Promised to be the “hottest new venue in town,” Summerhall’s Sauna Theatre is a conceptually innovative space that hosts a multitude of sensory performances such as club sessions, comedy shows, and storytelling sessions. This is where I experienced Mysteries of the Picts, an immersive experience which depicts the many theories surrounding the rituals and healing remedies of the Picts, an ancient tribe who lived in Scotland until the 9th Century. The performance linked the Pictish tradition of bathing in sweathouses to the creation of the modern sauna, suggesting that their ancient rituals influence contemporary wellness habits.
The show combines storytelling with ‘Aufguss,’ a technique originating in Germany and Austria, where ice and water infused with essential oils are poured onto hot stones to form steam. This is distributed throughout the sauna via dance, as performers waved branches dripped in the oil-infused water, wafted fans, and twirled towels in a hypnotic motion. The oil-infused water was continuously poured onto steaming rocks throughout the performance, allowing it to crackle and sizzle away.
The show consisted of three segments, each lasting roughly 10 minutes. Between each segment, audience members took cold showers and cold plunges before heading back inside to the heat. Cold water was also supplied at the bar, and drinks were available to buy. The juxtaposition of the boiling sauna and the outside temperature was definitely refreshing, and very necessary to avoid overheating. In terms of practicality, the venue supplied flip flops to borrow, and participants could rent swimwear and towels. Additionally, they provided secure lockers and some private changing facilities to accommodate everyone.
The show was unlike anything I have experienced at the Fringe, however I do think a large part of the performance is reliant on the venue itself, and sometimes the factual details concerning the Picts were somewhat vague — although this may be due to the orality of their culture, which was emphasised by the performers.
Despite this, Mysteries of the Picts is an immersive show that links Scottish history and heritage to modern sensory rituals, and it is a truly unique experience to learn and feel these rituals inside the Sauna Theatre.
Mysteries of the Picts is running until 31 August at Sauna Theatre at Summerhall. Buy tickets here.
Illustration by Lucy Osbourne, provided to The Student for press use.
