Eion Ryan spent the majority of his time “trawling” the streets of Edinburgh during the Fringe dressed in a shark suit with a billboard on his back to hand out leaflets and promote his debut solo show Trawled. A superb way of getting your show profile seen in an “ocean” of shows.
Twenty-five years ago, Irishman Eion Ryan had been backpacking his way across Australia. In need of extra money, he had managed to “blag” his way onto a prawn fishing boat, based out in the Coral Sea. Sounds like an idyllic place to fish. However, Ryan knew absolutely nothing about the fishing industry or how to work on a trawler. He soon realised what he had let himself into and the long days and hard physical labour took its toll on every part of his body.
The storyline can be harrowing in places and the treatment he endured at the time at the hands of the captain and the other two crew members was cruel and abhorrent. Drinking, fighting and storms appeared to be a standard part of their day in between fishing and occasionally sleeping or being seasick. Although they had regular visits from the Sea Authorities.
The toxic environment quickly turns into a violent situation and he is forced to think on his feet if he wants to survive after all accidents can happen out at sea and who would ever have known the truth?
Trawled would be a good play that could transfer very easily into a short film. The description and images conjured up as Ryan explained where he had been at sea would make for some fantastic dramatic scenes on the big screen. Especially when the boat encounters certain sea life and the boat gets into trouble.
Overall the storyline is interesting and unlike anything else I saw at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. I would have liked to see more energy from Ryan in the dramatic scenes as they would benefit from coming alive.
For more information about Trawled please visit the links below.
Four Stars.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/trawled-when-adventure-becomes-survival
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
Leave a comment