Shotgunned - Review

Review by Jen Tucker

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

Shotgunned by Matt Anderson is a relatable and intimate two-hander about how the people we lose can shape who we become. A collaboration between Serpentine Productions and Kangaroo Court, Shotgunned tells the story of Dylan and Roz, a couple who unexpectedly fall out of love, taking its audience on a non-linear journey through their relationship. It is lightly comical, yet heartbreaking at times, exploring how someone can change your life without remaining in it.

The play starts at the end, with Dylan collecting his belongings from Roz’s flat. The short scene is a typically awkward reunion of exes, the uncomfortable atmosphere deeply relatable to anyone who has found themselves in this situation. We encounter Dylan’s sprightly zest for life, in contrast always to Roz’s dry cynicism. Knowing from the outset that their union will end in heartbreak, we then encounter the pair at different stages through their relationship, jumping nebulously from their best days to their worst, and, ultimately, its final moments. The effect is neat, but the potential of a fragmentary narrative style is underused. We discover the tragedy of what tore Dylan and Roz apart early on in the play, and unearth very little new information after this point. The demise of their relationship, especially considering the hardships they face together, is undeniably poignant, however, for me, Shotgunned lacks the powerful emotional impact it could achieve and the moving power needed to truly connect its audience to its characters.

Fraser Allan-Hogg as Dylan is fantastic. He embodies the character, a doe-eyed creative determined to star as an actor in video games, with an endearing affability. A nervous ball of energy, he waffles and word vomits whenever he interacts with Roz, charming the audience with his eccentric nature and knack for physical comedy. Lorna Panton plays a formidable counterpart as the grounded and sardonic Roz, and there are some moments where we see the pair bring out the best in each other. On the whole, however, amidst screaming matches and a blatant lack of empathy for each other, it is difficult to see what truly draws Dylan and Roz together in the first place. He is a passionate and persistent optimist, and she a defensive and guarded partner who seems annoyed by Dylan more often than charmed by him. Perhaps this is a purposeful decision, designed to illustrate why the couple are ultimately wrong for each other, but I felt it held the play back from achieving its full potential as a heart-wrenching tale of a relationship destroyed by time and misfortune.

The play’s ending was a particular highlight for me. Roz, guarded for most of the play, addresses the audience for the first time with a powerful monologue about her pregnancy loss, allowing her reserved nature to give way to a raw, honest and compelling emotivity. Lorna Panton handles this with stable and calm delivery, describing the events and effect of her miscarriage with a devastatingly matter-of-fact tone. It is captivating to encounter Roz behind the brave face she puts on, and to explore a loss experienced by so many women who are isolated and unsupported throughout their grief. After her monologue, the scene slips into one final encounter with Dylan; years after their breakup and both in committed long-term relationships, the two meet as Roz waits for her current partner in a hospital cafe. 

This scene was lovely, both characters having blossomed into versions of themselves that feel comfortable and well-rounded. Their reunion is gently nostalgic, yet leaves us with the certainty that their breakup was the best thing for both of them, allowing them to grow, albeit apart, into the people they were meant to become. As Dylan tells Roz he was ‘lucky’ to have known her, the play gently asserts its touching message: we are shaped by the people who know, love and hurt us, whether or not they stick around, and can be grateful for who we have shared our lives with regardless of the outcome. Despite the choices that at times hold this production back, Shotgunned is brimming with potential from its incredible young cast and charming story.

⭐⭐⭐.5

Shotgunned first toured the UK in 2023 and 2024, and was performed at Edinburgh Fringe in August 2024, where its actors received the Bright Spark Award for emerging Scottish talent. It returns to the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the Made in Scotland showcase, running from August 5th-30th at Assembly George Square Studios. Find tickets here.