This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
Published on July 25, 2019, two Edinburgh-based playwrights are delving into the world of true crime in their latest productions. Caitlin McEwan's play, "Bible John," examines the 1968 unsolved murder case of three women in Glasgow, Scotland.
The play's narrative structure is particularly noteworthy, as it begins with four women playing present-day true crime podcast enthusiasts, only to descend into re-enacting scenes from the case, taking on the roles of victims and police officers. This format allows McEwan to explore the audience's desire for neatly structured stories and solutions, a theme that is particularly poignant in the Bible John case, which remains unsolved to this day.
"Narratively that is really interesting," McEwan said. "How do you tell a story as a theatermaker that doesn’t have an ending?" This question is at the heart of McEwan's play, as she seeks to challenge the audience's expectations and create a more nuanced exploration of the true crime genre.
Another playwright, Anna Drezen, is also exploring the world of true crime in her show, "Okay Get Home Safe!!". Drezen's show delves into her own love of true crime, as well as the ways in which the genre is marketed and consumed. "True crime is so centered around white, cis, straight women, and femininity being this unassailable virtue," Drezen said. "White women are in less danger than a lot of other populations — people of color, trans women — why is it that we’re so scared?"
