Up

Urban myths and psychological torment are at the centre of James Ley's new one-man play as ex-teacher Robert (Laurie Brown), confined to a tiny room in a sanatorium, recounts his experience of being a gay teacher in a school where every word and thought must be carefully considered to avoid any misunderstanding. Talking to an imaginary acquaintance and watched from the corridor, Robert moves around his cell as memories flood back to him, frequent addresses to the audience adding to the intimacy of the piece while occasional sound effects compliment his mood swings. While Brown's rapid delivery could do with tempering at times to allow the smaller details to be more clearly understood, he remains a powerful presence as the darkly humorous story unfolds, bouncing from floor to wall as the spotlight tries to keep up with him. Offering no easy answers, Up may be a production sparse in its set design and visuals but its ambitions thankfully remain grand throughout.