Eilidh Loan’s stunning new play, Cathy, premiering at the Traverse Theatre this Fringe, is inspired by the life of her own grandmother. The result is a moving, funny and deeply humane portrait of a Scottish matriarch navigating grief, family and the possibility of reinvention.
We first meet Cathy, alongside her daughter Flo, son in law Colin and granddaughter Amy, as Tommy’s funeral comes to an end. Gathered around a Chinese takeaway, their conversation gradually reveals not only the sort of man Tommy was, but the woman Cathy has been for decades and the woman she might yet become. As old frustrations surface and family dynamics are laid bare, Loan deftly explores the complexity of intergenerational relationships with warmth and honesty.
A devout Catholic, Cathy struggles to imagine a future without the man with whom she shared her life. Yet when an unexpected opportunity arises through the charity shop where Amy works, she begins to discover a new sense of purpose. What follows is a beautifully observed journey of self discovery finding genuine optimism in the everyday.
Loan’s writing is exceptional. The play is genuinely hilarious, packed with the kind of sharp observational humour and perfectly timed one liners that Scottish audiences will instantly recognise. Cathy’s gloriously unfiltered language, combined with Loan’s ear for natural dialogue, generates huge laughs throughout. Yet beneath the comedy lies a thoughtful exploration of loss and loneliness. The balance between humour and heartbreak is expertly judged.
At the centre of it all is a magnificent performance from Elaine C. Smith in the title role. Smith commands the stage from the moment she appears, creating a character who is at once fearsome, funny, vulnerable and utterly believable. Every line is delivered with impeccable comic timing, while the smallest glance or shift in posture reveals the emotional weight Cathy is carrying. It is a performance of extraordinary depth and one that reminds us why Smith remains one of Scotland’s finest actors.
Chloe Hodgson brings warmth and sincerity to Amy, whose relationship with her grandmother provides much of the production’s emotional heart. Michele Gallagher is equally impressive as Flo, capturing both the frustrations and fierce affection of a daughter trying to support a grieving parent while dealing with her own emotions. Alan Orr offers wonderful support as Colin, bringing a gentle humour and quiet patience that enriches every family scene.
A particular standout is Sally Reid as Lizzie, the charity shop manager who becomes such an important presence in Cathy’s life. Reid delivers a beautifully nuanced performance, finding depth and complexity in a character who could easily have been reduced to comic relief. Her scenes with Smith are among the production’s strongest, filled with wit, tenderness and an understated chemistry that proves utterly captivating.
Under Loan’s direction, supported by a superb company, Cathy never loses sight of the humanity at its core. It is a play about grief, but even more than that it is a play about what comes after grief. About discovering that life can still surprise us, challenge us and offer new beginnings when we least expect them.
Profoundly moving and gloriously funny, Cathy is one of the most accomplished new Scottish plays to premiere at this year’s Fringe. Through Loan’s outstanding writing and a career best performance from Elaine C. Smith, it delivers a powerful reminder that loss may shape us, but it does not define us. Life, the play insists, is for living, and Cathy celebrates that truth with humour and immense compassion.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
