Cannibalism, gay rights and modern Russia

. . all this and many more areas of intrigue are part of the chemistry set that is this week's Oran Mor play.

Thoughts Spoken Aloud From Above is described as a 'surreal and fantastical and anarchic journey through contemporary Russia.'

And it all sounds as big as Russia itself. But how do all these elements come together in this play by Yuri Klavdiev?

"The story focuses around Oleg, a young ordinary Russian guy and begins with him going into the woods for some quiet reflection," says Simon Donaldson, who features in the play alongside Kirsty Stuart.

"But he decides to eat some magic mushrooms and they take his mind off in some strange directions."

Simon adds; "Or do they? We're not entirely sure if it's his real voice we hear or the drug-altered mind. Anyway that doesn't matter. What's important is that Oleg is a voice for the writer's thoughts on modern Russia.

"And what's inarguable is that this play would never be performed in Russia.

"As well as talking about war and human rights, Oleg throws around all sorts of thoughts and experiences which wouldn't be unleashed on a Russia stage such as cannibalism."

Where does cannibalism come into the mix?

"That comes about when he describes an experience he once had in the Antarctic?," says Simon, grinning. " Or did he have it? We're not sure. But it's all part of his journey."

Simon Donaldson is ideally placed to take on this theatre play, adapted by Peter Arnott, that challenges the audience to question both the reality placed before them and the concepts introduced via Oleg's distorted consciousness.

The actor from the Borders doesn't claim personal hallucinogenic that would put him at one with his character.

But he's had a life experience that's certainly opened the doors of his imagination.

Growing up near Melrose, Simon was an interesting teenager in that he was both a local rugby star and a performer.

He appeared in high school shows and went to appear in am-dram, (which is an often surreal world in itself.)

When he finished high school, Simon landed a place on an exchange programme to the States.

"I reckoned I'd go off to New York or Los Angeles for a year or so and adventure," he says, smiling. "But I was sent to Des Moines, Iowa.

"I had grown up in a village of 300, surrounded by farmland, and I ended up moving to a village of 300, surrounded by farmland. Except the area was flat."

Simon's American high school was just like in the films; kids lumped into groups - the jocks, the geeks, the cheerleaders etc, and he says this segregation was almost encouraged by the teachers.

"I didn't fit in to any group because I was a rugby player (he played for the South of Scotland) who also appeared in musicals and played guitar.

"But I loved the whole experience and the people were great. And it gave me a real confidence.

"I was never a wallflower, but this sort of journey really lets you discover yourself. And it focused me to apply for drama school, the RSAMD as it was, when I came home."

Simon graduated 14 years ago and has worked fairly steadily since, landing lots of radio work.

"I think the Borders accent helps with this," he says, grinning.

And he's appeared in stage countless times. Indeed he reveals he's starred in kids' show Jason and the Argonauts, on and off for an incredible nine years, a demanding (and rather surreal) production in which two actors play 23 characters.

"I've done it around five hundred times," he says of the show. "It does so well and I've actually appeared in forty seven states in America.

"The dream is to play in Hawaii and meet up with my actor girlfriend Ashley who's on tour in the States at the moment."

Simon grins as he reflects on his acting career, the sheer variety it offers in life.

"In one week I played an animated crow in a TV ad, an oil worker, and an Afghanistan war veteran with his face blown off," he recalls.

And now he's a Russian mushroom taker.

"Yes, and it's a great challenge because this is an exciting play.

"It's about Russia in the past, the present and what Russia may become.

"It's about the Big Brother aspect of Russia, and it's also funny and it's black."

And if you can't get laughs out of cannibalism, where can you get laughs?

"That's exactly right," he says, smiling quizzically. "But did Oleg get involved in cannibalism or not? You'll have to work that out."

€¢ Thoughts Spoken Aloud From Above, Oran Mor, until Saturday.