š 555-FOR-TRUTH
š The Hope Theatre, 207 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1RL
š Thursday 13th February 2025
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A STUNNING PIECE OF THEATRE
The end is nigh as two separate worlds collide in 855-FOR-TRUTH which is currently playing at The Hope Theatre.
In the Utah woods a young climate scientist is camping out while taking some readings for 'The Project' when he meets an 18 year old girl who is a member of an isolated religious cult. Together they prepare for the end of the world as their feelings for one another develop, in a poignant story that revolves around the climate emergency whilst being in no way preachy.
The juxtaposition between science and religion is fascinating, and plays out beautifully.
The writing here feels somewhat epic, and I could really see this piece as a Netflix mini-series. It constantly creates questions in the audiences minds, leaving us yearning for more. This is especially true at the interval when the chat amongst my fellow theatre goers mainly centered around the things we were waiting to find out. This cliffhanger aspect is one of the reasons I think this would work wonderfully as a series on screen.
Technically this production is flawless. The set design here is wonderful and cleverly uses the limited space to its full potential. Also the lighting design is subtle yet wonderfully sets the tone for the piece. The sound design works wonderfully too, and the constant sound of cars on the nearby road somehow draws you into the story more, making you feel as if you're really there. The direction understands that the audience is on both sides of the stage and at no point did I feel I was missing anything.
The thing that stands out most though is the incredible acting by Molly Hanly and Max Raphael. Hanly portrays the nervousness and devout religiousness of Meredith with meticulous beauty, giving one of the best acting performances I've seen in a long time. Similarly Raphael completely lives the truth of Isaac and the emotion and reality the pair brought to the story and their characters was breathtaking. I often watched whoever wasn't speaking and both Hanly and Raphael completely embodied the entire being of Meredith and Isaac, never losing focus.
The future of the theatre industry as a whole depends on the support of grassroots theatre such as this, and when you see the talent involved in every aspect of bringing this piece to the stage it really makes me excited for what's to come.
555-FOR-TRUTH continues at The Hope Theatre until Saturday 22nd February. CLICK HERE to book your tickets now.
Neill Kovacic-Clarke
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.
My ticket for this performance of 555-FOR-TRUTH was gifted by the Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
CAST AND CREATIVES:
Meredith - Molly Hanly
Isaac - Max Raphael
Writer - Eva Hudson
Director - Lydia McKinley
Set Design - Rhi Binnington
Lighting Design - Brett Kasza
Sound Design - Mark Fenton
Composer - Joe Penaliggon
Stage Manager - Elsa Gear
RUNNING TIME (approx):
2 hours 0 minutes, including interval
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Occasional bad language; Discussion of physical and sexual abuse; Themes of religious trauma
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