REVIEW: Common Tongue (JGProducing/Ayr Gaiety)

Common Tongue - ★★★★☆ - Pure dead brilliant

Studio Theatre: Fri 3 Oct 2025
Review by Rebecca Mahar

Review commissioned by, and originally published on All Edinburgh Theatre, 3 October 2025. Edited by Thom Dibdin.

Intimate and multi-layered, Common Tongue is a robust – occasionally explosive – exploration of voice, identity and society’s disapproval of those who don’t speak “proper”, playing one night at the Studio as part of a Scottish tour by JGProducing in association with Ayr Gaiety.

Olivia Caw stars as Bonnie McKay, a Scots speaking Glaswegian, navigating life while proud of who she is and how she speaks. From childhood slap-downs at school, to teenage faux pas and a young adult’s incredulity, she becomes increasingly aware of others’ perception of her speech.

Common Tongue written and directed by Fraser Scott, performed by Olivia Caw. Pic: Peter Dibdin.

Visit All Edinburgh Theatre to read the full review!

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