We witness Steph (Kathryn Bates) and Jamie (Rowland Stirling) meet in the waiting room of their psychiatrist’s office. They banter easily, sharing snippets about why they’re there, with Steph sneaking a peek at Jamie’s prescriptions. It quickly becomes clear that Steph has struggled with depression for a while and comes from a family with a history of mental illness. Although she’s immediately drawn to Jamie, she warns him not to fall for her, questioning how he could love her when she can barely stand herself but despite her reservations, they fall for each other. 

We journey with the couple through a relationship that spans several months, possibly even years, following them into both euphoric highs like dancing in clubs to Low by Flo Rida and crushing lows, such as Steph being unable to leave her bed for weeks. The relationship progresses into serious territory quite quickly, which at times feels a bit rushed and I sometimes found it difficult to fully connect with the characters, largely because the relationship develops so fast that there is little time to truly understand who they are with and beyond their struggles. As Steph’s mental health deteriorates, Jamie thrives professionally and the imbalance begins to strain their relationship. Jamie grows increasingly frustrated with Steph’s depression which can occasionally come across as dismissive of her struggles. While this feels harsh and insensitive, I imagine it’s intentional to reflect the emotional exhaustion and pressure that can emerge within relationships affected by mental illness.

Some of the production’s strongest moments happen during Steph’s darkest episodes. In one particularly impactful scene, Steph fixates on a crack in her bedroom ceiling, willing it to split open and collapse. Kathryn Bates delivers these moments with subtle pain, conveying anguish through only a few words and nuanced expressions. Rowland Stirling effectively captures Jamie’s ambition and determination to succeed at work, which helps to highlight the differing limitations and experiences of mental health between him and Steph. While the performances are good, particularly in the more emotionally intense moments, the lack of deeper backstory and earlier character development scenes makes it a little trickier to become fully invested in their relationship and individual journeys.

CHEMISTRY is a thoughtful and intimate exploration of love existing alongside the complexities of mental health. On during Brighton Fringe at The Grania Dean Studio at The Lantern Theatre from 18^th – 21^st May. 

Tickets available here.