Luscinia - Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026

​Luscinia takes Ovid’s ancient myth of Philomela and Procne and relocates it to the American South during the height of the Great Depression, transforming a story of sexual violence, silencing and revenge into a Gothic tale about women trapped within a fundamentalist religious cult. At its centre are three sisters, played by Grey Baker, Lauren Patten and Ella Kennedy, who must navigate their complicated love and hatred for Bo, the charismatic preacher who controls their community. AJ White makes Bo an especially sinister presence, a man who uses God and the Bible as justification for some truly vile acts. The question becomes whether salvation and freedom can ever come from the same man who has convinced you that you need saving.

Sisterhood becomes a form of resistance, particularly through Baker's stunning vocal performances. Their songs give the women moments of joy and community, but also become acts of lyrical resistance against the world that seeks to silence them. These are some of the most beautiful moments of the production, with Baker in particular showcasing an impressive range of talents and marking themselves as one to watch. There is a real sense that music becomes the one space where these women can reclaim their voices and their sense of themselves.

The production also incorporates puppetry and shadowplay, set against bedsheets blowing in the wind in the garden where the sisters spend much of their time working. Visually, though, this doesn't always match the power of the music. Having seen Devil's Point at last year's Fringe use similar techniques with much greater impact, the puppets and shadows here feel somewhat low to the ground and more like an atmospheric backdrop than an integral part of the storytelling.

The play itself is a slow burn, building patiently before erupting into a shocking and deeply sad final ten minutes. The ending perhaps feels a little too neat in the way it resolves the cycle of violence. Bo may be one man, but the structures that allow him to wield faith as a weapon against women are much harder to destroy. 
​
Lee Hutchison

4/5

Runs until August 28th at Main Space