Well this was the easiest 5 star review I’ve given so far at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe! Written and starring Liam Lambie, this Geez A Break production of “When We Were Young” is an outstanding piece of work.
Set in the 1990s it focuses on four friends from Glasgow bonded by loyalty to each other, a loyalty which eventually leads to tragedy. The play tackles the issue of knife crime head-on and captures the violence, the strong language and the humour of the time. Amidst all the darkness there’s a lot of laugh-out loud moments. The script is funny when it needs to be and equally as sharp as a knife when it inevitable has to be.
Despite the fact that the four lads are trying to be hard men, the play shows the vulnerability of all of them when facing different situations. It is so believable and sadly it is easy to relate to all the characters because we probably all know youngsters like them. Something which starts as a bit of fun for them all soon changes into a very dark situation, and like many gangs back then, and indeed now, dealing with the inevitable consequences is something which many find hard to do.
It gives us a very realistic insight into what is happening all the time in certain parts of major cities across Britain. While most people will make sure they keep well away of this, the need for power and controlling people will be irresistible to many kids, and unfortunately some of them won’t survive if they carry on travelling this pathway.
While a 16+ production because of the violence and the language used, I would perhaps dare to reduce that to 12+ controversially and tour it round schools. A short sharp shock is sometimes all it takes to make an individual change course from a path of personal destruction. The best time to get that shock is at an impressionable age and if even one youngster who felt a life of crime is for them, driven by the possibility of financial benefits and power, saw this and decided a change of course would be better, then this play will have done its job.
A word too about the girls in the cast who shine brightly in this, and to the sound and lighting team who are as much part of the success of this as the actors. It really is a team effort for which they should all be proud. These young actors and actresses will surely go on to greater things in their career. The ride they put themselves through night after night must be draining both physically and emotionally and that was apparent after the curtain went down when one of the cast was visibly moved while delivering a well-delivered speech to an audience who were extremely impressed by this wonderful piece of work.
There is a part two bringing things up to date and I cannot wait to see it. I feel so proud of everyone and I have no connection with any of them. It is a show I stumbled across and I am so impressed with what I have seen. It is a must-see and already as the time of writing this review I am thrilled that they have sold out their last eight performances. The show runs til 29th August, and if you are even remotely interested in the subject I do urge you to get yourself a ticket.
