MORE ENTERTAINING THAN A MID HINGE DATE

By Tom Ffiske | Immersive Wire ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

As a man in his early thirties navigating the (less joyful) chaos of London’s dating scene, Thanks for Having Me hit surprisingly close to home. But even for those outside that hellish datescape, Kit Bromovsky Productions’ latest showing is a sharply observed, deftly written comedy about the mess, magic, and mystery of modern dating shenanigans. And it’s significantly less messy, too.

Written by and starring Keelan Kember, the play centres on Cashel, a recently heartbroken neurotic who finds himself crashing with his laid-back best friend Honey, played with charm and effortlessness by Sex Education’s Kedar Williams-Stirling. The show then dives into the murky waters of intimacy and vulnerability, with dialog that runs at 1000 miles per hour. (I still managed to keep up, anyhow).

Keelan’s writing is the standout here. The dialogue bounces with energy, often leaping so rapidly between the cast it feels like a verbal game of ping-pong. If anything, the tempo occasionally works against the show; there were moments when the cast seemed slightly breathless keeping up with the pace, making some lines feel a touch rushed. Whether that was a case of opening-night adrenaline or intentional is hard to say, but it didn’t detract from the impact, as it gave Friends vibes when it comes to show interactions.

Kedar Williams-Stirling is a particular highlight. His portrayal of Honey provides the kind of warm, grounded counterweight that lets the play’s more manic moments land without losing their emotional footing. It reminded me of his Sex Education work, where there was a lad-like temperament mixed with a soft side.

The chemistry between the cast, rounded out by Nell Tiger Free and Adeyinka Akinrinade, is palpable. This is especially shown in how they navigate scenes of romantic and emotional intimacy. There’s a quiet cleverness in how the play explores the decision of when (and whether) to open up to others, to be seen, or to keep things guarded. And much like with modern dating, most guard their emotions or tend to blunder through with a fake confidence that would make Trump take notes.

I loved it, and Thanks for Having Me is timely. Perhaps it hit me at just the right time, but it’s effective. It cannot be timeless, but it doesn’t need to be; it’s a snapshot of 2025, and a well-defined one at that.

Thanks for Having Me is running until 26 April at Riverside Studios.

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Photo Credit: Oliver Kember