Dribble ★★★★

The exhilarating tempo of Dribble is set even before the audience enters the venue. While queuing for the show, members of the cast come out, begin singing in Portuguese, and guide the audience to their seats. Dribble feels like a party even before the show begins.

Brazilian theatre group Cênica has meticulously crafted a joyous occasion that celebrates Brazilian football, its cultural heritage and the wonderful ways it is inherently linked to Scotland. Following the unfortunate drubbing Scotland suffered at the hands of the Brazilians at the World Cup this summer, Cênica has offered a conciliatory remark: Scotland did bring football to Brazil, after all.

The strength of Dribble is in its free-flowing structure. Evoking the idea of freestyle dribbling, the audience is led through a thematic journey that explores how Charles Miller, the founder of the São Paulo Athletic Club, first introduced football to Brazil. Miller packed two footballs and a rulebook with him; he subsequently laid the seeds for a nation that would eventually go on to adopt football as somewhat of a national icon. He also founded their Rugby Union.

From this point in the show, Cênica begins an ensemble-like collage of moments that have the atmosphere of both a celebration and a heartfelt insight into the lives of average Brazilians. The five times Brazil and Scotland have met at the World Cup are used as the backbone for these moments. Its structural simplicity is a crucial strength.

The performances are all stellar. Credit must be equally due to Beta Cunha, Glauco Garcia, Fabiano Amigucci, Ícaro Negroni, Diego Guirado, and Márcia Morellio. With such a large ensemble of actors, it’s easy for productions to get lost in trying to divide stage presence reasonably. Here, Dribble allows each actor to shine – one particularly poignant moment featured the story of an actor rehearsing for the show itself. He contemplates the importance of footballing identity as his father dies, an incredibly beautiful moment rendered with the utmost respect.

The set is appropriately ordained to look like a bar. A projector flickers through the previous football match-ups between the two nations. This is perhaps the production’s only false note. The projections can obstruct the performers, especially when they walk in front of them, casting shadows on the wall and obscuring the scene.

Otherwise, Cênica has crafted an ode to Brazil’s most significant sport – a delightful occasion that is marked by a delightful ending sequence. As the audience leaves the show feeling energised, the actors capitalise on it by inviting them to play a kickabout outside. As they engage with the actors, it becomes clear how well rehearsed, cared for, and crafted Dribble is. Cênica has bagged a hat trick with this show. Its ending is a justified rainbow flick over the defender.