We’re Staying Right Here – review

We’re Staying Right Here from debut writer Henry Devas is a immersive manic black comedy that explores some really dark issues that affect people in society.

The play Stars Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), Danny Kirrane (Pirates of the Caribbean), Tom Canton (Wasted), and Liam Smith (End of Love).

This small theatre near Finsbury Park Tube Station is transformed into what looks to be a squat. ( It’s actually not that different to the tunnel you need to pass through to get to the Park Theatre). The door and windows are barricaded, a person asleep in a sleeping bag, empty beer cans are strewn across the floor, half-empty Smirnoff bottles, a microwave sits on a fridge, an overflowing bin next to an empty buggy and a ladder. The scene is grim.

Enter Matt (Danny Kirrane) telling us some self-deprecating one-liner jokes. He is wearing a red superhero cape – it is here we discover he is a father. We subsequently find out in the play that Matt, a failed standup comedian who has failed in his relationship, tried to take his own life at Tower Bridge.

In this co-dependent toxic male pressure cooker, Matt is constantly bullied and manipulated by his two companions. It’s not clear if they are his friends or worst enemies as they conduct increasingly manipulative psychological games. Is it they that is holding him back and stopping him from going outside? Or is it all in his head?

The rather posh Tristabel (Tom Canton), is a controlling bully and The Scottish Benzies (played by Daniel Portman) is an aggressive psycho. They tell Matt that he is fat, ugly, with awful breath and is also a terrible comedian.

With fantastic dialogue and superb performances by the four actors, this play is well worth seeing. While there are some really great comedic moments in this high energy manic play, it covers some very real human struggles – suicide, mental health and abuse.

We’re Staying Right Here at Park Theatre to 23 March