Lardo (Old Red Lion)

Watching this frankly insane new drama set in the world of Scottish wrestling, you'd never guess it was the debut play of a 58 year-old former banker. But that's precisely the story behind this highly enjoyable if rough-and-ready show making a big noise in the tiny Old Red Lion.

The audience are packed around a wrestling ring, where the colourful cast of characters fight for supremacy in the dog-eat-dog world of 'Tartan Wrestling Madness'. King of this particular jungle is a sadistic former wrestler called Stairs (Nick Karimi), who podgy prodigy Lardo (Daniel Buckley) must try and impress in order to achieve his dream of the big time.

Lardo's girlfriend Kelly (Laura Darall) frets – understandably – about the dangers of his chosen profession; she has a baby on the way and is all too aware that Lardo's own father met his maker in the ring. But nothing will hold back our hefty hero, who hopes to become a YouTube sensation by trash-talking established acts such as Whiplash Mary (Zoe Hunter) and Wee Man (Stuart Ryan).

The fight scenes are highly impressive; credit to director Finn Caldwell and his cast for going full tilt – it feels genuinely dangerous at points. And designer Max Dorey deserves a hand for squeezing a convincing WWE-style ring into the intimate space.

The production still needs some polish and the narrative doesn't always hold water; a subplot romance between Stairs and health inspector Cassie (Rebecca Pownall) feels contrived, while the other wrestlers are thinly drawn.

However, there is bags of promise and originality on offer. Aforementioned banker Mike Stone is clearly a man to keep an eye on.

Lardo continues at the Old Red Lion until 29 March