Review: Skylight - a voyeuristic audience experience

That is the almost voyeuristic audience experience as the Key Theatre Studio is transformed for a new in-house production of Skylight, which runs until Saturday.

Ben Landy stands up well as the poor confused teenager Edward, who turns up unexpectedly at the home of Kyra, who he looked up to as a “big sister” figure.

He has lost his mum to cancer, is losing his father, who hasn’t dealt very well with the death, and in is mixed up state blames Kyra for walking out on them three years earlier.

Of course, things aren’t so straightforward which unfolds as Tom, the father, also pays a visit to the home of his former lover.

It is gripping, sitting in such an intimate setting (the details in the set is brilliant) as the mismatched couple lay bare their true feelings.

There are some tender moments, and some humour brings light relief, but there is a real feeling of anger and resentment as they talk of love, life, grief, betrayal - two very different people where only change in one of them can bring about any chance of reconciliation.

Alice Welby is excellent as Kyra, a believable portrayal of the teacher who wants to find that one down on their luck student to inspire, working in a hellhole school and living in an area to match.

But it is Philip Stewart who really stands out as the set in his ways “older man”, a businessman who enjoys the trappings of wealth and mocks his former lover’s lifestyle, when he can offer her so much more. A powerful performance.

Terrific stuff from Key Theatre-based Kindred Rep for putting the production - hopefully the first of many - on.

Tickets for tonight and Saturday (matinee and evening) from vivacity.org.