REVIEW: THE GLASS HOUSE @ THE LION AND UNICORN THEATRE

🎭 The Glass House

📍 The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 42-44 Gaisford Street, London, NW5 2ED

🗓 Friday 22nd November 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️

BOLD AND UNFLINCHING, BUT LACKING A 'WHY'

I recently visited the Lion & Unicorn, a cosy and bustling pub tucked off the high street in Kentish Town, to see the latest offering from The McCreadie Company - THE GLASS HOUSE. As I climbed the stairs, taking in the numerous content warnings posted on the walls – strong language, sex, references to sexual violence, physical violence, child abuse, psychological abuse and substance abuse – I couldn’t help but wonder what awaited me in the intimate upstairs theatre space.

We audience members were greeted by a modest set: silver buckets scattered across the floor and a battered, ominous-looking fridge taking centre stage. Bella, one of the play’s central characters, sat at the front of the stage, visibly uncomfortable and engrossed in her book. Her quiet mumbling was impossible to ignore against the backdrop of the audience chatter. 

What followed was 70 minutes of relentless darkness — murder, drug use and an exploration of lives marked by trauma and poverty. We learn that Wendy and Bella, the two women at the heart of the story, share a flat above a shop run by Kai. Through fragmented interactions, the play examines themes of deprivation, the lingering impact of foster care and the human need to feel wanted and seen. Yet, despite these weighty themes, some critical threads felt underexplored. We quickly learn that Bella and Wendy have done a very bad thing, but we’re never told how they crossed paths and why Bella is bound to Wendy’s manipulative ways. The play seems to revel in ambiguity, but at times, this left me searching for a clearer emotional anchor and a reason to be more deeply invested in the protagonists’ stories.

That said, the performances were compelling. Bella’s quiet and submissive intensity contrasts sharply with Wendy’s controlling and almost feral energy. We’re also introduced to Kai, a man who also falls into the trap of Wendy’s control, and a warm detective named Josie James. Both characters add weight to the play and their presence allows certain pieces of the ambiguous and puzzling story to lock into place. That said, for me, the play did, on the whole, lack a coherent ‘why’. Although we end up surmising the details of the awful thing Wendy and Bella have done, we don’t find out why. The same can be said for the play’s devastating finale. 

By the end, I found myself longing for resolution — not necessarily a tidy, happy ending, but a moment that tied the play’s darkness to a greater purpose. Instead, THE GLASS HOUSE leaves its audience with raw, unresolved discomfort — a valid artistic choice, but one that might feel unsatisfying without a stronger narrative backbone.

Director Noah McCreadie leans heavily into the rawness of the material, crafting an atmosphere of discomfort and unease. The stark staging, minimalist props and clever use of sounds enhance the bleakness. However, this focus on mood and metaphor sometimes came at the expense of clarity and connection, which for me, would have given the story more impact.

In summary, THE GLASS HOUSE is an ambitious attempt to shine a light on life’s darker corners, but it struggles to give the audience a meaningful reason to dwell there. For those drawn to gritty and sometimes shocking theatre, it may resonate. For others, the play’s lack of resolution and narrative cohesion may feel more frustrating than thought-provoking.

Estelle Luck

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 The Glass House was gifted by the The McCreadie Company 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 LIST:

Harriet Cantello as Bella; Kitty Evans as Wendy; Hannah McLeod as Josie James; Noah McCreadie as Kai

RUNN TIME (approx):

1 hour 10 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Strong language; Sex; References to sexual violence; Physical violence; Child abuse; Psychological abuse; Substance abuse