One of Scotland’s most respected and prolific playwrights, Peter Arnott, wrote Shall Roger Casement Hang? 100 years after the 1916 Easter Rising that was its inspiration. Fittingly in the wake of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, it premiered as part of the 2016 Mayfesto at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre. Ten years on, this is its very first performance from Edinburgh-based independent theatre company Union Theatre.
Played out in the intimate space of an upstairs room with heavily beamed ceiling and wood panelled walls in a former Masonic Lodge that is now Hill Street Theatre, and directed by Hannah Bradley Croall, the two hander begins in Michael Mulligan’s simple but effective set of a desk and two chairs, with a set of gallows sitting symbolically behind the action on the stage space.
Following his arrest on return from seeking aid from Germany for the Irish cause of independence, diplomat and Irish Nationalist Sir Roger Casement (Paul Arendt) is being interrogated by his nemesis Captain Reginald Hall (Adrian Moore) for his suspected involvement in activities pertaining to an Irish uprising.
The perfect foil that was Sir Roger is captured convincingly by Paul Arendt who delivers powerful words reminding us that the UK nations other than England are given “… no thought until they think they’ll lose you” in the plummy English accent that the passionate Irishman used to climb the diplomatic ladder. The role of Captain Reginald Hall was more represented than portrayed as actor Adrian Moore played the character as a youngish Scot rather than a peer and also took on brief roles as Casement’s Northern Irish arresting officer and as a Catholic priest. His gift for shifting accents is notable but sadly some speech was unclear, not helped by it being delivered with his back to the audience at times.
The slide show midway through points up issues visually that had already been in the text so felt unnecessarily didactic. Its omission would have made for a shorter more concise piece without losing any of its powerful message about Casement’s affecting experience in the Congo, colonialism, homosexuality and national identity.
Hall getting up closer than might have been acceptable to Casement at one point was enough to suggest there was more than one closeted homosexual in the room, and spoke more eloquently than the overt accusation against Hall, whose use of power to expose Casement’s now disputed diaries to reveal his homosexuality resulted in an uncomfortable homophobic scene.
Founded in the wake of Arkle Theatre Company, Union Theatre aims to create a diverse fringe theatre community in Edinburgh throughout the year. Reviving this intense and highly political piece is important and not only sets the tone for their future work but offers serious food for thought during the disturbing times we live in.
Dates: 15th –19th June 2026
Venue: Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh
Running time: 90mins no interval
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 