The tense 60 minutes leading up to the pivotal first speech by the Scottish foreign minister post-independence referendum are painstakingly imagined in Spoiling, a fraught two hander.

The realtime play follows the compelling power struggle between the newly appointed minister’s desire to speak from the heart and her aide’s brief to ensure that she toes the party line.

It’s a race against time with the pared down set, polarising opinions and enclosed stage acting almost as a battle ring serving to effectively focus the audience’s attention.

With just over a week to go until the referendum takes place, Spoiling casts an interesting view of how issues of nationhood don’t just stop at achieving independence.

It’s bound to challenge your preconceptions and make you consider more closely the effects of the outcome of September 18.

Spoiling runs at Theatre Royal Stratford East until Saturday. For more information, visit stratfordeast.com

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