Honour focuses the chaos of infidelity and separation into an elegant, razor-sharp theatrical experience.  What happens when everything you have used to define yourself – every quality, role and affiliation – suddenly abandons you? What happens when a mature, intelligent, responsible and loving woman finds her life disappearing?

This show was presented in the intimate setting of the Red Stitch Theatre in Chapel Street with a very minimal set of just a few chairs and a plain white stage, set designed by Jacob Ballista and Sophie Woodward.   The four actors all sat side stage when they weren’t in the scene which for powerful dramatic affect and very smooth scene transitions.

Director Sam Strong has created a very deeply beautiful and at the same time highly emotional production showing off his cast and their abilities, each giving them their moments to shine.

In the title role of Honour, Caroline Lee gives an incredible performance as the wife and mother who goes from being what she thought was happily married to instant heartbreak of separation.   She plays the role with devastating precision as she becomes the victim of the relationship and has to navigate her way through suddenly being on her own and having to figure out what to do next, her performance is mesmerising.

In the role of the husband and father, George, Peter Houghton is stoic and at the same time cruel and cynical as he destroys his wife and daughter’s life and his relationship with them.  He had some very difficult scenes having to quite literally stagger his was through the lines as he became more and more flustered by what he was doing to his family and trying to make his character seem like the victim himself when he was in fact the perpetrator of his families destruction.

As George and Honour’s daughter, Lucinda Smith plays the role of Sophie and she was indeed the standout.  Her ability to emote the pain and devastation when she found out her father was leaving was gut-wrenching and made the audience very much sympathise with her and the situation she had been put into.  The desperation in her voice was super believable and I feel she is one actor to watch in future productions.

Finally in the role of the journalist and lover Claudia, Ella Ferris plays the mistress and the woman that George leaves his wife for, Claudia I would say is the token villain of this play as she shows no sympathy or empathy to the family she’s destroying.  Ferris’s performance is dark and deep and I loved her ability to make the audience dislike her, the moment that very much made her performance shine was when she turned a corner towards the end and became confused and vulnerable wondering if what she was doing was the right thing.  In the end, she too became a victim.

Every performance in this production showed a high amount of skill and ability.

I must also mention the simple but very effective lighting, designed by Harrie Hogan.  This added to the emotional depth of the story.