To Save the Sea | Short Review

The latest piece by Scottish Musical Theatre company Sleeping Warrior, To Save the Sea, charts the successful Greenpeace campaign in 1995 against Shell's plan to dump the Brent Spar oil storage container in the North Sea. 

Running at 90 minutes, this fast-paced production is proudly partisan in siding with the Greenpeace activists who occupied the oil store. In its stronger moments, the piece captures the drama of events, including Shell’s efforts to drive the protestors from the Brent Spar by using water cannons. The musical also boasts a nice line in comedy.

Unfortunately, writer Isla Cowan’s characterisations of the activists are frustratingly two-dimensional. However, composer Andy McGregor’s music itself is varied in both style and impact.

Blessed with an excellent cast that includes acclaimed Scottish Musical Theatre performers Helen Logan and David Rankine, To Save the Sea is an imperfect agitprop musical, but, ultimately, a winning one.

To Save the Sea is touring various venues in Scotland until 2 November 2024  – for information and tickets, visit sleepingwarriortheatre.com

Production credits

To Save the Sea by Andy McGregor (music, lyrics), Isla Cowan (story, lyrics)

Tron Theatre, Glasgow, 26 September 2024

Starring David Rankine, Helen Logan, Ewan Somers, Kara Swinney, Matthew McKenna, Katie Weir, Nathan French, Kaylah Copeland

Directed by Isla Cowan, Andy McGregor