Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) and Martin Freeman (Sherlock) will reprise their roles in the West End transfer of The Fifth Step, which will run for a strictly limited season at Soho Place.
From Neal Street Productions, Playful Productions and National Theatre of Scotland (NTS), David Ireland’s play was originally performed as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2024, and has been developed further by NTS for its West End debut.
Directed by rising star Finn den Hertog, associate artist at NTS, Freeman and Lowden (pictured top with den Hertog) will perform in-the-round space at Soho Place. Lowden is Luka and Freeman plays James in this funny and unflinchingly honest drama about addiction, masculinity and faith.
Step 1: honesty. Step 2: faith. Step 3: surrender. Step 4: self-examination.
After many years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James agrees to become the sponsor of newcomer Luka. On the journey to sobriety, the pair bond over black coffee, trade stories, and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences.
On the cusp of Step 5, their conversations must turn to confessionals, with progress hinging on Luka revealing secrets that could lead back to alcohol. But it’s clear that James also has dangerous truths in his past, truths that threaten the trust on which both their recoveries depend.
The Fifth Step is produced by Neal Street Productions, Playful Productions and National Theatre of Scotland in association with Nica Burns.
The Fifth Step will run from May 10 – July 26. Details: www.thefifthstep.co.uk
