It feels too late after the event to call this a review, but all the same I wanted to share a piece on what this show means to me.

Stuart Matthew Price & Timothy Knapman’s Before After first came into my life back in 2014 – I attended the workshop performance at the St James Theatre (now of course called The Other Palace); I knew right from the off it was going to be a special afternoon, starting thanks to Stuart himself: I’d been heading to the venue and saw Stuart chatting with two of my friends who knew him well from previous endeavours- next thing I know they’re waving hello to me, Stuart comes bounding over with a huge grin and gives me a massive hug and says: “you’re Kerrie, right? The biggest Hadley fan there is?” (My reputation precedes me, clearly :P) and from that time onwards I knew I would always be supporting Stuart wherever I could – he welcomed me with open arms, has a great sense of humour and of course, is massively talented!

Ami meets Ben by a tree on a beautiful hillside. She recognises him instantly: they were once very much in love. But Ben doesn’t remember her at all. What went so terribly wrong in the past, and is there a chance that, in the present, these two lovers might just find their happy ever after, after all.

What sets this show apart for me is that it’s really beautiful in its simplicity: scenes unfold in “Before” & “After” sequences and there’s something really honest and raw about Ben & Ami’s relationship and the way it’s explored: we have questions about the nature of commitment, identity (separately and as a couple) but it’s careful to balance the emotional intensity with really endearing humour – Ben agonising over his shirt colour for a successful date, Ami fed up after being stood up again and realising her self worth. It’s a really tender, sweet, warm hug type of a show that appeals to my romantic, old school sensibilities. I fell hard and fast for the show from the outset and longed to see it again in some shape or form…

And very recently, thanks to the teams at Grey Area Theatre and Southwark Playhouse, my wish came true as they presented a rehearsed reading of the show starring original Ben Hadley Fraser and his wife Rosalie Craig.. hurrah for married social bubbles! Seeing a show you have known from its beginnings grow and develop has been really special: not only did it remind why I fell in love with show to begin with, but I found new things to enjoy! Notably, new lyrics have been added to Ami’s solo A Little Longer that for me totally changed the intensity and Ami’s character: she became more well rounded and striking as the strong female lead I always love to see; and Rosalie not only had incredible vocals, but played Ami’s conflicting emotions real sensitivity and grace that made it very easy to empathise with her.

As Ben, Hadley Fraser radiated an easy charm and likeability – I love watching Hadley play a bit of a goofball (Ben cracks a lot of jokes and doesn’t always take life too seriously) because he is always careful to give his characters light and shade that make the emotional moments more potent and hard hitting! And let’s be really honest, I’m just a sucker for that smile 😉

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Hadley and Rosalie work together onstage in another musical and numerous concerts over the years, and have always found their chemistry incredibly palpable and engaging, and this show was no exception. With Ben unable to remember Ami, the show explores the ramifications of wether she should tell the truth or continue with the relationship with Ben as it is now, and Rosalie plays the conflict beautifully. The pair are amazing performers in their own right and the show offers them time to shine individually, but when they come together for the duets the whole thing comes alive!

I was so thrilled for Stuart & Tim that more of us got to see the show and that it was so well received; I’m hopeful that the show will continue to have a bright future post lockdown… fingers, toes and everything crossed!