Living the Dream at theSpace on the Mile Review
Living the Dream is a new play by Steel Antler Theatre and New Celts Productions debuting at this year’s Fringe. The year is 1997 and Oasis are at the top of their game with their Be Here Now tour on the horizon. Meanwhile, best friends Scotty, Spider, Ryan and Adam are at a crossroads. Their whole lives lie ahead of them, but the events of 24 hours force them to confront their fears, relationships, and futures… and the possibility of getting Oasis tickets.
The story opens in a hospital, as Scotty (Niall Thomson), Ryan (Reagan Walker) and Spider (Tom Rees) anxiously wait an explanation as to why Adam (Myles McKenzie) has been so unwell. Over the coming hours, the men each reveal their own challenges to their friends- from the struggles of drug addiction to the fear of being the one who has the opportunity to leave their hometown. At its core, this is a coming-of-age story about male friendship. The four performers handle the emotional weight of each situation well, with the more intense moments of violence and aggression being used sparingly as not to overwhelm the audience.
Though the subject matter is serious and at times bleak, the script and direction does well not to languish on this too heavily and incorporates many moments to lighten the tone where appropriate. Michael Johnson’s well-paced script and Meghan Wallace’s clear sense of direction mean that this 60 minute runtime goes by quickly, while still allowing audiences time to process the emotional beats of the show. Though the story is grounded in gritty realism, audiences leave the venue with a sense of optimism for a brighter tomorrow, and the reaffirmation that everybody has the chance to change their future for the better.
Living the Dream is an insightful and thought-provoking piece. In amongst the glitz and glamour of Fringe’s more high-profile productions, Living The Dream truly holds its own as a hidden gem that speaks to society as a whole, asking the difficult questions and challenging our perceptions of what it means to face the future.
Living the Dream runs at theSpace on the Mile (venue 39) until August 29th (even dates only)
★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.
