Review: OF KITH AND KIN, Crucible Studio, Sheffield

The world premiere of Of Kith and Kin, a new play by Chris Thompson, marks Robert Hastie's second production as director since he took over the reins at Sheffield Theatres. The play is an intimate look at family, offering both a great deal of humour and real emotional heft.

The story centres on the decision of Daniel (James Lance) and Oliver (Joshua Silver), a gay couple who have been married for some time, to start a family. Their close friend Priya (Chetna Pandya) is acting as surrogate, using a donor egg fertilised by one of the men - although no one claims to know which.

We open with the trio enjoying a last-minute baby shower and revelling in their shared decision. However, a visit from Daniel's mother Lydia (Joanna Bacon) causes tensions that soon escalate into something much more severe, leading Priya to question the arrangement they all made about the baby.

Action switches from the domestic to the court room, with heated exchanges demonstrating real dexterity in both the writing and performing. Here, Bacon switches roles to lawyer Carrie Kerr, with Donna Berlin playing a no-nonsense magistrate.

The scene is explosive and demonstrates both the moral complexities of the case at hand and the frustrations of family law for the different parties concerned. The scene offers a brilliant example of back and forth between Daniel and Carrie Kerr, although some parts of it feel far-fetched.

Throughout the play, relationships that were seen as solid are put to the test as questions are raised about what family means, the impact of biology, and how strong the bonds of friendship and love are. The play is not afraid of ambiguity - nor of having characters with serious flaws. Indeed, all of the characters can be incredibly frustrating, yet not to an extent that takes away their relatability.

Characters hurl accusations at one another, their barbs always stinging with the essence of truth, and ask each other important questions to which there are no clear or easy answers. The relationships are well drawn, and I particularly liked the emphasis on what characters don't - or can't - say being as revealing, if not more so, than what they do.

The set is sparse but well realised, and I enjoyed neat little touches like Daniel and Oli genuinely playing Just Dance on the Wii rather than interacting with a blank TV screen. The production is well paced and makes good use of the theatre's layout, with the audience gaining a slightly different perspective depending on which angle they are sitting at.

The cast is uniformly excellent, with Lance in particular carrying the show in the lead role. His Daniel has echoes of Aidan Gillen's Stuart in Queer As Folk, updated for the 2010s. The direction ensures the play remains pacy and that the lines land as they are intended, with real punch.

This may not be a perfect play - what is? - but it is a very entertaining one that will leave you thinking about your own relationships and the varying impacts of family and friends on our lives.

Of Kith and Kin is at the Crucible Studio, Sheffield until 7 October and at the Bush Theatre 18 October-25 November

Photo by Mark Douet.