EDINBURGH 2015- BWW Reviews: WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT, Underbelly, August 22 2015

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is the real-life story of Rebecca Crookshank's time spent in the Royal Air Force. Enlisting at just 17, she highlights how she is not yet old enough to vote but she can sign up to defend her country. Taking us from her basic training through to her stint in the Falkland islands this is a very interesting story.

Crookshank is a confident and engaging performer who plays a multitude of characters. I particularly enjoyed the military montage early on in the show! Set in the late 90s, the pop-tastic soundtrack for this piece is outstanding.

While parts of this play are hugely funny, they are balanced with much more serious issues. The sexism and misogyny that Crookshank experienced (in the name of "banter") is disgusting and hard to watch. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is really emotional at times and that is down to the performer. You can't help but like Rebecca Crookshank and it is unsettling to listen to the emotional turmoil she felt during her time in the RAF. This section is where the light/dark balance really shines and we meet Crookshank's stuffed penguin mascot who inspires her to follow her own path rather than that of her military family.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a heartfelt and beautiful piece of theatre. At times it is unsettling and uncomfortable but that is what makes it so thoroughly brilliant.

Ticket information for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is available on the edfringe website.