Synopsis

A bustling suburban home in Surrey, where the lines between childhood and adulthood blur dangerously.

Delilah Evans, on the cusp of her 13th birthday, develops an intense crush on Daniel Mast, the 21-year-old lodger living in her family home. As Delilah’s feelings spiral out of control, she manipulates and blackmails Daniel, threatening to accuse him of inappropriate behaviour if he tries to leave. Meanwhile, Delilah’s parents Nick and Vicky struggle with their own marital issues, oblivious to the powder keg developing under their roof.

Anya Reiss’s Spur of the Moment is a provocative exploration of adolescent sexuality and the vulnerability of youth. Through Delilah’s misguided actions and Daniel’s conflicted responses, the play delves into the murky waters of consent, power dynamics, and the consequences of blurred boundaries. Reiss’s razor-sharp dialogue captures the awkwardness and intensity of teenage emotions, while also exposing the failings of distracted adults. The claustrophobic setting of the family home becomes a pressure cooker for desires and resentments, building to a devastating climax that forces everyone to confront uncomfortable truths.