Tag: Playful Productions

Jack Lowden, Martin Freeman take The Fifth Step to Soho Place

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

Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss reunite for The Unfriend’s return to the West End

Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss are bringing The Unfriend back to the West End this year.

The show, from Playful Productions, will open in previews at Wyndhams’ Theatre on December 16 and will run until March 9, 2024.

Comedian and actor Lee Mack (Not Going Out) will take the lead as Peter, while Sarah Alexander (Jonathan Creek) will play Peter’s wife Debbie and Nick Sampson (Witness for the Prosecution) will play The Neighbour. Frances Barber (Silk) returns as serial killer Elsa Jean Krakowski.

While on holiday Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa: a lusty, Trump-loving widow from Denver, USA. She’s less than woke but kind of wonderful, so they agree to stay in touch – because no one ever really does, do they?

When Elsa invites herself to stay with the family a few months later, they decide to look her up online. But it’s too late: on learning the truth about Elsa Jean Krakowski, the deadly danger is already on a flight to London. What began as a casual holiday friendship is suddenly a threat to all their lives. 

Peter and Debbie now face the ultimate challenge of the modern world – how do you protect all that you love from mortal peril without seeming a bit impolite?

Because guess who’s coming… to murder…

Director Gatiss said: “You can’t keep a good serial killer down! I’m absolutely delighted that Elsa Jean Krakowski has found a home at the beautiful Wyndham’s theatre and very much look forward to bringing Steven’s hilarious play back to the West End.”

Writer Moffat added: “It’s a real thrill to welcome a couple of comedy legends on board The Unfriend, for our new run at the Wyndhams Theatre.  Lee Mack is one of the funniest men in the country and someone I’ve been wanting to work with for years. And Sarah Alexander is not just brilliant and hilarious, she’s an old friend from our days together on Coupling. Can’t wait to get started all over again.”

The Unfriend is designed by Robert Jones, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Ella Wahlström, video design by Andrzej Goulding and casting by Charlotte Sutton. The Unfriend by Steven Moffat was originally developed by Playful Productions.