As you enter the Gilded Balloon castle (AKA Patter Hoose) you come across hordes of eager festival-goers; you try to find your tribe, you roll a perception check, and… nothing. The stereotypes don’t exist. You can’t see any spotty teenagers with obscure reference t-shirts, sweaty palms rubbing against jeans their maws bought them; your jaw is on the floor at the number of attractive people gathered in one placeβ¦ Stereotypes, eh?
Then you hear it, the call for Tartan Tabletop and lo and behold a queue forms and it’s… magical. Elves, Goblins, Dwarves, Orcs, an unimaginative human, lining up TOGETHER.
And THAT dear readers, is how it should be. The fabulous folk at Tartan Tabletop have created a show that literally everyone will enjoy, from unashamed D&D loving nerds like your ol pal Lou, to the curious, who have only before heard a tale of the game and want to see wit it’s aw aboot.
With each show being completely different and a roster of pure dead brilliant guests for the run, t’would be impossible for me to spoil one iota of what these cats have produced. These are not just game enthusiasts you’ll be watching, they’re each incredibly skilled at improv, acting, and timing. When I went with my husband (who was very sad that he forgot to wear a D&D tee), we were treated to an hour-long quest through Randy’s Room where the toys can come to life!
NOTE: EVERYBODY’S TOYS HUV ALWAYS CAME TAE LIFE, IT DIDNAE JUST START HAPPENIN IN 1995!
Anyhoo… We laughed, we gasped, we felt sorrow for our little plastic pals, and we laughed some more. Tartan Tabletop is a cracking show with a cracking cast and, with shows selling out right across the realm of Festival Land. You best get in there quick.
If youβre a bit sensitive to bad language, innuendo and big dice energy, then Iβd avoid taking little kids. Otherwise, gaun yersel.
Gilded Balloon Patter House β Nip 9th till 26th August (excl. 14th & 21st) 17.40
Words by Louise Holland
