Double Act

Southwark Playhouse Borough

Playing until 5th April 2025

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Photo credit: Tanya Pabaru

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Presenting the duality of our main character’s thoughts, the audience is immediately introduced to the two voices, portrayed by Nick Hyde and Oliver Maynard in pierrot make up. This is intended to be the character’s last day on earth as he embarks on a journey to end his own life. Today is the day he takes control of his life in whatever way he could, and reflect upon his dreams and insecurities.

In a true double act style, the two thoughts fight for dominance, cutting each other or completing each other’s sentences at the beginning, introducing an element of light heartedness. This aspect is further consolidated through the first acquaintance our character meets. Fabian, a successful finance manager who has everything our character wants. A good salary, owns a house, married and travels the world for work. Rather than telling the truth about his actual work, our character makes up a story that he is an illustrator for children’s storybooks. This is revisited later when he decides to call his ex-girlfriend out for lunch at a MacDonald’s. In both cases, he tells made-up illustrated story of embarrassment and self-acceptance.

Despite the fact these themes are brought up time and again, it is clear that our character has only accepted part of this. He is embarrassed and accepted that he hasn’t reached his potential, but failed to recognise the things he has achieved and that there is still time to try something different. As the narrative progresses, our character meets those who show increasing level of empathy, including worried friends, family and strangers who offer a helping hand. Despite the maelstrom of internal negativity, the show does a fantastic job to highlight that there is goodness around us and all we have to do is reach out.

The two actors take turns to play the real-life person, as the other retreat slightly as the inner persona, while continue to collide with each other. Other than the two voices, they also take on a myriad of other characters that our protagonist meets along the way. While one voice attempts to keep our character on-track to reach his final destination, the other continues to find reasons and distractions to stall the journey. Hyde and Maynard display electrical chemistry, bringing forth the conflict, chaos and confusion in our character’s head. In particular, Maynard was exceptional at portraying an irritated and concerned ex-girlfriend.

The characters are supported by a set by Christophe Eynde that seems to recapitulate a puppet stage, which houses a large bin that contains most of the props used. This simple set fits well thematically with the pierrot style. Similarly, the sound designed by Frederick Waxman provides context for the audience, setting up the mood and location for each scene. Even though our character has moved from place to place, meeting different people, the music itself is still able to paint a clear picture of the environment and where we are, complementing an otherwise abstract internal thought process.

Despite the rather dark theme of the piece, Nick Hyde and Jef Hall-Flavin managed to weave in an abundance of humour and positivity without detracting from the depression. This play is an absolute gem, simultaneously stimulating and entertaining, creating a balanced approach that many have failed to achieve.

Creatives

Writer: Nick Hyde

Director: Jef Hall-Flavin

Set Designer: Christophe Eynde

Lighting Designer: Holly Ellis

Sound Designer: Frederick Waxman

Production and Stage Manager: Jasmin Meara Wall

Producer: Robbie Nestor