BAIRNS! Review Annie Davison Delivers a Fringe Triumph Full of Heart and Humour

BAIRNS! is an infinitely charming and unexpectedly heartfelt story of surrogacy and sibling love, served with a generous helping of knowing side eye. It feels like the essence of the Fringe, intimate and inventive, unafraid to show both its wit and its heart.

Written and performed by the magnetic Annie Davison, the play follows Lottie, who has made the ultimate selfless decision of becoming a surrogate for her sibling Freya and Freya’s partner Rory. It is an act full of love and generosity, with all the emotional complications that come with it. Davison leans into the messiness, finding humour in the awkward moments and tenderness in the quiet ones.

The audience takes on a unique role as the titular bairn (for the southerners, that means “baby”). We are there for every bump, kick and hormonal shift. This framing device pulls us into the story so we feel part of it, as if we are right there in Lottie’s head. Her inner monologue is biting and mischievous, often saying exactly what the rest of us wish we could in polite company.

Davison’s performance is extraordinary. She draws the audience in from the first moment and never lets go, holding the room with a mix of warmth, sharp wit and emotional honesty. Every choice she makes feels alive and in the moment, creating a connection that feels deeply personal. She commands the stage without ever feeling distant, making each audience member feel as though she is speaking directly to them. It is the kind of performance that makes you forget you are watching an actor and believe entirely in the person before you.

The show wears its heart on its sleeve, and the sentimentality is part of its charm. The warmth works in perfect balance with the quick fire humour, leaving the audience both moved and thoroughly entertained.

It is hard to imagine anyone seeing this show and not talking about it afterwards. BAIRNS! is an immaculate piece of theatre, and Davison’s performance is one to remember. You leave grinning, legs already itching to kick to Sean Paul’s Temperature.

★★★★★