Theatre Thoughts

5 STARS

Eoin Ryan has lived an interesting life. To say the least. Trawled – When Adventure becomes Survival is a story of epic proportions. And it’s true. 25 years ago Ryan was an Irish backpacker wanting a life of adventure. He travels to Australia and gets a job working on a fishing trawler. He was not prepared for the endless hours of hard labour, drinking, sharks and no safe working procedures to speak of. It really is a story of survival, as Ryan is essentially held captive on the trawler with nowhere else to go.

The story that unfolds is complex, troubling and in parts absolutely heartbreaking. It’s clear Ryan deeply cares about telling this story and giving the audience the best experience possible. He’s a new performer and this is his first fringe but he’s absolutely nailed it. He doesn’t get phased by people entering and leaving and is able to keep up a fast and consistent pace for the show.

The lighting design was lacking – and I know this is fringe and there’s usually not a lot of time for these things but it appeared Ryan really struggled to find his light in certain scenes. It was a little distracting. The set itself however, was very effective, clearly building the world inside the trawler giving the audience an insight into what life was like for Ryan all those years ago.

I think this work is particularly topical in a time where workplace attitudes are changing and we are questioning the way we’ve been treated and how we are valued in our workplaces. The treatment Ryan endured was appalling and I really hope the industry has changed for the better.

‘Trawled’ is a play that cannot be missed. I would love to see where Ryan is able to take this. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what’s next.

Morish TV

5 STARS

This is a most wonderfully gripping show with a true story that keeps you interested as a young Irishman takes to the sea and while enjoying his sea travels and gets stuck in where help is required his mental health is soon quickly tested in this fantastic but thought provoking show that you must see at this year’s Fringe and received a well-earned 5 stars from Moreish TV
 

One4Review

4 STARS

A one-man biographical play, written and performed by Eoin Ryan, detailing his harrowing experience on board an Australian prawn trawler in 1999.

Eoin is an engaging storyteller, full of Irish blarney, and begins by recounting his early days playing hurling for Wexford, a sporting career cut short by injury. Following this, he is wrongly accused of making a series of abusive phone calls, which were in fact made by someone else using his name. Against this background, and having got himself into college, he decides to take some time out working in Australia to raise money to fulfil his dream of visiting Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, he has too much of a good time down under, and not only does he not save enough money to get to Machu Picchu, he cannot even afford his passage home. In his desperation for cash, he blags his way onto a trawler in the Coral Sea, despite having no experience, and where his fellow crew members are weed-smoking, heavy drinking weirdos. The trip is fraught with danger and unexpected challenges, leading up to a pivotal moment when Eoin can almost visualise the tombstone recording him as ‘lost at sea’.

This was the first performance, and there were moments when the delivery and dramatic tension were slightly under par, but nevertheless the play’s uncompromising language brought to life an exuberant story of adventure, crisis and survival, culminating in a moment of redemptive grace and I would recommend catching it.

Theatre Film & Arts

​​4 STARS

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.

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