Play of the week: Ciara, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Dramatic: Ciara juggles deft observation, dark psychology, bitter humour and violent melodrama

The Traverse's festival centrepiece is a complex, rewarding dramatic monologue by David Harrower, charting the changing psychological landscape of the streets of Glasgow through the story of a gangster and his journey from ordinary decent crime to drug-dealing.

That sounds grim, but Harrower juggles deft observation, dark psychology, bitter humour and violent melodrama, formidably served by Blythe Duff's performance as the gallery-owning daughter who begins as a sardonic scrutineer of the scene and slowly emerges as involved. As director, Orla O'Loughlin navigates a skilful path through the jump-cut writing.

0131 228 1404, to 25 August