moving and full of dark humour.
Well Done to all!
8:23 pm on August 17th, 2012
Hi Linda,
Thanks very much for pointing that out. Our reviewer had taken the cast and crew information from a website that turned out to be incorrect, we’re pleased to say that we were sent the correct cast and crew list today. All errors have been corrected. Really glad you enjoyed the play!