REVIEW
Double Act
Southwark Playhouse (studio)
Jef Hall-Flavin (director)
90 (length)
24 March 2025 (released)
25 March 2025
It is rare to discover a simply staged gentle treatment of a serious issue that packs the punch of Nick Hyde’s Double Act. It’s treatment of mental depression is beautifully handled, as over one day we see the determination and doubt as a man decides that this will be his last day.
Only described as ‘performers’ Nick Hyde and Oliver Maynard are two side of the same character, and their trust and intention and sheer quality of acting is draw-dropping good. It would have been easy and even cliched to have them play one as the man, the other as his internal thoughts, but this is more complex and all the richer for it. They appear in quickly rendered black and white clown make-up providing a fragile mask to hide behind and portray the idea of the ‘balancing’ double act, juggling all the pressure and needs of someone contemplating suicide.
Hyde and Maynard slip into the characters that are met on the man’s journey to the coast, including the last meal at McDonalds with his ex and the funny and poignant train journey when he can’t but a ticket because they don’t take cash. Even with an envelope in his pocket containing all his savings he is lost.
This is expertly steered by director Jef Hall-Flavin who gets the balance perfect. This whole production is pure class including the simple but hugely effective staging by Christophe Eynde and lighting by Holly Ellis.
This is a 90-minute masterpiece in physical and emotional performance that will leave such a lasting mark on all that see it.
Photo credit: Charles Flint
Only described as ‘performers’ Nick Hyde and Oliver Maynard are two side of the same character, and their trust and intention and sheer quality of acting is draw-dropping good. It would have been easy and even cliched to have them play one as the man, the other as his internal thoughts, but this is more complex and all the richer for it. They appear in quickly rendered black and white clown make-up providing a fragile mask to hide behind and portray the idea of the ‘balancing’ double act, juggling all the pressure and needs of someone contemplating suicide.
Hyde and Maynard slip into the characters that are met on the man’s journey to the coast, including the last meal at McDonalds with his ex and the funny and poignant train journey when he can’t but a ticket because they don’t take cash. Even with an envelope in his pocket containing all his savings he is lost.
This is expertly steered by director Jef Hall-Flavin who gets the balance perfect. This whole production is pure class including the simple but hugely effective staging by Christophe Eynde and lighting by Holly Ellis.
This is a 90-minute masterpiece in physical and emotional performance that will leave such a lasting mark on all that see it.
