EDFRINGE REVIEW: The Eight Faces of Ellie Morrison (Dashboard Light)

The Eight Faces of Ellie Morrison – ★★★★☆ – Action packed 

Dashboard Light
7-29 Aug
Review by Rebecca Mahar
 
Touting itself as “the first mixed martial arts stage play,” The Eight Faces of Ellie Morrison from Dashboard Light rolls into the Fringe with raw energy and a whole lot of heart.

Promotional image: Dashboard Light.

Eight Faces is the debut of playwright Sam Beeson, who trained in MMA, including stepping into the ring to fight (and win), as part of the play’s development. It focuses on Ellie Morrison, a rockstar with a substance abuse problem, and her brother Luke, a promising fighter who left the sport for safer —but less fulfilling— work. Ellie’s agent strikes a deal to get her a world tour, contingent on her convincing Luke to sign a contract for one more fight against an undefeated champ. During a drunken conversation Ellie tricks Luke into signing, but tragedy strikes before he can sober up to find out what he’s committed to— and it’s only in the aftermath when all becomes clear that Luke must decide what to do with his unwanted opportunity.
 
It takes a while for the story to really come together, unclear at first whether this is Ellie’s story or Luke’s. The pacing is generally a little uneven, with sections such as the siblings’ extended conversation and descent into blackout dragging a bit, while other moments fly by without the time to firmly land. In the second half the play finds its feet, when we are firmly grounded in Luke and his choices, and excellent direction from Karen Arthur— even if it never quite becomes clear what the ‘eight faces’ of the title is meant to refer to.
 
The titular Ellie is played by Aislinn Evans, with the requisite swagger and bravado of her rockstar persona, and a thread of vulnerability underneath. Sam Franco and Sam Powley as (respectively) Ellie’s agent Jon Timber and fight promoter Justine Fore are distinctive in their supporting roles and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Will Windle, as Luke’s coach Cameron Able, is a little flat overall, but communicates the appropriate gravitas of the seasoned mentor archetype.
 
Beeson himself steps into the ring as Luke, with a sensitive performance to go along with his MMA skills. The climactic ending fight between Luke and champion Alex Kahn (Rhys Athayde) is unquestionably the high point of the show, cleverly choreographed (also by Beeson) and well-acted throughout by both fighters. Keeping up the story through that long of a fight isn’t easy, but Beeson and Athayde pull it off with technical and athletic excellence.
 
If there’s one thing The Eight Faces of Ellie Morrison needs, it’s a bigger audience. As good as it was, with a full house of spectators to feed energy and the reactions it’s due as a hybrid of theatre and martial arts, it could become phenomenal.
 
Running time: One hour with no interval
Venue: Forest Theatre at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236), 22-26 George St EH2 2PQ
7-29 August 2026 (not 16, 23)
Time: 8:45pm
Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-eight-faces-of-ellie-morrison

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