Turn the Cloth at Gilded Balloon Teviot Review
Turn the Cloth is a new play that mixes Scottish folklore with 1980s horror films. The year is 1989 and the first storm of winter has just hit a small Scottish town. Four young women are due to gather in the village hall to follow the tradition of “turning the cloth”, a ritual that will keep the Kelpie at bay – a horse monster that will take on the physical appearance of a young woman’s dream lover and then lure her to a watery grave. The tradition adds that a woman who can resist the kelpie will soon find herself a husband.
As the play starts, two of the actors take to the stage, chanting a song in Gaelic – a voice-over sets up the story. It’s a little hard to follow as it’s muffled by the singing, but this is not a huge problem as it sets a suitably sppoky tone and all becomes clear as the action unfolds.
The superstition that’s been handed down through stories over the years is juxtaposed with one character’s love of horror films, shoplifting Lambrini from the local shop to drink whilst watching a VHS lifted from Blockbuster. This is Blythe, she’s a bit of an outsider. As we meet the other girls they are all wearing wedding dresses to complete their rituals, Blythe is wearing PJs, a Bowie T-shirt and a protective layer of bravado.
The four young women who make up the cast create distinctive and recognisable characters. There’s the believer, the cynic, the sensitive one, as well as Blythe’s rebel without an escape route out of the village. Their dialogue and interactions are very natural – speaking over each other, earnest, fearful and hopeful – their facial expressions giving away as much as their words. The actor playing the sensitive Kirsty conveys her emotions beautifully as her heartbreaking story unfolds.
There’s a bond between Blythe and best friend Moragh that it’s soon apparent goes beyond friendship, although this stays unspoken, something they can’t or won’t articulate in a very traditional community that relies on folk tales to push the idea that finding a husband is the biggest aspiration for a woman. This develops very well throughout the play – although in the tight performance space, some scenes between Blythe and Moragh may be difficult to follow as audience members further back won’t be able to see the two actors as they mostly sit on the stage for these key moments.
As the tension builds, secrets are exposed and difficult truths revealed and addressed, with clear direction, sensitivity and honesty – is the real danger the “horse monster” or the very same men in the village these girls are encouraged to pursue? The action is accompanied by sinister music and sound effects to draw us into the growing storm and the play’s conclusion after growing hysteria from the actors gives a genuine jump scare.
Turn the Cloth is a very well written play that delivers a good combination of horror and humanity. Running for just 45 minutes it has a cracking pace and packs a lot in - highly entertaining and thought provoking. The production supports UK-wide charity Strut Safe, a phone line staffed by volunteers who will offer a friendly voice to help you feel safe if you’re walking alone.
Turn the Cloth runs at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 31st August.
★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.