Troubled Waters review at Cygnet Theatre

Catherine Hurcombe immerses herself in an evening of tales from the riverside.

What makes us so connected to our waterways? And have we forgotten the stories they used to tell us?

I went to Exeter’s Cygnet Theatre last week for this intriguing one-woman show from Bristol-based actress, Corinne Harragin. Exploring the folklore that connects us to our rivers, lakes, and seas, Troubled Waters invites the audience to hear a series of stories about the magic and fairytales lurking in the water’s depths.

Each of these five standalone stories was told with humour at its heart, whether it was the tale of a fishwoman’s battle with the local priest, or a goddess lurking along the riverbed. The audience were in good spirits, and even got involved in the performance themselves in the way of offering sound effects!

Even though I’m not typically much of a theatre-goer, I do love a good story, and the whole show had a feel of being gathered round the campfire, listening to a folk tale. Yet it was no less relevant to the times we are living in. Troubled Waters reminisces on a past where water was seen as the lifeblood of communities, but with an undercurrent of warning about the loss of these natural spaces in the face of the climate crisis.

If you’re a fairytale fanatic, looking for something a little bit different, this is a nice and interesting evening out!