Storytelling takes many forms at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but some of the most captivating productions are those that invite the audience to become an active participant in the tale being told. Malaika Kegode’s Badgers, now premiering at the Traverse, does exactly that, weaving together folk horror, true crime and spoken word into a richly atmospheric theatrical experience.
The stage is deceptively simple. Positioned in a box-like space at the rear of the performance area sit the show’s musicians (Jakabol), whose live score proves essential to its success. From the opening moments, their contribution creates an unsettling yet seductive atmosphere, underscoring a story that moves effortlessly between reality and myth. By the time the narrative gathers pace, music and storytelling have become inseparable.
What makes Badgers particularly distinctive is its approach to narration. Rather than simply presenting a protagonist, performer Phoebe McIntosh invites the audience to step into that role themselves. We become Meles, a struggling podcast creator living in the shadow of her acclaimed journalist mother. When an opportunity arises to revisit the mysterious disappearance of a local musician a decade earlier, the investigation promises not only answers, but a chance to redefine a life that has become stalled by expectation and grief.
As the mystery unfolds, Kegode cleverly interrogates our fascination with true crime. The production asks pointed questions about ownership, exploitation and whether every story deserves to be unearthed. Running alongside this is a haunting folk tale centred on an enigmatic family song said to possess unusual powers. The result is a narrative that feels both ancient and modern, blurring the line between podcaster and storyteller, fact and folklore.
McIntosh delivers a wonderfully assured performance, guiding the audience through shifting tones and perspectives with warmth and precision. It is an impressive feat to carry a story so heavily dependent on the audience’s imagination, yet she does so with effortless confidence. Her performance never feels controlling, instead allowing us the freedom to inhabit the narrative ourselves.
Combined with the evocative live music, Badgers becomes far more than a mystery. It is a beautifully crafted meditation on memory, grief and the stories we choose to tell. Innovative without feeling self-conscious, and immersive without relying on gimmicks, this is a thoughtful and compelling piece of theatre that places its audience at the very heart of the adventure.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
