The End of Eddy, based on Édouard Louis’ autobiographical novel, is about the harsh reality of growing up in a violent, working-class environment; especially if you’re queer. Our four actors take us through the journey of Eddy’s childhood and teenage years. From being beaten at school to masturbating with his friends, we follow Eddy through his self-discovery and self-loathing.
Walking into the theatre, I was taken aback by the set. There sat a big white, tarpaulin sheet, carelessly placed over instruments and mic stands- it looked a bit strange. The cast walked on and stood upstage whilst the last of the audience walked in. The lights came down, and a projection shone onto the actors with the word EDDY. They then hoisted up the tarpaulin, so that it created a sort of igloo around them. I interpreted this to be a representation of Eddy’s mind and the actors were a representation of what was going on in his head. They played some lo-fi music using electronic beats, and a keyboard and they harmonized their voices. This set the tone for the performance before they began to tell the story of Eddy.
There are four incredible actors- Victor Ijdens, Jesse Mensah, Felix Schellekens and Romijn Scholten- who all give emotional and fantastic performances. The performance is in Dutch with English subtitles but after a short while, you forget. You don’t even realise your eyes are flicking between the screens and the stage because you’re so engrossed by the action. Whether they’re screaming, dancing or laughing, you can’t take your eyes off of them. These performers are masters of their craft!
They all switch roles continuously, each playing Eddy at different moments of his life. They also play his homophobic bullies, his drunk father, his depressed mother and switch flawlessly throughout. It didn’t feel messy or confusing as they all portrayed recognisable characteristics and embodied the character in every way. This showed the versatility and the talent of the actors- however, I think it did more than just that.
They all switch between the characters because their torment is shared. All of these characters come from the same place and share the burden of poverty and violence. Eline Arbo’s direction and our ensemble’s talent encapsulate this feeling. Édouard Louis’ story focuses not only on his own suffering but on the suffering of everyone around him. Everyone in his village shares the same pain. These characters are pretty horrible, but we can sympathise with them. Arbo has really hit the nail on the head when adapting The End of Eddy.
Arbo’s mix of music, text and choreography is breath-taking. Scenes with dancing and movement were accompanied by music to match the tone. For example, there was a repeated sequence throughout the performance where two of the actors would play their instruments whilst another actor began a sequence of swaying, where the others would then join one by one. This subtle sequence showed the audience how Eddy was feeling- repetitive, stuck in the cycle. I think Arbo’s direction was perfect!
The End of Eddy is a sad but hopeful tale, brought to life by talented performers, excellent direction and interesting design. The whole cast and crew are a perfect representation of the International Festival and the talent and culture we in Edinburgh are so lucky to host.
The End of Eddy is being performed at the Church Hill Theatre from 19th-21st of August.
Theatre Scotland 
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