Britain's What's On Event Guide
Steven Moffat's The Unfriend
For the New Year, the Barn Theatre is excited to present Steven Moffat’s The Unfriend, opening on16th January.
As a TV creator, Steven Moffat has become a household name through series like Dr Who and Sherlock. The Unfriend is his first stage show; after its premiere in 2022, it enjoyed two successful runs in London’s West End. A relatable, modern comedy of manners, it opens an amusing window on family life while hinting at darker themes.
The story opens aboard a cruise ship, with a British couple, Peter and Debbie, meeting Elsa, a larger-than-life fellow passenger from Denver, Colorado. Pleasantries and contact details are exchanged, leading to a correspondence and, inevitably, an announcement from Elsa that she is coming to stay with her new acquaintances. The suspicion raised through the Internet that Elsa may not be all she seems ratchets up the tension for Peter and Debbie. Over and above the ordinary pressures of hospitality, they have to contend with the possibility that their guest might, just might, be a serial killer.
The Brits avowedly lead a life of stultifying politeness and normalcy: “dying of manners”, as one character puts it. From the moment she arrives, brash and charismatic Elsa starts to shake things up. The effect is most clearly seen on Peter and Debbie’s children: with Elsa’s encouragement, son Alex and daughter Rosie emerge from their rooms and start engaging with the world, through exercise and social interaction. Peter himself starts to loosen up, at one point even dropping in on an acquaintance without sending a text in advance!
It will not be lost on audiences that Elsa has something in common with Moffat’s most popular characters: like the Doctor and like Holmes, she is a powerhouse outsider whose relationship with conventional standards of behaviour is tenuous, and whose beneficial impacts on society are mingled with darkness and even harm. Her nickname, “Murder Poppins”, succinctly captures the ambiguity.
As a TV creator, Steven Moffat has become a household name through series like Dr Who and Sherlock. The Unfriend is his first stage show; after its premiere in 2022, it enjoyed two successful runs in London’s West End. A relatable, modern comedy of manners, it opens an amusing window on family life while hinting at darker themes.
The story opens aboard a cruise ship, with a British couple, Peter and Debbie, meeting Elsa, a larger-than-life fellow passenger from Denver, Colorado. Pleasantries and contact details are exchanged, leading to a correspondence and, inevitably, an announcement from Elsa that she is coming to stay with her new acquaintances. The suspicion raised through the Internet that Elsa may not be all she seems ratchets up the tension for Peter and Debbie. Over and above the ordinary pressures of hospitality, they have to contend with the possibility that their guest might, just might, be a serial killer.
The Brits avowedly lead a life of stultifying politeness and normalcy: “dying of manners”, as one character puts it. From the moment she arrives, brash and charismatic Elsa starts to shake things up. The effect is most clearly seen on Peter and Debbie’s children: with Elsa’s encouragement, son Alex and daughter Rosie emerge from their rooms and start engaging with the world, through exercise and social interaction. Peter himself starts to loosen up, at one point even dropping in on an acquaintance without sending a text in advance!
It will not be lost on audiences that Elsa has something in common with Moffat’s most popular characters: like the Doctor and like Holmes, she is a powerhouse outsider whose relationship with conventional standards of behaviour is tenuous, and whose beneficial impacts on society are mingled with darkness and even harm. Her nickname, “Murder Poppins”, succinctly captures the ambiguity.
Fri 16 Jan, Sat 17 Jan, Mon 19 Jan to Sat 24 Jan
Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL8 6ST
The Unfriend runs at the Barn Theatre from Friday 16th to Saturday 24th January, evenings 8pm, matinee on 24th January, 2.30pm. Tickets cost £16 from Barn Theatre box office on 01707 324300 or online at www.barntheatre.co.uk.
Suitable for children over 12 (with parental guidance) and adults.
Organised by
Barn Theatre Club, Welwyn Garden City
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