PLAY REVIEW: Run Sister Run ★★★★★

Charting backwards and dissecting a sisterly bond in the most strained of times, Chloë Moss’ 2020 play, Run Sister Run, is currently having its first outing in London since its first production back in Sheffield. It’s an often harrowing, bleak story, but with moments of glimmer and hope, and the undeniable urge to want to get out of your seat and give the company an embrace that you would hope just makes everything that little bit easier; This is of course because Director Marlie Haco has assembled a stellar ensemble cast that roars with chaos and heightened emotions that can leave you on edge, but makes you appreciate the lack of interval to allow yourself to be fully immersed in the world of the play.

Playing against each other as sisters on the brink of collapse from their past and upbringings, Jo Herbert and Kelly Gough give powerhouse performances that will have you on the edge of your seat as they portray Connie and Ursula. You find yourself hanging onto their every word and interaction with each other, whilst they navigate their relationship with each other and the knotty situation that they have come to find themselves in. 

Due to the nature of rewinding in time and unveiling layers of characterisation, with callbacks and plot developments that just work in tandem, Theo Fraser Steele as Adrian, Connie’s partner, and Charlie Beaven as Jack, the son, use their stage time to the best advantage, and equally deliver performances that should both be celebrated. Thanks to Tomás Palmer’s set design, even when the latter two are not present with their characters, they can still be seen and ultimately reveal that presence lingers for those still performing out to the audience.

In a world where theatre merges with the outside world, you can’t help but sit and reflect when pieces such as this speak so true to the culture we live in; Run Sister Run is a remarkable piece of text from Chloë Moss, but also the way in which Marlie Haco has drilled into the piece and opened up a world that has felt so personal, but also speaks as a universal language, is the greatest reward - it will linger long after having watched the show.

You can catch Run Sister Run at The Arcola Theatre until 26th July 2025. Tickets can be purchased here.