Táin

This is an intimate, compelling and complex telling of a huge Irish tale. Both David and Mark are captivating in their delivery, conveying the messiness of war, greed, power, friendships and love with the skill and audience connection that we have come to expect of them. Their telling is not without humour and the themes they tackle are clearly as relevant today as they were when the story was first told. It’s so easy to be drawn in by these two exceptionally talented story tellers. Never patronising, they leave the audience to draw their own conclusions and connect the thematic dots. This is clever story telling at its best and the impact of the story will stay with you long after it has been told. If all that’s not enough, there’s homemade shortbread and whiskey to welcome you to the hearth. You won’t regret stepping out of the hustle and bustle of The Royal Mile and into the world of legend and wonderful story telling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some of the best story telling that I have ever heard and I've been to multiple of the Young Edinburgh Storytellers shows over the years. The show is very well put together but still includes some topical jokes to ligthen the mood, near perfect show all round.

This is a very differet approach to storytelling compared to last year's show from Young Edinburgh Storytellers. This is one single story, told in a very intimate setting, with a lot of eye contact and strong mood lights. It's a more intense affair, but it's promising to see the storytellers growing in ambition.

The performances themselves are strong. Both storytellers alternate between speaking/playing instruments, and the energy levels don't drop. Highly recommended (along with their other show, Land Under Wave)

Mark Borthwick and David Hughes can summon up an atmosphere in the blink of an eye, taking advantage of this intimate setting to evoke a fireside gathering. With a nibble of shortbread (including GF options) and a dram of whisky, audiences are placed into the hands of two expert storytellers and whisked into the world of Irish myth. Both Mark and David have an easy confidence and engaging presence that will have you rapt from start to finish. Tàin is a bloody epic whose telling, we’re informed, traditionally takes many nights. This version condenses the tale into one short hour, keeping a strong pace as the narrative drives forward to its thrilling climax. With pounding guitar and drums, impeccably-timed lighting changes, and a healthy dose of cheeky humour, the Young Edinburgh Storytellers have perfected a modern storytelling style which conjures up all the magic this story requires.

An ancient Irish legend is given new life by two vibrant performers who narrate the tale and accompany themselves on guitar and keyboard. Riveting! Five stars.

Saw this a few days ago and I’m still pretty consumed by the experience. It’s a gorgeous sensory experience on every level, the performances are magnificent and the ancient magic of the tales holds tremendous power and intelligence for such days as these. No spoilers, but a certain point was so tender, so poignant and urgently current that I was streaming with tears. I locked eyes with another woman in the audience who was similarly impacted and we could have been anywhere on Earth, at any point in history, both swept away with a shared grief and understanding. If you possibly can, do get along to see it. It’s a small venue and I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t completely sell out fast, so get your skates on if curious

Take an epic myth, two talented storytellers, mix in music, atmosphere & passion. Táin is delight from start to finish. Be transported from the fireside to ancient kingdoms and grizzly battlefields. Not to be missed, go and book your tickets now!! ☆☆☆☆☆

A dark, enthralling and captivating performance by the very talented Mark and David. An hour rich in beautiful imagery, music and warmth exploring themes of power, gender and prophesy. Go go go to hear this ancient myth wonderfully and sensitively retold!

Incredible performance by David and Mark, two accomplished local storytellers. Funny, intense, heart-warming, and heart-breaking all in one show authentically portraying this magnificent Irish myth. 10/10 performance, this is a must see for the Fringe!!