Is This Your First Crime?, theSpace on the Mile Review
Long Face Theatre’s Is This Your First Crime? takes its audience into a police station’s interrogation room as Tim Flint is questioned over fires happening across Edinburgh.
The piece, which gives major Hot Fuzz energy, excels thanks to its cast, being able to glide through the script with ease. A mention has to be given to Xander Arron-Gonzalez and Jed Bury as the dim DI duo of Wilson and Summerville, knowing when and unsuspectingly how to push the buttons of DCI Thorn (Lewis McLauchlan). Whilst Jonah Sorsbrie as Dr Stiltskin provides the chaotic energy which pairs well against Cameron Millar’s Tim's more subtle comedic styling.
The script, whilst being a stronghold of the piece, sadly did not pay off as well as expected. A few jokes didn’t quite seem to land, but this could very well be an audience issue; with another group, the six-seven line would’ve killed, so don’t put this down to the company. Besides this, the script flowed very nicely, giving enough time to each character and letting them add fire to the flame of chaos. My only complaint would be the inclusion of the pamphlet that Tim finds in the first ten minutes, never really opening it or relating back to it.
It also has to be said that Long Face has almost started a trend of having a musical number in their shows. Last year being cast by an enchanted whiteboard, this year as an interrogation method that also pays homage to The Muppets Most Wanted. I do hope they continue with this almost tradition, as it was a true highlight of the piece.
Is This Your First Crime? is a satirical look at the lengths police will go to, even if on the weird side, to get the outcome they want, but it isn’t always right.
Is This Your First Crime? plays at theSpace on the Mile until 29 August.
★★★★
Written by Kerry for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.
