★★★★★
If you want to see strong, powerful acting in the fresh air, this show is for you. If you want to learn about the mind-expanding influence of Edinburgh on the father of evolution, this show is for you.
The tour takes us through areas of Edinburgh that would have been familiar to Charles Darwin whilst he studied Medicine at Edinburgh University from 1825 to 1827. It comprises a series of short walks interspersed with acted scenes from 16-year-old Darwin’s life. Starting at the Darwin Plaque, the location of Darwin’s former lodgings we first meet Angus Miller, our narrator and guide. We are in safe hands as he is a Geologist who normally leads guided Geology walks around Edinburgh (and further afield in Scotland) and is well equipped to also briefly play James Hutton, the father of Geology whose work in the 18th century would have been known by Darwin. Next, we meet Jane Westhead who hilariously plays Darwin’s motherly landlady, Mrs Mackay. Mistress of the withering look, she also turns out to be the Writer and Director of the theatrical ambulation. She has created a witty and authentic series of conversations between Darwin and his landlady, medical school tutor and taxidermist, based upon researching the archives of Charles Darwin’s original letters.
Charles Darwin is confidently played by rising star, Aaron McVeigh, a 15-year-old school boy from Linlithgow who just last week received his exam results. Freed slave, John Edmonstone, who teaches Darwin taxidermy, a skill that later becomes very useful during his trip on HMS Beagle, is played by Marshall Mandiangu. A man with a fine voice, his performance includes singing a solo and leading the whole group in singing the Eriskay Love Lilt as we arrived at our destination, Dynamic Earth. Professor Grant is played by Billy Quain, a Bristol broadcaster, actor, and musician who is more often found on the set of television hospital dramas playing an array of injured patients.
En route we visited many hidden gems: Old College of The University of Edinburgh; the site of the former medical school; past the Flodden Wall, The Hutton Memorial Garden; Bauks View (of Salisbury Crags) and part of Holyrood Park. I am almost reluctant to share these as like a very special quiet place, you do not want everyone to discover it and spoil it. After the walk, we all ended up in the tea room at Dynamic Earth where the cast encouraged us to draw up a chair and chat to them which is how I found out so much about these wonderful, talented people.
Review by Iona Erskine
