EDFRINGE REVIEW: On Some Far Shore (Cross Keys Productions)

On Some Far Shore – ★★★½ – Reflective

Cross Keys Productions
7-22 Aug
Review by Rebecca Mahar
 
On Some Far Shore, a new musical from Cross Keys Productions, is a quiet, reflective exploration of grief in parental loss, and figuring out how to carry on.
 
Set on the eve of his mother Helen’s funeral, the musical opens with Euan trying to write her eulogy. Despite being a talented writer, he’s stuck, unsure how to capture her story, and all the stories she told him that have shaped who he is. With the aid of his girlfriend Isla, he begins to pick through the pieces, striving towards the unknown shore of the future— and of a past whose memories are irrevocably touched by loss.

Promotional image: Thomas Perry (Euan) and Francesca Knoop (Isla). Pic: Cross Keys.

Written by Louis Benneyworth and Madi Bouchta, with a score by Benneyworth, On Some Far Shore tackles its difficult subject matter with care. The focus is on Euan’s internal struggle and relationships with Isla and Helen, rather than Helen’s decline and the trauma of her death. While there are many poignant moments and some very solid writing throughout the show, it does suffer from some muddling of characterisation, particularly when it comes to Isla.
 
Isla’s sole purpose in the musical seems to be to support Euan, which might be expected from a significant other in this context, but she repeatedly accuses him of not feeling, of running away, and of being negatively impacted by his mother’s parenting style. These barbs come out of nowhere and seem at odds with who she’s set up to be— including when she apologises “for leaving before” as if she’s stormed off, when she’s just gone downstairs to try and get some work of her own done, giving Euan space to focus on the eulogy. 

Thomas Perry as Euan. Pic: Cross Keys.

Helen too at one point exhorts Euan to allow himself to feel, but Euan has been feeling deeply the whole time. Thomas Perry’s portrayal of Euan is full of emotion: grief, confusion, frustration, anger, love, and “not wanting to be a bother” even in his time of need. If anyone shows a desire to run away and displays unfeeling moments, it’s Isla. This doesn’t seem to be the intention of the play, but it’s what comes through: rather than balancing Euan’s grief with the stress that dealing with it undoubtedly places on Isla as his girlfriend, the script comes close to villainising her. 
 
The production claims to utilise shadow work and puppetry, but they barely get a look in. There is one very clever scene where a story told by Helen (played with whimsy and heart by Nicole Palka) is illustrated using plastic sheeting, a toy boat, and some well-chosen lighting (this also being one of the outstanding songs of the piece), but it is brief and the only such occurrence. A set of small, blue-checked pyjamas on sticks appear, but are not utilised for more than a few seconds or for any clear purpose.

Nicole Palka as Helen. Pic: Cross Keys.

Despite the shortcomings of the script and a few production choices that could do with another look, On Some Far Shore achieves a great deal in a short time. Its songs are simple without feeling over-simplified, full of rich imagery, speckled here and there with literary references, and performed beautifully by the cast. In the tiny Mint Studio at Greenside George Street, co-directors Bouchta and Adam Paterson have managed to make the show make spatial sense (though even in this extraordinarily intimate venue, Francesca Knoop’s Isla can be a bit too quiet). 
 
On Some Far Shore is full of potential, making a brave foray into the dark water grief, and how to weather its storm.
 
Running time: One hour with no interval
Venue: Mint Studio, Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236), 22-26 George St EH2 2PQ
7-22 August 2026 (not 16, 23)
Time: 10:25am
Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/on-some-far-shore