Crime and Punishment at The Studio Theatre Edinburgh****

West Yorkshire theatre company Northern Broadsides is to be praised for presenting Dostoyevsky’s massive tome in small venues with just three actors.

It ended its current tour in Edinburgh at capitaltheatres’ intimate Studio Theatre, with a  capacity of just 160, allowing audiences an almost immersive experience as the protagonist, a penniless student called Raskolnikov, kills in cold blood to survive.

Although it was obviously being produced on a small budget, we were far from being short changed when it came to the acting, in particular Connor Curren as Raskolnikov, who was totally convincing as the feverish, starving young man struggling with his conscience. We could feel his torment and see it etched in his gaunt face. 

There was no chance of Trudy Akobeng and Niall Costigan occupying their characters so deeply, however. They were playing too many, which is where the small budget broke down. There wasn’t enough definition between Akobeng’s four roles, though Costigan’s leap from detective to Raskolnikov’s mother with only the help of a head scarf and coat caused much amusement.

I hate to admit I’ve never read Crime and Punishment, so I can’t comment on director Laurie Sansom’s adaptation, but this little production has certainly made me curious enough to now right that wrong and I’d look forward to seeing a bigger production. I know a good story when I see it.

Image: Andrew Billington