Cathy review – snappy comedy with a perfect role for Elaine C Smith

<p><strong>Traverse theatre, Edinburgh<br></strong>Writer-director Eilidh Loan takes inspiration from her grandmother for this portrait of grief and religion</p><p>Eilidh Loan marked her arrival as a playwright with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/feb/21/moorcroft-review-tron-glasgow">Moorcroft</a>, a tremendous male-centred comedy inspired by her father’s amateur football team. Now she has moved up a generation to write a female-centred family comedy inspired by her grandmother.</p><p>It was the older woman who stipulated that her character – the Cathy of the title – should be played by Elaine C Smith, a decision so spot on it suggests that she missed her calling as a casting director. It’s hard to imagine an actor who could better embody Loan’s vision of a newly widowed working-class woman whose grief is veering towards depression. She lands Loan’s jokes – acerbic and sharp – with battle-hardened precision.</p><p>At <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cathy">Traverse theatre, Edinburgh</a>, until 30 August</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/edinburgh-festival-2026+tone/reviews">All our Edinburgh festival reviews</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/aug/10/cathy-review-snappy-comedy-elaine-c-smith">Continue reading...</a>