Clive by Michael Wynne. The Arcola Studio, 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston Junction, London until 23 August 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Charlie Flint.

Clive by Michael Wynne. The Arcola Studio, 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston Junction, London until 23 August 2025,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“A man at the end of his tether.”

Thomas lives alone, has a completely organised life, works from home, has little or no contact with the outside world – messages are delivered, he takes in the neighbour's mail but it is transaction through a flap. He takes a look at the people across the way – the expectant mother, a gay man, and a sour looking woman slaving away at her computer with whom he empathises – but that is his contact with people. He did have a lover but when he wanted them to emigrate to Australia Thomas would not go, having his  mother to look after, and when his firm sent people to work from home he simply stayed there. He has one friend – Clive. A four foot tall cactus in a pot. Michael Wynne's play looks with compassion at the plight of many today trapped at home initially by the pandemic and then more or less forced to stay there by the development of new ways of running businesses, holding meetings and writing reports. But what lifts it that necessary extra bit is the performance of Paul Keating as Thomas. He creates a beautifully nuanced portrait of a youngish man obsessively house proud, devoted to the memories of office life, who puts things away in just the right place in perfect order and talks to Clive, who gets watered from time to time., about his feelings He occasionally transforms his world with a little help from Alexa – Mexican music being summoned up and warm sunshine for the benefit of Clive. But things go wrong. The office is changing yet agin, new people are taking it over, the one he was friendliest from accounts is sacked, and his old boss rising relentlessly up the pole is getting more and more remote. Thomas does not fit in any longer even in the on line world. Wynne extracts enough comedy from his behaviour to make what is happening watchable because Thomas is really going to a place nobody would wish to be in – the end is pretty grim.

Cast

Paul Keating – Thomas

Creatives

Director - Lucy Bailey

Designer – Mike Britten

Sound Designer – Nick Powell

Lighting Designer – Chris Davey