“Inhabitation” by Nat Henderson
Nottingham New Theatre

Another new piece of writing from my favourite student run theatre group (the only totally student run theatre group) and Nat Henderson has based a lot of the story on her own experiences with friendships, the creation and waning of them.

This is one of the craziest plays that I have seen in a long time. It's a play within a play and as soon as you walk into the performing space, this is apparent with "producers", "directors", "back stage crew" and extras all over the place and then it settles down to the main story about two women. Morgan and Evelyn, their friendship, at times strained, but one that grew to be quite close.

The play flips to the present day and back with the present Morgan visiting the property and recalling her memories in flashback.

Just as you really become enveloped in this quite touching story, we are brought back down to earth and back to the "play" within the play that we are watching, and while there are comic moments within the inner play, it was, for me the cast performing the play of the play that really made me smile.

Ellen Schaffert (Younger Morgan) and Nadia Elalfi (Older Morgan) have really studied either each other or the characters they are playing because, when you look at these two closely, there are a lot of traits and mannerisms they both share, which as they are the elder and younger same character, you'd expect that.

Yasmine Dankwah (Evelyn) was brilliant as the neighbour who becomes Morgan's friend. loved the light and shade of the character.

Abie Whitehead (Alex) is Evelyn's partner, Cameron Brett (Tony), a wonderfully down played, matter of fact, and brutally open character which at times slightly shocks with what he says, especially with elder Morgan being a stranger to him in the play. Tobi Bambi ( great name for an actor by the way) found his feet as the Stage Manager in the play, but it was Jack Lahiffwho stole the scenes for me as the just slightly effeminate Director of the inner play. Where do they get their character images from?

Along with these there were several other actors as the extras .

Written and Co-Directed by someone who is either a complete looney or a comedy genius in the making, Nat Henderson has created a bit of a modern gem, and while there were times when I was wishing that the pace could speed up a tad, when it did, it was well worth the wait. There are some lovely characters Nat has written and I love that she has lovingly lambasted the archetypal theatrical character roles, who at times forget to laugh at themselves. Co Directed by Essie Butterworth and Produced by Sophy Baxter.

Loved the set - designed by Joe Strickland - and I'm not sure if the grass was the real thing but it looked and smelled like it, which gave a real feeling of being outside sitting outside someone's back garden.. Washing lines and fencing complete the picture.

Also loved the lighting which was cleverly designed to make the time lapse look like one of those speeded up nature films - you know the ones where the clouds speed by or a flower bud opens - well that's what it felt like to me. Designed by Tara Prasad.

The sound also needs mentioning as it really made you feel that there was a party going on behind that door. Sound Designer was Zoe Smith.

There are many things to make you think about with this story but after giving you that thinking space, delivers some fine comic moments. And I sat there at the end wanting to see the next day's filming schedule, which also meant that there was a novel way to close the play, and until I checked the time, realised that it really was the end of the play.

Clever, very novel and really entertaining piece of new theatre, delivered by a talented cast. Everything I've grown to expect from the NNT.

“Inhabitation” is at the Nottingham New Theatre until Saturday 16 March.