The Guilty

 

Well, this was a white knuckle ride!  Based on a 2018 Danish film, this is a tense thriller with Russell Tovey holding the stage for the full 65 minutes of the play.

Joe (Tovey) is working alone in a police emergency response control room.  Bored, and with a monotone voice as he deals with time wasters, he is also making judgements about every call, and the people who call in, and deciding whether he needs to give it proper attention.  We learn he has family problems and that there is some kind of hearing hanging over him.  When he gets a call from Emily though, he gives it his full attention and we see him spring into action, perhaps going further than he should in true police drama style.  

This is fantastically tense, with Tovey holding our attention every step of the way as we watch his decision making, both good and bad, unfold in real time.  It tackles toxic masculinity, and mental health issues as well as police misconduct and with a social commentary hidden in there too. This is visceral, edge of the seat stuff, all the more amazing that this is held together purely on Toveys performance and a shed load of technology.  I like that this is fast, at just over an hour,  plot heavy and with not a moment wasted, but we also get to know Joe pretty well too in that time.  The plot twist moment was fantastic, with a gasp from the audience.  It’s so crucial that we were even asked on the way out not give away any plot points and I won’t.   I think it’s sold out but it is worth looking out for returns, or you could even stand as it is so short.