Mark is retired and spends his days pottering around the garden (which he loves almost to the point of obsession), avoiding the neighbours and scaring off the local cats with his BB gun. When his neighbour Viki literally crashes into his world he's eager to send her packing and return to his quiet, solitary life. But Viki and Mark are destined for a collision course that pits equally entrenched opinions against each other. Can these two lonely souls overcome their differences and become supportive friends?

Review of production at the Buxton Fringe: https://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/reviews2025the.html

If you like your drama with a side-order of woodwork, then get yourself along to Yards Apart.

In fact, come and see it anyway, regardless of your views on carpentry. This charming one act play at St Anne’s Parish Centre is well worth it. Mark and Viki are new neighbours who meet over the garden fence. The title gives you some idea of what is to come and you think you know what is going on. But the perspective shifts and then it shifts again.

The script is extremely rich - clever and multi-layered. At any given moment, you’re aware of at least one subtext beneath the top level of genuine emotion and some great jokes. There are some excellent visual gags too. Watch out for the water spray but be reassured that no cats were harmed during the making of the show!

The two leads are immediately believable and accessible. They do an excellent job of developing their characters and making us care about what happens. In fact, this is one of those very rare pieces that might benefit from being a little longer. The show is only about thirty minutes long and it felt as if there was more room in the story arc that could be usefully filled in.

Finally, we have to mention the fence. As a prop, it commands the space and provides much of the action. As a visual symbol for the piece as a whole, it was perfect.

Anna Girolami

Original production review:
https://sceneoneplus.com/double-bill-yards-apart-and-sharks-in-the-custard/

This evening I spent a very enjoyable few hours at the Maskers Theatre seeing a Double Bill of plays. It was fabulous finding myself back in the audience once again after a considerable hiatus.

First up was Yards Apart, an incredibly heart-warming tale of two people, their very different lives and world views which collide for the betterment of everyone involved.

My star of the overall evening goes immediately to Anna Hussey, who sparkled as the bolshy, free spirited Viki, a pregnant mother who has newly arrived in the UK from Eastern Europe.

Anna’s accent and physicality whilst pregnant where both superb, and exceptionally natural.

Philip de Grouchy’s character Mark reminded me warmly of my gardening obsessed granddad. Mark was somewhat set in his ways, a little grouchy (by name and nature it seems!) but with a heart of gold underneath all his flaws.

I was incredibly impressed by writer and director Mary Stone’s script and vision. I entered the interval with a big smile on my face.