Never Vera Blue – Summerhall

Laura Dos Santos is outstanding in maintaining this one person show through 70 disturbing minutes. Based on the stories of survivors of domestic violence, the play combines three main narratives: Little Red Riding Hood, a soldier at war and a Kent housewife. It takes time to appreciate where this is all going and how these stories knit together, but the investment is worth it. With an oval rug, light-stand, lights and gentle music we are taken around the world and into the belly of Mr Wolf. Dos Santos juggles this variety expertly in this challenging, echoing space; she paces forward to look us each in the eye to demand if we have any answers to her questions.

Gradually we realise her stories concern escape as she builds to the revelation of her own troubles. She frequently re-phrases to avoid words like “hit” and “struck”: “I didn't say that” seems to be a reflex defence response. She tries to insist she is 5 foot 5 inches, measured by a nurse, a medical professional, but has obviously been forced to doubt everything about herself. Director Caroline Bryant convincingly develops Alexandra Wood's script into a deceptively gentle revelation of one woman's plight.

Derek Benfield