THE KITCHEN SINK at The Bush Theatre

Rave reviews for THE KITCHEN SINK at The Bush Theatre featuring Ryan Sampson as Billy with Stage Design by Ben Stones.

This is a very good place to come from. Cos it’s knackered and funny and it’s falling in the sea... But it’s not a good place to end up

Things aren't going to plan for one family in Withernsea. Pieces are falling off Martin’s milk float as quickly as he’s losing customers and something’s up with Kath’s kitchen sink. Billy is pinning his hopes of a place at art college on a revealing portrait of Dolly Parton, whilst Sophie’s dreams of becoming a Jiu-Jitsu teacher might be disappearing down the plug hole.

Amid the dreaming, dramas and dirty dishes, something has to give. But will it be Kath or the kitchen sink?

An irresistibly funny and tender play about big dreams and small changes, by Bush Associate Playwright Tom Wells.

Running until 17th December you can book tickets by clicking here

Evening Standard - *** Tamara Harvey directs her in-the-round production with palpable affection and coaxes terrific performances from all five actors. Palfrey's Kath is the benign, frazzled hub of the family, fond of her experiments with couscous and sushi but infuriated with the dodgy plumbing in the titular apparatus, attacking it with a hammer for occasional emphasis. Sampson pitches Billy's lovable gaucheness perfectly and Brotherhead is riveting as an emotionally reticent young woman on the brink of brave choices. Outstanding. ***

The Stage - *** Tamara Harvey’s warm and tender production is both moving and funny, while Ben Stones’s open set - configured as theatre in the round - is a monument to kitchen-sink and peeling-lino realism. There are excellent performances from the whole cast - Lisa Palfrey and Steffan Rhodri are completely convincing as Kath and Martin, and Leah Brotherhead lends Sophie a proud stand-offishness while Andy Rush’s Pete is hilariously gawky; Ryan Sampson’s Billy mixes northern naivety with a dollop of camp. At the end, you could hug them all. ***

Offcial London Theatre Guide - *** With no Gavin & Stacey Christmas special this year, people needing a reminder of why families are so brilliant should look no further than The Kitchen Sink. While life may not always be quite so uplifting, this is a reminder that life’s small victories really can be wonderful. ***