Robert Stocks and Tommy Luther take the stories of William Burke and William Hare, Edinburgh's infamous serial murderers, and tell the story of the lies and greed that brought them to dismal ends, using puppets, paintings, drawings, and generous helpings of blood and gore.
Given that the show starts at half past midnight (when it's running on time) and played to an audience of only about fifteen, it was remarkable how much energy Stocks and Luther invested in their performances. Although there are brief moments when the performances lose a bit of cohesion or the script blinks out of coherence - mostly in the moments when murders or character changes are taking place - overall this is a very, very strong piece of work.
The Butcher and the Thief engages the audience on a multitude of levels - there's the horror-film aspect brought in by all the blood and guts, an historical/social commentary which begins with the first moments on stage, when they manage to recreate the bustle of 1800s Edinburgh city life, and emotional depth they bring to their roles. Because the script allows the audience to see events from the perspective of both men, the audience is also faced with the dilemma of whose version of events can be trusted. Stocks and Luther begin by casting Burke as the villain, but by the end of the show it's Hare who's shown up as the one who can't be trusted, and Burke quickly gains our sympathy thanks to some emotive and engaging acting.
The piece has a few minor shortcomings, but overall this is one late-night show that's definitely worth staying up for.