Badgers review – the audience investigates in this true-crime podcast yarn
This review covers Badgers, a supernatural true-crime podcast-style theatre piece written and performed by Malaika Kegode for Theatre Royal Plymouth, staged at Edinburgh's Traverse theatre. The show casts the audience as an under-qualified true-crime podcaster investigating the strange 2015 disappearance of a folk singer, blending gothic fairytale elements such as cursed songs and human-to-animal transmutation, though the reviewer feels its wider purpose beyond storytelling is never quite made clear.
The narrative follows podcaster Meles Costas (whose name means badger in Latin), who is overshadowed by a high-achieving, terminally ill mother, as she interviews the missing man's landlady and probes whether he vanished after being cursed for stealing a song. The reviewer praises Kegode's charm and precision, along with Jenny Davies's atmospheric production and a live score from regular collaborators Jakabol, performed by Beth Roberts and Joe Williams, while concluding the show is enjoyable but not essential. Badgers runs at the Traverse theatre, Edinburgh until 30 August, before moving to Theatre Royal Plymouth (2-5 September) and Bristol Old Vic (8-12 September).
- Malaika Kegode's Badgers reviewed at Edinburgh's Traverse theatre
- Audience plays a podcaster probing a singer's mysterious 2015 disappearance
- Well performed but reviewer questions the show's deeper purpose
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Badgers is a piece of theatre by writer-performer Malaika Kegode, made for Theatre Royal Plymouth and being staged at the Traverse theatre in Edinburgh as part of the festival season. It presents itself as a true-crime podcast, drawing the audience into the role of investigator as they try to work out what happened to a folk singer who vanished in 2015, with the story mixing in fairytale elements like curses and people turning into animals.
At the centre of the show is Meles Costas, a podcaster whose own life, including a mother who is terminally ill, runs alongside her investigation into the singer's disappearance and a possible curse linked to a stolen song. The production also features a live musical score performed by Beth Roberts and Joe Williams, known together as Jakabol, who regularly collaborate with Kegode.
This piece is a review of that show, assessing how well the concept and performances work rather than reporting a news event. It matters to readers interested in theatre and the Edinburgh festival programme, since Badgers is touring on to Theatre Royal Plymouth and Bristol Old Vic after its Edinburgh run ends on 30 August.