Review

Review: Shifters

Contemporary duologues and strong, nuanced characters you'll root for until the end finds reviewer Emily Wheatman.


Shifters by Benedict Lombe
Shifters by Benedict Lombe

Shifters landed on my doorstep following high praise. Written by Benedict Lombe an award-winning Congolese playwright based in London, this play debuted at the Bush Theatre in 2024, before transferring to The Duke of York's Theatre in the West End, making Lombe the third black British female playwright to have a play staged in the West End. The playtext did not disappoint. The two characters jump straight out of the page; they're witty, complex and the chemistry they share is palpable. Their relationship is relatable but not cliched, and we really experience the depth of their connection. We're rooting for them both right until the end. It reminded me of the A24 film Past Lives, which also accurately explores the persistent pull of first love.

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