My Shrinking Life

From October 2012

The last two plays that I have seen at The Traverse were about epilepsy and anorexia nervosa. The subject matter of My Shrinking Life is multiple sclerosis, so a triptych of sorts.

Alison Peebles is a Scottish actor who has lived with MS for 12 years and this play attempts to explain how it has affected her and attitudes towards her. I have to say it's not fantastic (the dance sequences in particular are plain bizarre) but three cheers for the National Theatre of Scotland for enabling shows like this to be presented. Peebles herself would no doubt baulk at the idea of describing her performance as "brave" but it must take guts to pour out her innermost feelings about life in front of an audience in the way that she does.

A special mention to the woman in the row in which I was sitting in who, the moment the light went down at the end of the play got up, forced everyone to stand so that she could get out before the curtain call. There was little sympathy from anyone when she tripped and fell on her arse into the row in front. Danger lurks for those who can't be bothered clapping.

My Shrinking Life, Traverse Theatre, until 3rd October