Born Under A Bad Sign was my third show of three at Venue 3 at the Space On The Mile, but my spirits were high getting ready to watch a play about football and Men’s Mental Health, both things I myself am passionate about. What followed was just over an hour of lad banter, funny songs and football chants that brought a huge smile to the face, as well as some touching moments reminding us what the beautiful game is all about.
Four mates are die-hard football fans podcasting about the club they love: Third-division Invercrieff FC. Meeting after every game to talk football, life and nonsense, they slowly realise that the ties holding them together aren’t as strong as they once were. Is football life? Or has their passion for the game blinded them to what’s really going on around them?
Jordan Kielty is great as Jez Mannering. Jez is the one running the podcast, he does the intros and the sponsored segments, and you can tell football is his life. He is also very politically vocal and finds himself diverting most conversations towards social justice and anti-oppressor talk. Jordan is the least problematic of the foursome. He wants the podcast to gain momentum and believes it could be a business opportunity. Kielty captures this innocent optimism and manages to be incredibly endearing even though his ambitions are farcical.
Martin Mitchell plays Mark Thomson. Mitchell is left out of the first 10 minutes or so and joins the gang late, but still makes a large impact, he fits right in with the other lads, yet clearly doesn’t have as much riding on the weekly results of his beloved Invercrieff. Mark is able to distance himself, a skill the others haven’t managed to master yet. He occasionally makes trips to watch Manchester United with his friend, much to the upset of the other boys. Even though Mark is less involved in the die-hard mind-set, Mitchell never feels out of place and creates a character that is vulnerable and one that many different football fans, or outliers of friend groups can relate to.
Grant Ritchie portrays Gary Sanderlin. Gary has ambitions of moving away from Invercrieff to Edinburgh to do the same work for more pay. His yearning and unsettled attitude is something most audiences can sympathise with. Ritchie plays a mature and confident Gary, the leader of the group, and the one to gather the troops in time of hardship, or a defeat. He also manages to subtly play on Gary’s hesitations about moving, highlighting this as a weakness the proud Gary would rather be kept a secret.
Lewis Aitken is superb as Luke Carmichael. Luke is a loving man, in love with his hometown, his team and his mates. But he takes it as a personal attack when any dear friend makes mention of moving away and not being stuck in Invercrieff, an idea to him that doesn’t sound so bad. Aitken manages to make this character flaw feel incredibly understandable and the audience feel sorry for him; he just wants to keep things the same as they inevitably change around him. Aitken grasps his comedic beats with both hands, often grabbing the spotlight to sing a silly song or start a stupid chant, each one making the audience fall for him even more.
Matthew Attwood directs. He does a great job making the podcast actually feel like a podcast. The audience find themselves engrossed in the topic of conversation, agreeing, or disagreeing with the points being brought up. Clever staging is utilised to make the characters feel like they are in seats in the middle of a football game. Ian Dunn is a joyous cameo as Peter Robson; the Manager of Invercrieff, graciously answering questions after every game to the lovely Rebekah. Donna Soto-Morettini has written a brilliant piece, specifically designed for these four lads, about football, but not about football. More accurately about the culture surrounding football and the friendships we make along the way.
Overall, this piece is a triumph. The play asks should we let football be the centerpiece of the conversation, it can act as a nice distraction from everyday life, or is it better to open up and talk to your boys? Should football be all-consuming, or should we be more honest with each other and maybe get to know your fellow supporters? Is football the only thing you have in common? Probably not. It’s very encouraging to see a piece with young men talking about men’s mental health and using a sport that is so popular as the drawing point for more and more young men to receive the plays message and to be asked these important questions. This cast excels in everything they are trying to achieve. It’s funny, heart-warming, evocative and just the kind of thing that should be getting put on at the Fringe. A joy to watch, and something that can be enjoyed by football fans and non-football fans alike.
Get tickets for ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ below:
Theatre Scotland 
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