Synopsis

Various locations, beginning in a 1960s North London flat, moving to a 1990s family home in Reading, and concluding in a contemporary apartment

It’s 1967 and Kenneth and his brother Henry are watching a historic broadcast in their London flat. Kenneth, a charming Oxford student, and Sandra, a free-spirited young woman, quickly bond over their rebellious attitudes and disdain for societal norms. Their relationship evolves from youthful idealism into a complicated marriage, deeply affecting their children, Rose and Jamie, who inherit the consequences of their parents’ hedonistic past.

The play’s themes explore love, selfishness, and generational conflict. Bartlett employs a realist style, with sharp, witty dialogue that vividly captures the characters’ complexities. The tone shifts from humorous and carefree in the first act to darker and more introspective in the later acts, reflecting the characters’ disillusionment. The non-linear narrative allows the audience to witness the progression of Kenneth and Sandra’s relationship and its impact on their family, highlighting the disillusionment and disparities between the 1960s counterculture and the realities of modern life. The minimalist set and episodic structure emphasize the passage of time, focusing on the personal and societal changes that shape the characters’ lives.