Review: Thanks For Having Me (Kings Head Theatre)

Thanks for Having Me is a new play based around two best friends, and their different approaches to relationships with women. Old enough to have experience, but young enough to still have capacity to learn, they gravitate towards each other for support, as true friends do.

Playwright Keelan Kember also plays Cashel, a neurotic overthinker who finds himself suddenly single after an eight year relationship ends. He turns to his friend Honey (Fergus Foster) who has been determined to remain single all along and has honed his skills as a player to perfection. As the play starts, Honey is demonstrating his tactics on Maya (Elizabeth Green) who cuts him down with a brilliant one liner that made me laugh out loud for the first time.

From here the laughs keep coming. Maya introduces her friend Eloise (Charlotte Hayes Jones) to double date with Cashel and Honey. The connections between all four of these characters constantly develop, and the humour rolls throughout; audience reactions proved that there were jokes in there for everyone.

I could tell from the marketing information that I would enjoy this show but I hadn’t really realised how funny it would be. All four performers were fantastic, but I found it the most engaging of all when Honey and Cashel were on stage together. The comedic timing and chemistry between these characters was mesmerising.

With a minimal yet effective set, and tight direction from Monica Cox, the focus is entirely on the individuals and their ever-changing situations. With writing and performances of this standard, this is exactly where it should be.

This was the perfect play to watch as a form of escapism at the end of a busy day, and I left feeling uplifted and keen to see what the future holds for everyone involved.  All credit to the performers that a somewhat lively audience did not distract any of them as well!

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Thanks for Having Me is currently showing at the Kings Head Theatre in their “Main House Later” slot until 8th February.

I was gifted a ticket for this show in exchange for an honest review.