Inspired by Arthur Schnitzler’s LA RONDE, the play unfolds as a series of chance meetings and relationship realities, all loosely interlinked. The ensemble, Iwan Bond, Leisa Gwenllian, Izzi McCormack-John, Tiger Tingley and Alfie Todd do a fantastic job at guiding us through vivid moments where the intricacies of various dynamics, both old and new, are exposed. For me, this is what truly held the show together – the quality and commitment of the acting.

The script itself feels less smooth with scenes often running a little long, sometimes with more focus on setup than perhaps needed. That said, they do offer flashes of perspective with recognisable, routine struggles and problems we’ve likely all faced ourselves, which helps the characters feel grounded and human. We witness a couple straining under the weight of marriage, a woman working endlessly to pay the bills, strangers bumping into each other on the street and unexpected connections forming outside of a wedding. At times, I found myself a bit lost amongst the many characters and scenes and I wondered whether quite so many were needed to communicate the play’s central idea, which feels like it’s stressing the vulnerabilities, anxieties and unanswered questions we each carry do so often ripple outward into the relationships around us, whether that be with people we know well, a little or not at all.

Overall, it’s a really strong cast giving excellent performances within a script that occasionally muddles, but the direction and presentation from Shed Theatre are smooth and confident, with the essence of the play never feeling sanctimonious or forced.

RING RING has finished its run at the White Bear Theatre, but follow Shed Theatre to stay in the loop of what’s next!

Production photos by Craig Sugden.