TWO | Park Theatre

Pubs. A place for gathering, gossip or just sitting with a pint. With each coming and going, the landlord and lady are there to welcome everyone- these are their stories poured fresh out the tap. But brewing behind the bar is a chasm between the landlord and his wife. Unspoken truths masked by the liquor…

The show made its debut in 1989 at the Bolton Octagon, before being performed at Young Vic in London the following year. More recently, in Autumn 2025, it was successfully transformed into an immersive production which was performed at the Greenwich Theatre. The immersive production has been transferred to Park Theatre for its current run.

There’s something really special about being able to sit on the stage, at a table in ‘The Clock and Compass’, and soak up the pre-show atmosphere. Jana Lakatos’ set design is very vintage, with its wooden aesthetic and coasters marked with 80’s references. The landlords welcome you as you enter and you can buy drinks at the bar, making this production feel lived in from the outset and we find ourselves looking forward to meeting the locals.

Cartwright’s writing is genius with its sense of universality. Though it may be set in the 1980’s, the stories of the regulars still feel relevant. Old folk reminisce about the then and the now, some connections spark, others flicker and some die. Young lovers, friends, lonely souls, all gather to this place, and though the stories may seem to have no sense of interconnectedness, the through line of the story of the landlord and his wife binds them in a profound way. The funny thing is, more is said with what they don’t say than what they do.

So what is the story really about? It’s not just about the importance of protecting public spaces of connection without pricey conditions but it speaks to the conversations that we do and don’t have with the people that we love. The pub just happens to be the first open door- drink or no drink. 

This two-hander would test the mettle of the most skilled actors. Kellie Shirley and Peter Caufield are more than up to the task with their natural chemistry and second to none personable qualities. There is some audience participation in the show, but these actors are very quick to create a safe and pressure free environment, rendering it significantly more relaxed and enjoyable. 

Between them, they portray 14 different characters.

Shirley is a master of vocal control, if you closed your eyes, you could hear the uniquely distinguishable qualities between every single character from her voice alone. Meanwhile, Caufield is a physicality and body language Yoda. Everything from the slightest hand gesture to posture has been carefully considered to create differentiation. He also has an undeniable kinetic energy, which Shirley seems to feed off and reflect back at a slightly different angle, making the pair electric to watch on stage.

This performance feels like the journey between a booze filled warm and fuzzy high and the inevitable earth shattering hangover in the morning. It draws you in and spits you back out. Yes, the first act can seem a bit slow at times, but it’s worth enjoying the gentle rhythm before the gut punch of a second act.

TWO plays at Park Theatre until 25th April - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Ross Kernahan