Welcome to Pemfort | Soho Theatre

Welcome to Pemfort has set up fort at Soho Theatre and flown its flag high and mighty in a new contemporary triumph by Sarah Power. Set in Pemfort Castle’s gift shop and following the lives and relationships of its four workers, Welcome to Pemfort tells a story of reintegration and moral conflict in a witty yet confronting manner.

Power has crafted a knotty story that allows its audiences to question their morals, their emotions, and the power of both personal and cultural history. Her writing is intelligent and smooth, crafting characters that feel truthful and genuine. There is a relatability and reality to this play that not all modern plays have the capability of achieving, yet Power has nailed this perfectly. The craftsmanship that Power displays through this script is commendable; it is full of wit, yet it still carries itself with true sensibility. This play truly defies its premise of being the story of a gift shop and rises to some challenging heights thanks to Power’s incredible writing.

Relatability and truth in this play would still not be as assured as they are without the smooth direction of Ed Madden. Madden has built the world of Pemfort with a beautiful connection to reality. This vision is uplifted even higher with the beautifully intricate set design by Alys Whitehead, who is also to credit for the believable modern costuming—an element that really grounds this play. Cheng Keng creates a lighting design that kept the set multi-faceted and allowed for clever atmosphere shifts, while Max Pappenheim’s sound design allowed for some gorgeous transitional moments throughout the play.

Debra Gillet delivers a charismatic performance as Uma, the matriarch of the play, who is beautifully whacky yet still comes through with some powerful moments of emotional depth. Setting the story of Welcome to Pemfort with a female character in the lead was a decision that carried powerful nuances as the tale unfolded, and Gillet certainly feels like a perfect fit to carry this with her. Uma also plays a contrarian of sorts within the story, bringing a compassion and emotional connection that differs from most, and Gillet’s approach to this sentiment is undeniably compelling.

Ali Hadji-Heshmati gives an exemplary performance as Glenn, serving the audience a character to adore with his passion and care. Hadji-Heshmati soars in his comedic ability while also providing some of the key emotional moments throughout the play. Glenn’s infatuation with the history of Pemfort is positioned incredibly well as both a metaphorical and literal tool throughout the tale.

Additionally, Glenn as a character makes space for some hard-hitting conversations to be brought to light, such as his astute observations on how those around him underestimate him due to his position on the spectrum. Furthermore, Glenn and Ria provide deep and intricate explorations around the morality of reintegration and restorative justice. These conversations are placed so fantastically within Welcome to Pemfort, and whilst there may never be clear answers to the questions posed on these themes, it is clear that there never would be.

The play beautifully explores what we owe each other when the past comes back for a reckoning, and every character’s presence and outlook brings scorching points to light. Morality and reality are juggled in a fantastic sense throughout this play, and the characters are the perfect vehicles to drive these conversations. Sean Delaney proves greatness with his performance as Curtis; there is such a strong reality to his character that is truly commendable. Curtis is the pinnacle of the moral conflict within this piece and poses a real dilemma for both characters and audiences, and Delaney steps up to this with grace. Whilst Curtis is certainly controversial, his presence is necessary and carves space for audiences to analyse how their values are positioned.

Lydia Larson’s Ria is additionally a character whose journey is grating, and Larson truly hits it out of the park with this performance. She brings an emotional depth that is defined and believable, delivering a chilling closing line with real weight. This quartet of performers are all commendable, bringing this story to scorching heights and providing the audience with substantial conflict.

Personal and cultural history intertwine with great depth throughout this tale, and the way each character handles and addresses these reflective challenges feels poignant and carries weight in many modern settings. Welcome to Pemfort does not shy away from morally challenging inquisition; instead, it lets audiences linger with these questions and trials in a subjective way that feels vital within modern society. With characters that hold familiarity and

conversations that feel all too relevant, Welcome to Pemfort somehow manages to address the empathy and understanding our society holds remarkably well within this 90-minute tale.

Brazen and poignant, Welcome to Pemfort carries itself with the power and integrity that great modern plays such as Till the Stars Come Down and Inter Alia have done. Pemfort has real potential to soar and connect with many—a brilliant feat of modern theatrics.

Welcome to Pemfort plays at Soho Theatre until 18th April - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Camilla Greenwell