GRACE HATCHELL REPORTS FOR THEATRE VILLAGE
This August, one of Scotland’s most talked-about productions arrives at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and it brings with it a story that demands to be heard.
“When We Were Young”, a five-star rated production from Geez a Break Productions, will be performed at theSpace on the Mile every evening at 6pm (1st to 23rd August). It tells a harrowing, emotionally-charged tale of life inside one of Glasgow’s infamous ‘Young Teams’ — the tight-knit gangs that came to define a generation during a time the city was known as “The Murder Capital of Europe.”
Fresh from its first UK tour, the cast includes Liam Lambie, Dionne Frati, Ross McAree, Candace Nicholson, Elliot McLean, and Euan Ferguson, who together deliver a performance that’s been called “captivating” and “unmissable” by critics across the country. As the production shifts from humour to heartbreak, it confronts the human cost of gang violence and the harsh legacy of knife crime in Scotland.
This isn’t just theatre — it’s testimony. And in a time where knife crime is once again on the rise, the message is as vital as ever. In 2024 alone, over 3,200 knife or offensive weapon offences were committed by children — a 20% increase compared to a decade ago. “When We Were Young” doesn’t shy away from these facts. Instead, it dives into the roots of violence, masculinity, and social exclusion, offering an honest portrayal of those who were once written off — and what it means to grow up in their shadow.
The play is the work of Geez a Break Productions, a Glasgow-based, self-funded company dedicated to telling working-class stories with authenticity and heart. Their mission is clear: to make theatre that reflects real life, performed in theatres, schools, care homes, and beyond — always with original scripts and emerging Scottish talent at its core.
Tickets available now:
When We Were Young | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
For those who believe theatre should reflect the world we live in — this is essential viewing.
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