Phil in Space

Synopsis

A run-down garage in a Northern English town

Phil, a middle-aged mechanic with a penchant for DIY and a lifelong struggle with his weight, embarks on a secret mission to build a homemade rocket and escape Earth’s gravity. His meticulous plans are disrupted when Helen, a fellow slimming club member with rockstar aspirations, commandeers his workspace to practice for a local talent show. As Phil’s rocket takes shape and Helen’s David Bowie covers improve, an unexpected connection forms between these two dreamers reaching for the stars in their own ways.

Tom Wells crafts a tender, bittersweet comedy about the desire to transcend our earthly limitations. Through Phil’s deadpan narration and Helen’s infectious enthusiasm, the play explores themes of loneliness, body image, and the courage to pursue seemingly impossible goals. The garage becomes a crucible for transformation, where the mundane collides with the extraordinary, and the weight of human connection proves more powerful than the pull of outer space.