The Effect
by Lucy Prebble
Feb-Mar 2015
In partnership with Heart of Hawick
Connie Scarlett Mack
Tristan Cameron Crighton
Lorna Pauline Knowles
Toby Jonathan Coote
Director Richard Baron
Designer Ken Harrison
Lighting Designer Matthew Eagland
Sound Designer Jon Beales
​
Supported by Creative Scotland
The Effect was an exciting opportunity for Firebrand to produce the Scottish premiere of a moving and unconventional love story from the author of the smash hit Enron... Connie is a psychology student. Tristan is a charming drifter. Both have signed up to a clinical trial for a new antidepressant super-drug. Sealed off from the outside world, the attraction between them turns into deeper feelings as their doses get stronger. They’ve been warned of side effects – can they trust their feelings, or is this just a chemical romance?
“A quartet of ferocious performances” The Herald
“Compelling…lucid…riveting…superb” The Guardian
“Impressive…outstanding performances” The Scotsman
“Dynamic staging and energetic performances… thoroughly entertaining and beautifully balanced” TV Bomb
What the audience thought:
“Enjoyed the hell out of The Effect. Acting-nailed it. Set design-nailed it. Lighting design-nailed it. Sound design-nailed it. Costumes-nailed it. Direction-nailed it. Will eagerly await the next production. Husband and I compared the quality to a play we saw at The National in London.” Misha Fontenot, Facebook
“Absolutely brilliant. you choose the best plays and the best actors. Completely absorbing, thought provoking. loved it.” Anne Jepson, Facebook
“Really enjoyed it, multi layered, thought provoking, brilliantly acted and staged. Looking forward to the next production. Thank you.” Derek Lunn, Facebook
“I loved watching this play tonight! Everyone NEEDS to watch it - I'll be thinking about it all week end!” Kirsty Jobling, Facebook
“@FirebrandTheatr @EllieZeegen Watched “the effect" @TronTheatre. Absolutely brilliant! Vital
theatre” Umar Ahmed, Twitter
“This production takes Firebrand to a new level and is evidence of how far the company has come is such a short time. A brilliant performance from the cast, ambitiously produced and deftly directed. We are so fortunate to have people of vision and commitment making a place for theatre in places every part of the community” Jim Ferguson, Facebook
Toured February-March 2015
Heart of Hawick
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
St Boswells Village Hall
MacArts, Galashiels
Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
Fullarton Theatre, Castle Douglas
Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
Birnam Arts, Birnam
Summerhall, Edinburgh