Night City by Max Wilkinson, Southwark Playhouse, the Little, 77 Newington Butts, London DE1 | until 03 October 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

Photo credit: Lidia Crisafulli

Night City

by Max Wilkinson

Southwark Playhouse, the Little, 77 Newington Butts, London DE1 | until 03 October 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

“A night to remember.”

London's gig economy is looked at in this powerful three hander which follows what happened to a mini cab driver, a care worker and waitress down from the regions climaxing with an accident one dark night on the Old Kent Road near the Bricklayer's arms. Jack, played by Jack Ambrose drives a car and is driven mad by his controller and the way his fares behave, while waitress Tia played by Bex Smith, has come from somewhere up country seeking her fortune, has met Jack, but now is pregnant after a drunken one-night stand. The third character Tamara - played by Helena Pipe - is a care worker overburdened with work who has formed a difficult relationship with one of the people she looks after and finds herself in trouble. There is also an accident on the Old Kent Road. Their lives become intermingled during the course of this 90-minute play directed by Ebenezer Bamigboye who keeps his cast moving at top speed round the very striking set designed by Olivia Jamieson. On the back wall of the Little scenes of London after dark are projected in front of which is a glossy black floor while from the heights above hang metal chains which are illuminated creating a set of cell like spaces inside which different parts of the play take place. These are made full use of by Bamigboye as is the walkway round three sides of the floor round which a character will rush to deliver another part of their own story or disappear while somebody else's story is being performed. After dark people work hard, sometimes play hard, and are all looking for something better in life which they seem destined never to find. It is not all gloom – there are some very funny moments, and Helen Pipe's Tamara occasionally sings something beautifully. Life is grim but sometimes something goes well. It is a hugely impressive play which deserves to fill the Little to the brim for its run – and a longer life somewhere too. It is quite simply a night to remember.

Cast

Jack Ambrose – Jack

Helena Pipe – Tamara

Bex Smith – Tia

Creatives

Director – Ebenezer Bamigboye

Set & Costume Designer – Olivia Jamieson

Sound Designer - David Lewington

Movement Director – Rose Ryan