There is an obscene amount of new musicals debuting at the Fringe this year, but one has been the talk of the town, and that’s ‘God Catcher’. ‘God Catcher’ reimagines the story of Arachne, the most talented weaver in all of ancient Greece. In the myth, after defeating the goddess Athena in a weaving challenge, Arachne is turned into a spider as punishment. But is that all there is to Arachne’s story? The gods can be cruel, and who benefits when a story is told a certain way? ‘God Catcher’ explores the legacy of a woman who dared to tell the truth, no matter the cost.
Yna Tresvalles is incredible as Arachne or better known in this tale as Nini. Her portrayal is one which initially starts off with innocence and youth being the key components to the character’s drive, but then as the story goes on, loss, rage and revenge consume her. Throughout it all Yna’s powerhouse vocals, complex character portrayal and genuine likeability capture the audience with Arachne’s journey.
Ellie McConnachie supplies a beautiful, heartwarming performance as Agape. The maternal figure is clear, Ellie’s depiction of Arachne’s mother is delivered with such love and warmth. You truly connect with Agape’s relationship with her daughter and you believe it, despite the similar ages of both actresses. This is a stunning portrayal that truly makes an impact on the audience, making the unfolding of the narrative all the more heartbreaking.
Isabella Gervais brings a headstrong woman, with a splice of devious villainy and vulnerability as Athena. You feel the power, you can see the knowledge and also a sense of superiority over those who she surrounds herself with. This is a truly complex portrayal, where we see Athena as the goddess we know her, yet there is a vulnerability there, one which shows the torment that has lead her to “put her armour on”. You see past Athena’s actions for her brutal mistreatment. Isabella brings the light and shade out in Athena with such nuance, her presence doesn’t make you question the immortality of the character.
Rachel Macpherson’s Demeter does well to bring us the good in the gods. This role shows the humane side of those who hold the power to pull the strings of the humans who worship them. This is a lovely performance which contrasts the other depictions of the gods within this musical.
Adam Makepeace, Mackenzie Thacker and Adrien Spencer all play the Elders, the three do well to portray these characters defined by their religion. The stern and verging on stoic demeanor of the three characters is mostly portrayed in unison, which is truly admirable and works really well for the depiction the director intended for these characters.
Alistair Robertson portrays several characters within this production, as Idmon, he is a a headstrong father who loves his daughter, giving her the room to grow. As Zeus, he is a powerful being that holds no remorse. Both these roles show the versatile talent of Robertson, and also his vocal skill.
Colum Findlay is deviously devilish as Hermes, the god of mischief. They truly embrace the fun of the character and make every encounter with this supporting character a scene stealing moment.
All of the cast bar Yna double up as ensemble, and they help bring stunning vocals and energy to large numbers. The standard of talent from each individual is something which you expect of a West End or Broadway musical.
Becky Hope-Palmer directs this musical, and does so by not letting the Edinburgh Fringe’s limitations spoil the profound story ‘God Catcher’ holds, she relies on the talent of this cast and the creativity of the writers. Though the stage is not huge, she utilizes every inch of space and ensures that with a minimal set she can still tell Arachne’s story and do this brilliant musical justice. Cassie Muise and Tyler McKinnon write and produce ‘God Catcher’ with Matt Pilipiak assisting as Dramaturg. These three individuals have created a musical which could be forgiven as a future Disney masterpiece. The story of Arachne is told in such a charming yet powerful sense, with sublime music, with Shonagh Murray arranging beautifully with a minimalist band as musical director. This is a production unlike anything I have ever seen at the Edinburgh Fringe previously. It holds such potential that it would be a crime for this to be the final destination for this musical.
‘God Catcher’ is one of the best productions not only have I seen at the Fringe, but one of the best productions I have seen in 2023. This cast and creative team have utilized the source material of Greek Mythology and created a legend of their own. This is Fringe and Musical Theatre at it’s best. Catch this intimate version of the musical before it flees to a 1,000 seater theatre, which it undoubtedly will.
Playing until Monday 28th August, get tickets for ‘God Catcher’ here –
Theatre Scotland 
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