Writer: Tim Charles
Director: Matt Palliser-Kehoe
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Well-Layered“
4 / 5
After years of not seeing each other, four childhood friends reunite at a funeral after their old schoolmate has sadly passed away. The lads have changed a lot since school – important jobs, new relationships, travel and children, but they quickly reconnect over memories and shared banter that shaped them during childhood.
Jake (James Treacy) is the only one that is struggling to relax around the group, after recently being told the disturbing information that one of the other 3 had sexually assaulted a girl at a party years ago. Angry that one of them could do something so heinous, but equally unsure how to broach the subject, he sits moping around, debating what he should do. He’s certain it’s Martin (Andrew Cusack), the loud-mouthed, prankster who drinks and jokes a little too much, never showing empathy or emotions, despite it being Martin’s own brother that has passed. As the night progresses, secrets are revealed, Donnie (David Watters) gets a glimpse into Martin’s matured behaviour and Simon (Brian Raftery) does his best to keep the group atmosphere light and easy, diverting Jake away from ‘making a scene’. Will the truth come out or will they prioritise friendship over allyship?
Tim Charles has created a brilliantly well-layered storyline that puts a lot of integral talking points and issues at the heart of it, while ensuring it never feels weighted down by the varying plot points. It balances laddish humour, and poignant conversation well, the boozy boys are silly and loud, but are never solely caricatures of typical lads, their snippets of emotion and reflection feel genuine and authentic, which helps to welcome the audience into their small circle. Assault, friendship, sexuality and growth are all touched on sensitively, with each of the boys having their own moment of clarity about their, or their friends behaviours.
The majority of the dialogue is spoken to and with each other, though there are some instances where the fourth wall is broken, and the characters deliver monologues directly to the audience. Aside from Martin’s humorous insight into what “bagging” means, the other two are not as effective than expected, with the speeches lasting a beat too long, and feeling less authentic in the otherwise engaging production. Though the barkeep (Sorcha Morgan) isn’t part of the group of friends, and is mainly an observer mid-shift, she is an enjoyable addition to the narrative, with a few funny quips and an insightful interaction that sheds light on the past. Cusack is brilliantly entertaining and extremely believable, and Watters gives a convincing, endearing performance, especially during Donnie’s poignant talk with Martin.
The Lads is being developed into a six-part TV series, and with the basis of these four intriguing characters, and the important subject matters at hand, it will be interesting to see how this transpires from stage to screen – one to keep an eye out for!
Runs until 6th August 2026
Camden Fringe runs until 30th August 2026.
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