IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO ANTICIPATE HOW WE’LL REACT WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS

By Molly Hayes | Molly Hayes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Written by Nick Payne and directed by Marianne Elliott, The Unbelievers delves into the life-shattering ramifications on his family after 15-year-old Oscar doesn’t return home from school one day, and the lasting impact of his disappearance, particularly on his mother, Miriam, who still holds out hope for his return even after 7 years.

The acting in this production was first-rate. Nicola Walker astounded me with her portrayal of Oscar’s trauma-stricken yet complex mother, Miriam, who was not always the most sympathetic character. She skillfully made me switch from feeling frustrated to deeply moved within just a few minutes. I also have to commend Alby Baldwin, Paul Higgins, Martin Marquez, and Ella Lily-Hyland for their depictions of Miriam’s long-suffering family members, who are also trying to cope with their own pain. Furthermore, Harry Kershaw and Lorraine Thackeray made me laugh out loud as Benjamin and Lorraine, and Jaz Singh Deol and Isabel Adomakoh Young were both charming in their roles.

Many standout moments in the play consist of painfully awkward interactions between the characters, which create a number of humorous moments while also depicting their inability to deal with the trauma of Oscar’s disappearance and the uncertainty surrounding his fate. Due to the nature of the story, I was expecting many emotional scenes. There was a lot of conflict between the characters that sometimes culminated in arguments, mainly between Oscar’s parents, Miriam and David. After a certain point, these shouting matches did start to feel one-note and repetitive; however, they still managed to convey the strain between them due to their loss.

Delving deep into religion and spirituality throughout, ‘The Unbelievers’ certainly lives up to its name. Furthermore, Miriam’s battle to maintain her belief that her son is still alive intensified throughout the play, and can be summarised with her conclusive line of the play – “I love my son. My son is alive.” The following ending sequence, where the family sits at the table getting ready for dinner, and Miriam pulls up a chair to a space in place of her son, was utterly heartbreaking. Ultimately, The Unbelievers is a devastating examination of belief, loss, and family. It was a heart-wrenching and profound watch.

The Unbelievers is running at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre until Saturday 29 November.

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Photo Credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg