Southwark Playhouse Review 19th September 2026

Before Night City begins, its atmosphere is already taking shape. Sixteen chains hang individually from the ceiling in an evenly spaced four by four grid. At the back of the stage, projected footage takes us through London at night, as though viewed from a dashboard camera, with the quiet sound of traffic in the background. In the intimate black box space of the Little at Southwark Playhouse Borough, the audience sits on three sides of the chained playing area.

Right at the start, we are given the ending, or at least that is what we are told. Jack’s heart gives out on the Old Kent Road. We then go back in time to discover the full story.

Jack, played by Jack Ambrose, is a driver who loves dance music and is described as hedonistic. Tamara, played by Helena Pipe, is a carer who has done every job under the sun and really does care about people. Finally, there is Tia, played by Bex Smith, a waitress with dreams of becoming a writer.

The three actors also take on a range of other characters, including a wealthy, privileged older woman who is “occasionally racist”, Tamara’s aspiring rapper son and a sleazy publisher. You need to pay attention, as the switches happen frequently and sometimes with very little warning. All three performers are excellent, using changes in mannerism, voice and accent to distinguish their characters.

The story becomes a little complex to follow at times, but things grow clearer as the individual stories unfold and their connections emerge. It is a dark play about corruption, privilege and the choices people make, some with devastating consequences. There are, however, moments of comedy and levity along the way.

I particularly enjoyed the local dialogue about the dinosaurs and the “Eiffel Tower” in Crystal Palace, a place I know very well. The gig economy is also highlighted through the care home where Tamara works. I will avoid saying more, but I really liked the connections made throughout the play and the way the different strands came together.

The chains light up at various points, adding visual drama in a way I thought worked particularly well. With so many hanging in the playing area, the actors need to be constantly aware of their surroundings. They also move very close to the audience. One even accidentally backed into my long legs. It is an intimate space, and you certainly feel part of it. I found myself wondering whether the chains themselves represent the connections we all make.

I particularly enjoyed the hopeful denouement, which brought the play’s many connections together. Well acted and thoughtfully constructed, Night City is a complex drama, but one that rewards the effort of following its many connections.

Show	Night City
Dates & Times	10 Sep – 3 Oct 2026
Venue	Southwark Playhouse
Production details	Writer: Max Wilkinson Director: Ebenezer Bamgboye Cast: Jack Ambrose, Helena Pipe and Bex Smith
Tickets	Night City