Does The Oracle Speak Truth?
★★☆☆☆ Confused
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53): Mon 24 – Sat 29 Aug 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
July2September’s Does The Oracle Speak Truth?, at theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall for the last week of the Fringe, is a praiseworthy attempt whose ambition is simply not realised.
A group of believers seek guidance from the Oracle, but their faith is being eroded. Who (and when) these people are is not clear.
The Oracle. Pic J2S
That the time, place and reason for any of this happening are never explained is not necessarily a bad thing. Plenty of plays set in unspecified times and places work very well.
The main problem here is that the apparent combination of ancient religion and modern people never coheres. The familiar combination of overly portentous, wilfully outdated language with modern slang might also succeed, but the cast don’t seem to believe in it, so it is unlikely the audience will. Characters get very exercised about others leaving ‘the group’ for the outside world, but since we have no emotional investment in their situation, the audience don’t care at all.
The writing credit (with Augustine Gall as head writer, and the rest of the company also named as writers) speaks volumes for a storyline that has no overarching control, and a vision that is difficult to make out.
This may all seem very harsh on a new, young company, but putting something as bewildering and apparently unfinished as this on stage does nobody any favours.
Not that it is all bad by any means. Gall’s direction has considerable interest, with extended sequences of movement having real intrigue. These sequences are too long (in a notably short play) and are not always performed with precision or even that much conviction, but the concept must be applauded, as must the use of space and slowness.
energy
With the non-speaking Oracle (Arachnie Donelly) twirling onstage and the rest of the masked cast (Robbie Mckerracher, Willow Shanley, Matthew Fotheringham and Andrew Doig) approaching at a funereal pace from the back of the room, the opening has an impact that augurs well. Eli Mitchell’s sound design and Clover Sneddon’s lighting create a real atmosphere, and it looks like it is all going to work. The rest of the play, with far too many entrances and exits, is far more confused.
The cast approach their roles with energy, even if there are differing ideas about register, tone and acting style. Shanley in particular has one late speech, complete with a barnstorming parade of archaisms, that is relatively successful, and hints at how the whole thing might have worked better.
There are definitely some things about this production that succeed, and there are hints of better. There’s probably some very clever themes about belief and human frailty under the surface here just waiting to be brought out. But as it is, it’s too messy to convince.
Running time: 40 minutes (no interval).
theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Theatre Number 1), Nicolson St, EH8 9DW. (Venue 53).
Monday 24 – Saturday 29 August 2026.
Daily: 10.45am.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Tickets direct from venue: Book here.
Instagram: @july2septembertheatre
ENDS
