“50% of Britain will be Eastern European by 2018.” Do you believe this? Or do you laugh at the ignorance of people who do? On The Line: Media is a piece of theatre that consists of a debate, about taking an article from newspaper The World of News about an “immigration invasion”, and talking about it on a news show. We meet an arrogant, middle class news presenter, the editor of the newspaper who holds views to support an all-white patriarchal society, a liberal intern at the newspaper who is disgusted by the article, and a builder who believes everything he reads and has decided to build a wall around his town to keep the “foreigns” out.

This show is 45 minutes of satire showing how corrupt and unfair some of our media systems are, and the shocking fact that many people still have close-minded ideas without reliable facts or reasons to back up their arguments.  Helen Bauer, who played the journalist, and Louise Bastock playing the intern, have dexterously written and directed this short piece with continuously witty jokes throughout, which  hit us with reality that even though we are in the twenty-first century our society still is not equal and fair. Some of these ideas, such as special women sections in magazines/newspapers covering how to be beautiful by losing weight and wearing certain clothes, and racists mixing with people of other races and getting along with them but still wanting them out of our country, are the kind of sexist and ignorant happenings we see every day – and usually let pass us by. Here, however, they are brought to light by the jokes in this short piece of theatre.

The acting in this show was all positive, with Edward Yelland playing Hugh, the editor of the newspaper,  portraying a stuck up business man with a compelling ease, looking down the intern’s cleavage when someone else was talking.  Giving off an ignorant and racist stereotype with greasy hair, scruffy suit and poor speech, William Simpson portrays the character of Tom the builder. For such a satirical play, this character could have been taken further and been even more exaggerated, like the character of Hugh.

If you want to see a play that is moving and exciting this is not the choice, as it feels as if though you are watching an extreme episode of Big Questions with not much happening other than seriously funny comments, and frustrating arguments rather than something with a big climax and traumatic ending.  However, if you want something light that still makes you think and will not leave you sore from sitting down for too long catch this humour-filled piece during  theEdinburgh festival at PBH’s Free Fringe.

On The Line: Media is playing at PBH’s Free Fringe until 24 August 2013. For more information and tickets see PBH’s Free Fringe website