Distance

Focusing on mental health and male suicide, the context of this play was set to offer a dark, gripping experience. The opening scene was encapsulating and instantly drew in the attention of the audience.

Steven, a young man heading for divorce, is struggling to keep himself afloat. On a train journey to a job interview, he bumps into an old friend and the story unravels from there. The scenes quickly flip from trivial small talk between two men, to disturbing images and clouded flash backs from Steven’s inner thoughts. These thoughts appear as disordered fragments, highlighting the complexity and confusion of his state of mind, further dramatised by a constantly moving set design and powerful use of lighting.

Whilst Adam Burton does a good job of portraying a typical, relatable bloke with problems, he could have gone further in capturing the true intensity of Steven’s spiraling situation and his feelings of isolation and despair. There was a missed opportunity in helping the audience to connect to Steven’s desperate situation and a slight cliche in portraying him as a violent alcoholic. That said, the play creates a gripping and compelling atmosphere throughout and addresses an important issue in a direct, down-to-earth way.