The Matchbox
by Frank McGuinness
Feb 2018
In co-production with The Byre Theatre, St Andrews, and Heart of Hawick
Sal Janet Coulson
Director Richard Baron
Assistant Director Ellie Zeegen
Designer Ken Harrison
Lighting Designer Wayne Dowdeswell
Sound Designer Jon Beales
Firebrand’s production is the Scottish premiere of a spine-tingling and darkly witty new solo play about a mother’s journey through grief, revenge and the temptations of evil by one of Ireland’s greatest living dramatists.
The ties that bind can never be broken and the shocking events that bring Sal to exile on a remote island off the coast of County Kerry are as unexpected as they are brutal. Her compelling story begs only one question: what would you do if pushed to the very edge? Following her acclaimed performance as The Pilot in Firebrand’s “mesmerising” production of Grounded (**** The Scotsman), Janet Coulson played Sal, with haunting original sound and music by composer Jon Beales.
“Compelling… Coulson excels” **** The Times
“Outstanding” **** The Scotsman
“A meditation on loss, grieving and revenge” **** The Herald
**** ReviewsHub
**** Edinburgh Guide
**** Broadway Baby
What the audience thought:
“Saw this the other evening at @traversetheatre, a fantastic show! @janetcoulson is incredible!”
Simon Devon, Twitter
“Compelling performance by @janetcoulson and superbly directed by Richard Baron @EllieZeegen”
Rob Robertson, Twitter
“Saw #TheMatchBox at @traversetheatre last night. Deserves every star and more. Smouldering performance that’s stoked into a blaze by @janetcoulson and @FirebrandTheatr”
Katherine O’Donnell, Twitter