Shotgunned at Assembly George Square Studio is a returning sell out, Fringe hit from 2024. Since then, the production has been on tour around the country. As part of the ‘Made in Scotland’ showcase, it arrives with impressive credentials. While there are some truly great moments, overall I’m not convinced it quite lived up to the hype.
It is a simple tale of a relationship told through flashbacks and snapshots. As the narrative jumps back and forth through time, we gradually piece the couple’s history together. The pair, played by Lorna Panton and Fraser Allan Hogg, are utterly engaging and believable. Panton plays Roz, a woman who initially appears to have her life completely sorted, projecting confidence and composure before her believable collapse. Hogg plays Dylan, the awkward, slightly geeky, and directionless guy with utterly loveable energy; their attempt at breakdancing is a moment of pure joy.
Matt Anderson’s direction ensures every scene feels authentic and the pace and energy never flags, even as the audience (and actors) sweat through the inevitable heat of this basement studio space. The story relies on minimal props, simple lighting changes, and well-timed, comedic touches, like the scene where the title Shotgunned is used, making the audience burst into laughter and punctuating a long, intense argument. However, I found the script somewhat predictable and obvious despite all the jumping around, and at times, it felt like I’d stumbled into an episode of EastEnders or River City.
We are on well-trodden ground, Pinter’s Betrayal, for instance, famously deconstructs an affair by running it in reverse. At points, I found myself wondering, “What is the actual point of this play?” Then, suddenly, I was pulled back in by a very touching scene involving a hilarious karaoke dance-off and it melted my heart. Had there been a few more inventive, unexpected moments like this dotted throughout, it would have elevated the whole narrative. Happily, the script redeems itself in the last scene, with a resolution coming years later that highlights the overarching theme in a very poignant way.
The rest of the audience clearly loved it, and the actors richly deserved their applause. This is the show for you if you enjoy relationship dramas, but for me, Shotgunned needed a bit more theatrical inventiveness to lift it beyond just an enjoyable hour at the Fringe.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
