‘Don’t let them think you’re weak, Nicky… Don’t be a girl, Nicky,’ is the line that echoes throughout ALRIGHT SUNSHINE – a resonant and personal exploration of identity, generational legacy and the entrenched sexism within the police forces with PC Nicky McCreadie (Molly Geddes) at its core. As an officer in Edinburgh, Nicky takes immense pride in her role in protecting her city – we follow her day and she talks us through the typical folks she encounters – dog walkers, elderly residents out shopping, students etc. We hear how she feels that the rare appearance of the sun across Edinburgh Meadows disrupts the city’s routine and as the sunshine floods across the park, it also begins to expose the cracks in Nicky’s carefully constructed facade. 

She tells us about her father, once a model officer himself whose voice, expectations and ideals reverberate in her head. His mantra was to never show weakness and this has clearly shaped her both personally (we hear of her recent partner, Rob urging her to take a holiday to which she scoffs that he ‘just didn’t get it’) and professionally, with her fierce commitment to the police forces rooted in early childhood memories focused on discipline and strength. We quickly understand that everything she does is to prove herself in the male dominated environment she spends her days, but despite her attempts, misogyny remains a constant, unescapable presence. As the play goes on, we witness as she begins to confront and unpack the identity she’s been so painfully and bluntly told to suppress. Molly Geddes gives an outstanding performance capturing Nicky’s inner conflict with raw authenticity and never (seriously, not even for a second) dipping in energy or impact – keeping us completely invested from the get go. 

ALRIGHT SUNSHINE is an incredibly compelling, moving play that tackles institutional sexism and gender expectations within the police force with real nuance. Rather than attempting to address the complexity of the topic from a broad, overarching perspective, it takes a personal story, one shaped by family history and the fight to belong. It’s this originality and intimacy in the storytelling that makes ALRIGHT SUNSHINE even more impactful and distinctive in what it is communicating to us.

Don’t miss this gem! ALRIGHT SUNSHINE is on at The Pleasance Dome til 24^th Aug. Tickets available here.