Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
A powerful ‘state of the nation’ piece
A classic domestic drama that encompasses the great British elephant in the room - class, writes MAYER WAKEFIELD
Maggie (Claire Rushbrook) and Gary (Daniel Ryan) [Johan Persson]

Middle
National Theatre/Dorfman

 

 

“I DON’T love you anymore”. Five words that no-one wants to hear, right at the heart of David Eldridge’s third play for the National Theatre.  

As the Sunday morning sun rises in Romford,  Maggie (Claire Rushbrook) begins delivering honesty bombshells to lovable “liability” Gary (Daniel Ryan) like there’s no tomorrow. After 16 years together, it seems that there’s no future for them and she reveals that she’s been meeting with Detective Inspector John at cafes and galleries for the past three months.  

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
spy who
Theatre Review / 7 January 2026
7 January 2026

PETER MASON applauds a stage version of Le Carre’s novel that questions what ordinary people have to gain from high-level governmental spying

hamlet
Theatre Review / 6 October 2025
6 October 2025

MAYER WAKEFIELD is gripped by a production dives rapidly from champagne-quaffing slick to fraying motormouth

(L to R) Arian Nik as Samir, Shazia Nicholls as Faiza) Sabrina Sandhu as Harleen
Culture / 15 April 2025
15 April 2025
MAYER WAKEFIELD has reservations about the direction of a play centered on a DVLA re-training session for three British-Pakistani motorists
UN-NUANCED: Sophie Melville, Leander Deeny, Laura Whitmore i
Theatre Review / 6 April 2025
6 April 2025
MARY CONWAY is disappointed by characters so un-nuanced as to be unreal, a stereotypical plot and a conceptual vampire