Lewisham. A Pupil Referral Unit.

Two friends – Desmond and Wiggy – are truanting their lessons. To distract themselves from their limited prospects post-education, they bring to life a series of daydreams, which range from the naïve and fantastical to the bleakly familiar.

When Wiggy tells Desmond of the sinister power of the sea to consume ‘rotters’ like themselves, Desmond must use his strategies of escapism to combat his fear of the upcoming school trip to Southend beach. In one afternoon, the boys’ friendship fluctuates chaotically amidst the tides of jealousy, fantasy, alienation and interdependence.

https://www.londonpubtheatres.com/review-desmonds-scared-of-the-smoking-sea-by-tommy-sissons-at-jack-studio-theatre-22-25-august-2023

https://www.londontheatre1.com/reviews/desmonds-scared-of-the-smoking-sea-by-tommy-sissons/

South London, 2023.

Young couple Cecily and Ralph are frantically navigating the cost-of-living crisis, chasing cheaper accommodations while dreaming of starting a family. Whilst Cecily is torn between the immediate reality of their financial situation and her tarnished fantasy of becoming a ballet dancer, Ralph struggles to find any legal routes to earn money. When Cecily becomes unexpectedly pregnant, the couple are forced to confront their own pasts and contend with the turbulent landscape of Britain in constant crisis. Beneath it all lies a life-altering revelation.

‘Silent Houses’ delves into the psychological impact poverty can have on family life and our understanding of the self. The play explores how the established power structures that govern working-class areas enforce a culture of silence which can be felt by both individuals and entire communities. It asks urgent questions of a society which prioritises some voices over others and directs our attention to the fantasies, the fury and the fervour of lives which remain perpetually unheard.

https://theblogoftheatrethings.com/2024/06/13/review-silent-houses-at-the-lion-and-unicorn-theatre/#:~:text=The%20central%20plot%20twist%20about,play%2C%20with%20completely%20different%20characters.