Review: Tartan Tabletop at 53two is ‘an extremely enjoyable dive into the world of Dungeons & Dragons’

Tartan Tabletop is a D&D podcast that began in December 2022.

Since then, the group has run two campaigns: The Lonely Cosmos and Red Christmas.  They’ve also had a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

For the uninitiated, Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role playing game- it is basically a game of pretend where the events are dictated by rolls of dice.

Despite the best efforts of the Dungeon Master (the person essentially deciding the rules of the game) literally anything can happen.

It is a game whose rules are decided by mischief, whether it is that of the dice or the players themselves.

Tartan Tabletop at 53Two

This is made abundantly clear from the moment Tartan Tabletop: The Never-Ending Quest- The Return begins.

Dungeon Master Josh Aitken expertly established the setting of Regency-era London and while he plays fast and loose with some details- who knew people were vaping back then?

He is a very skilled DM and his writing is descriptive and immersive, transporting the audience to a dank back alley or a bohemian den of iniquity with ease.

Alex Bathe played Oliver Cyst, the Party’s Rogue.

He is an Orphaned street urchin desperately searching for a family.

Alex Bathe’s incredible performance

Everything about Alex’s performance, from his perfect Dickensian orphan voice to his absolute masterpiece of a puppet, was such a highlight and had the audience in stitches.

While Oliver Cyst may not have a family, he does have a devoted partner in crime in the form of Noblin the Goblin, played by the wonderful James from local tabletop games events company, Dungeons and Flagons.

Because Noblin is a recurring character on the Tartan Tabletop podcast, James had big ears to wear! His interpretation of the character was a delight!

Oliver and Noblin are a cracking duo

Oliver and Noblin as a duo were so much fun and the energy he brought to the game was perfect!

Lauren McColgan played Mrs Green Eggs and Havisham, the Barbarian who’s unlucky in love.

The juxtaposition of a Barbarian and an old lady is sublime and Lauren plays into this perfectly. Her creative solutions helped to move the plot along in suitably insane ways that were so much fun to watch.

Lauren chooses her moments carefully with impeccable timing and she makes a huge impact.

The party is rounded out by the rakish bohemian Riminy Licket, played by Niall Curran. Perhaps the most unpredictable character, Riminy has hidden depths.

A playwright in a world where playwriting is illegal, he is used to suffering for his art.

Niall is so hilarious and his madcap moves had the audience belly laughing and staring in disbelief in equal measure.

Everyone at the table clearly has a deep understanding of the game mechanics but Niall especially delights in using his knowledge to torment his Dungeon Master and it is so enjoyable to watch.

“a perfect entry point for anyone looking to get into Dungeons & Dragons”

Tartan Tabletop is a perfect entry point for anyone looking to get into D&D, as well as being extremely enjoyable for a more experienced player. The story elements are as strong as the cast’s improvisation.

There are plot twists and silliness abound and it is impossible to predict what will happen next.

The best part of the show was how the cast interacted with each other.

It’s clear they’re all experienced comedians and D&D players, but they delight in the shenanigans as much as the audience does, making it feel like everyone is in the Adventuring Party.

Tickets for Tartan Tabletop

Tartan Tabletop is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next week. More information can be found by clicking here

Dungeons and Flaggons run board game events all over Manchester. You can get involved by clicking here