Everything Under the Sun

Magnificent Show!

Fantastically written, gripping and engaging. The play discusses a topic that many not seen before. The acting was brilliant, from the actor playing the translator who was engaging, to the UN officer who was emotionally invested and the third actor who was jumping from character to character with big ease.

Big well done to all of them for such a great show!

I'm afraid I don't understand what made this award winning. It was ok. The 2 main actors - the female army officer and interpreter were good. The other actor was really amateur and unconvincing, sashaying about with little stage presence (except interestingly for the last character he played). The staging is very basic and there is little dramatic tension (except for last main scene).

It was pretty forgettable. Probably 2**.

Also I hadn't realised that I was buying a ticket for an army run event. At an army venue. That might not work for everyone, though it's an interesting concept.

I have noticed that only positive reviews make it onto Ed fringe so wonder if this will make it past!

Everything Under the Sun (****)
A British U.N. peace keeper is sent on a mission to a remote base across the Sahara in Mali with an native interpreter who helps her better understand how the locals (and many other Africans) think about peace keepers. The pair confront situations that demonstrate how they care for Mali, but can be frustrated. The disturbing decision by the U.N. to leave Mali in June, and be replaced by the Russian Wagner mercenary group makes this tale all the more relevant, and heartbreaking.


This is the 10th most enjoyable of the 122 shows I have seen so far at the Fringe this year. I hope to see almost 200.

HIGHLY recommended! A very well written and superbly acted play that lays bare prejudices, power imbalance and both the necessity and tragedy of limitations that UN peacekeeping missions carry within them. The distinction between those who come to help (or profess to do so) and those for whom this IS their life, becomes painfully obvious when the UN peacekeer corrects interpreter Ibrahim with a categorical "we are not at war". Though-provoking - and hats off to the army for commissioning and staging such a self-critical piece!

Highly recommended. A substantial, urgent, thought-provoking drama which tells the story of a journey to northern Mali by a UN peacekeeper and her interpreter. Beautifully written, thoroughly researched, the production quickly draws us into its world, opening a window for Edinburgh audiences to a neglected yet crucial story, the failure of France and the UN in Mali and the apparent triumph of corrupt politicians in league with the world’s greatest force for cynicism and chaos - Russia and its gangster mercenary arm Wagner PMC. At the centre of this bleak, poetic desert story, Thierry Mabonga gives a riveting performance as Ibrahim, betrayed in the end by his UN employer, embodied with great effect by Rebecca Wilkie. Bartosz Pol is the chilling Wagnerite. Jack MacGregor is proving to be among Scotland’s most exciting young theatre talents with this vital, tense, eye-opening show. See it.