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Strange tales, then and now
Separated by centuries and countries of origin, ANGUS REID sees two quirky plays with a common thread in confronting social and political issues
LIGHT TOUCH: Luna Dai and Robin Khor Yong Kuan in Strange Tales. [Tommy Ga-Ken Wan]

Strange Tales
★★★
 I Can Go Anywhere
★★★★
Traverse Theatre Edinburgh

WHILE other theatres offer panto, the Traverse is serving up two helpings of bold new writing that chime as much with the political season as with Christmas.

What can you do when a man has no heart? is a topical question to ask about any number of Tories and it comes to mind watching GridIron Theatre’s adaptation of Pu Songling’s 17th-century Strange Tales, which gives a Chinese twist to this Dickensian dilemma.

What is done to resolve it here is to seek out the poorest and most despised beggar on the streets, prostrate yourself, endure their insults and eat their phlegm.

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