Review: GUT, Tron Theatre, Glasgow

Gut by Frances Poet begins with husband and wife Rory and Maddy talking to Rory's mother Morven. They left their three year old son with her while they had a break away and are keen to hear the details of what they got up to in their absence. Morven describes a fairly typical trip to a cafe and then lets slip one unusual detail that causes concern. Rory and Maddy obsess over this until it starts to consume them and it raises the question "who can you trust with your child?".

The cast is made up of Morven, Rory, Maddy and The Stranger. The Stranger played by George Anton is a man who is seen to pose a threat but for no other reason than the sound and lighting gives him an ominous presence. Maddy has grown suspicious of any man near her child and you start to wonder if she's being paranoid or if the threat is genuine.

There is an interesting social commentary here as Morven (played by Lorraine McIntosh) remarks that when she raised Rory, you trusted other people to help raise your child. Neighbours and shopkeepers were required to keep an eye on them. Maddy argues that it isn't safe to do that now and you must protect your child at all times and keep them close. The cast all give a powerful performance that is worthy of the emotive script.

Gut isn't an easy watch. The subject matter is unpleasant and it makes for a very tense 90 minutes. Though it is subjective whether Maddy is overreacting, her actions are definitely extreme and at certain points you could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium as the audience quite literally held their breath. Gut has been well written and taps into human fear with chilling and unsettling results.

Gut is at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 19th May.

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