 Lynn Faces
August 1-26 - Summerhall During the opening weekend of the festival, the Royal Mile in Edinburgh was overtaken by a flash mob of people wearing masks featuring the face of Lynn from Alan Partridge. In the crowded landscape of the Fringe, where artists fiercely compete for attention and even a single ticket sale, this clever marketing stunt stood out. As an Alan Partridge fan myself, I hadn't heard of this show before, but the sight of Lynn's face everywhere piqued my curiosity and led me to immediately secure a ticket to find out what all the buzz was about. What I discovered was Lynn Faces, a new play by award-winning writer Laura Horton. The story introduces us to Leah (Madeleine MacMahon)-- painfully shy and struggling to recover from a toxic break-up with her boyfriend, Paul. In a desperate bid to reclaim her life, Leah forms a punk band with Shonagh (Holly Kavanagh) and Ali (Peyvand Sadeghian) inspired by Lynn from Alan Partridge, despite having no musical ability whatsoever, and bravely or foolishly takes to the stage at a local venue. The crowd doesn’t appear to be all made up of Alan Partridge fans, yet the connection between Leah and Lynn still feels clear and strong from the writing without relying on the viewers having to bring that knowledge in. Leah might see similarities between themselves and Lynn from Alan Partridge; Lynn is often belittled and manipulated by Alan, who is narcissistic and dismissive, much like her emotionally abusive partner Paul. Despite this, Lynn remains loyal and subservient, often putting Alan’s needs before her own. For someone coming out of a toxic relationship, this dynamic can feel all too familiar. Lynn Faces performs songs inspired by the abuse, cardigans, and challenges of Lynn. Their music channels the raw, DIY punk energy of bands like The Slits and The Lovely Eggs, infusing it with a sharp humour that transforms Lynn’s quiet resilience and everyday struggles into raucous anthems. The result is a performance that blurs the line between comedy show and punk gig, with the crowd cheering along—a testament to the band’s ability to turn the mundane, like an East Anglian Christian with a love for cardigans, into something both powerful and entertaining. 4/5 Lee Hutchison |
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