It’s surely one of the most hackneyed conceits in theatre: a bunch of people gather over a meal, wine flows, secrets unfurl, chaos ensues. Playwrights love it because of the temporal and spatial continuity, its relevance to the largely middle-class audience, and the ease with which tension (and laughs) can be generated. The problem is that there are so many plays like this, and some of them are seriously good; a debut playwright can fall a long way from the shoulders of giants.
Australian-born, UK-based comedian and podcaster turned playwright Deborah Frances-White sets her gathering in a restaurant, or at least the husk of one. Married couple Jacq (Katie Robertson) and Kas (Sunny S Walia) are bankrupt restaurateurs, their dream business having failed despite their best efforts. Before the creditors come and take the lot, they decide to have a final meal with mates Adaego (Chika Ikogwe) and her husband, Tobin (Simon Gleeson).
