Tartan Tat follows a group of employees at a Scottish souvenir shop, commonly found on the Royal Mile, as they find themselves in the middle of an online controversy that throws their normal lives into the air.
The new comedy writing from Lex Joyce and Isla Campbell is a breath of fresh air. It includes the issue of Edinburgh’s growing rent prices that are impacting young people of the city; while simultaneously making you belly laugh at the relatability of the characters.
It opens with us being introduced to Harris (Jed Bury), who is a new start that is used as a lens for the audience to get a glimpse into the hilarious characters that make up the store. The high strung manager Kayley (Jess Ferrier), just has one important rule, don’t let Arran (Lex Joyce) interact with the customers. Although, when Harris has to run to the bathroom and no one else is around to watch the tills, he is left with no choice. Arran will be fine for one minute, right?
Chaos ensues when Arran’s interaction with a customer gods viral for all the right (or wrong) reasons. Protests erupt outside the shop and Kayley decides to cash in on the situation, while the theatrical Millie (Freya Anderson) becomes Arran’s new social media manager and coaches him on how to deal with his new found fame. In the meantime, Orla (Robyn Reilly) is secretly dealing with homelessness and the unaffordable housing crisis facing Edinburgh residents.
The humour and character behaviours are reminiscent of a blend between It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Still Game, and it has the potential of a binge-able sitcom. The characters specifically, are incredibly well written and have a beautiful relatability within all of them.
Tartan Tat appeals to both Scottish audiences and tourists, as it gives a peak behind the curtain for tourists into what life is like for locals, while including Scottish inside jokes that are quintessential to cultural zeitgeist.
Tartan Tat, 14.20, The Space, Until August 20