EDINBURGH FRINGE: The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart

How are your snow-making skills?

That’s the first thing you’re asked to do before multi-award-winning (and the Edinburgh Royal Lyceum's artistic director) David Greig’s madcap musical unleashes itself in what is said to be ‘the most sophisticated interior in Edinburgh’, the University of Edinburgh’s Playfair Library.

Its surroundings do nothing to prepare an unsuspecting audience of what is to come, however. What unfolds is far from sophisticated.

It’s an anarchic whirlwind of Scottish folk songs, a rather disturbing, decadent karaoke and rhyming couplets as Prudencia finds herself snowed in in the Scottish Borders, fresh from speaking at a conference on Hell in Folk literature.

The hard-working, multi-talented (and brave) cast members are mesmerising as they take on several, diverse roles, baring (almost) all for their art.

Expect to be astonished. After all, it’s the Fringe!

PS I certainly wouldn’t want to be the one clearing up after each show!

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is at the Playfair Library, Venue 311, until Aug 28. 14.30/19.30 (2 hrs 25 mins) £16-£25. Tickets: 0131 248 4848 lyceum.org.uk

Image: Ryan Buchanan