DRIFTING
Southwark Playhouse Borough
★★★
“a darkly humorous, moving, and slightly unconventional tribute to a lost generation”
‘Drifting’, written and directed by Andrew Muir in collaboration with Ardent8 Ensemble, brings an underrepresented group of actors to the London stage – those from a predominantly working-class background. This is laudable and to be highly commended in an industry increasingly dominated by those who come from wealth and class privilege.
The play is set against a backdrop of a coastal town shrouded in sea mist – but for the twenty-six-year-old protagonist of the piece convincingly played by Trae Walsh – the mist is more of a fog that threatens to obscure his dream of escaping to the big city. This young university graduate, who has stacked shelves in the local retail park for some years, is in part, reluctant to move on out of loyalty to both his girlfriend and parents and perhaps also fear of the unknown. ‘Drifting’ explores the economic uncertainty and courage it takes to pursue a different path and will certainly resonate with the younger generation. ‘Drifting’ also resonates broadly, as its theme of life-changing decisions is universal.
There is much humour in this piece and occasional moments of joy although this is often undercut by a sense of the characters making do and scraping by. In one moment, out of pent-up frustration for his predicament, our young protagonist claims that ‘the closest I’ll get to Naples is fucking Nando’s.’
The actors work well as an ensemble and there is much raw talent on display here including that of Walsh who plays the Young Man. Toby Batt – the father who works as a taxi driver, and Phoebe Woodbridge the mother, also pull off playing much older characters and their well-meaning but small-town mentality is convincing and emotionally relatable. Lewis Allen’s well observed portrayal of a supermarket manager who has sold out to the system is often hilarious and Yarrow Spillane too puts in a fine performance as the Young Man’s girlfriend who is quite happy staying put.
Bethan Wall, the set and costume designer, has provided the audience with a set that highlights important themes in the play and includes scaffolding, an enormous ladder and flickering promenade lights. Characters either climb the huge ladder as low paid workers to stack shelves or in a desperate attempt to escape the often-grim reality of living in a deprived coastal town.
There is a strong rhythm and forward momentum to the writing particularly in the earlier scenes. The script is also interwoven with a poetic lyricism which helps to give greater depth and richness to the piece. As do the more tender moments between some of the characters: the dance between the young man and his friend and work colleague (beautifully played by Amirah Alabere) and the portrayal of the working-class parents whose love for their son is ultimately misguided. However, some departures into fantasy and surrealism, although well-intentioned and ambitious, I felt were at times more mystifying than mysterious. The ending of the play also doesn’t quite hit the mark as the line between realism, surrealism and social commentary is blurred and consequently somewhat confusing.
‘Drifting’ follows close on the heels of another play (‘The Chaos That Has Been And Will No Doubt Return’) also staged recently at Southwark Playhouse . This too centred around a working-class character who wished to escape from his small town. Southwark Playhouse deserves credit for showcasing these voices; ‘Drifting’ is a darkly humorous, moving, and slightly unconventional tribute to a lost generation.
DRIFTING
Southwark Playhouse Borough
Reviewed on 18th November 2025
by Tim Graves
Photography by Mark Douet
Recently reviewed at Southwark Playhouse venues:
GWENDA’S GARAGE | ★★★ | November 2025
WYLD WOMAN: THE LEGEND OF SHY GIRL | ★★★★ | October 2025
HOT MESS | ★★★★★ | October 2025
LIFERS | ★★★ | October 2025
THE CHAOS THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL NO DOUBT RETURN | ★★★★★ | September 2025
THE ANIMATOR | ★★★ | August 2025
BRIXTON CALLING | ★★★★ | July 2025
THE WHITE CHIP | ★★★★ | July 2025
