On The Third Day...

Even in the West End, it's rare that the opening of a play attracts television camera crews and photographers en masse, but on the opening night of Kate Betts' new play there was a sense of chaotic productivity in the flutter of flashbulbs and reckless swoop of boom-mikes outside the New Ambassador's Theatre. The commotion was created, of course, by that highly fertile media-machine, reality TV; Kate Betts is the winning playwright from Channel Four's recent series "The Play's the Thing". The concept of the programme, for those who didn't catch it, was to search out a brand new play, from an unpublished writer, and follow its development from submission to staging - the end product of which is the much-discussed "On the Third Day".

What's it like?
It's an absorbing journey into the emotional anguish of an estranged family. It's stark, other-worldly, often clever and, judging by the sniffles from the people sitting next to me, very moving.

What's it about?
Very near the beginning of the play there is a sweetly comic rendezvous between the female lead, Claire, and a man she's invited back from a bar and is trying, rather awkwardly, to seduce. The scene is lighthearted and filled will very natural and well-observed dialogue. It's a beginning that belies the emotional depths soon to be dredged - the disturbing subject matters of incestual confusion, bereavement and self-harm are met head on in this production with an unflinching eye.

Who's in it?
Maxine Peake - impressive performance as the vulnerable and neurotic Claire.
Paul Hilton - fantastically natural, believeable and magnetically engaging as Mike/Jesus.
Tom McKay, as Claire's brother, Rob.

Who'd enjoy it?
On the Third Day is not for the feint hearted, there are weighty and potentially distressing issues which are blown wide open. If you enjoy a deeply emotional drama, rich in symbolism with some heroic acting performances this could well be your bag.

Book tickets to the exclusive On The Third Day Q & A night, July 20th - just £10

Sara Sha'ath

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