Phone, The Courtyard Theatre Review
Written by Eleanor for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Phone, written and directed by Sam Taylor and presented by Goldfinch Theatre, follows two days in the lives of four siblings (Helen, Harvey, Issy, and Luke) who return to their childhood home in Hastings to celebrate their Dad’s birthday. At a familiar hotel, they encounter Reece, a childhood friend hoping to reconnect. As they wait for the dreaded birthday breakfast, each sibling faces the choice of handling the increasingly anxious atmosphere in person or through their continual reliance on technology.
Phone opens with characters lit only by their phone screens, immediately linking to the play’s title. This familiar scene of individuals silently scrolling through their phones was a strong introduction - I am sure many can relate to the difficulty of trying to hold a conversation with someone who is wholly focused on their phone. It really made me consider how it feels to be tethered to a device and for it to hold so much power over us – over our relationships, our work, and our self esteem. As is noted by Harvey, the growing use of technology allows us to filter our lives and potentially miss out on valuable connections in the process.
Due to the strained relationships in the show, Helen (Flora Ashton) constantly tries to get her siblings to talk openly and address their issues, but they prefer to stay on their phones. Similarly, when Reece (Matt Wake) attempts to reconnect with the family, he’s brushed off in favour of their devices. While this reinforces the play’s central themes, it also makes it harder to connect with the characters as we see little of their true thoughts. As a result, it’s difficult to fully care about their struggles, which ultimately weakens the impact of other themes the play aims to explore.
Every character in Phone contributes to the narrative. Issy, played by Jessica Garton, added humour through her habit of dictating phone notes during scenes, sharing her inner monologue in a creative way. I would have liked for other characters to share their internal thoughts similarly. This quirk brought a unique layer of relatability to her relationship with technology, as did her search for validation. Ted Walliker as Harvey was also highly relatable through his attachment to his phone. Moments like his preference to cancel a food order rather than interact with someone to get it amended, and his insistence on checking his phone even when broken, particularly struck a chord with me. Sara (played by Lauren Koster), introduced later as Harvey’s girlfriend, brought a fresh perspective on how technology impacts relationships. She also raised concerns about adolescent mental health. As it was mainly her character who discussed this, I think the play missed an opportunity for broader dialogue. Her storyline also felt a bit disconnected from the main narrative, as she arrived to briefly discuss her work in U.S. schools, then shifted to an unrelated argument before leaving.
These characters are contrasted greatly by Helen (Aston) and Reece (Wake), who rely less on technology and prefer more tangible items and relationships. Reece, in particular, provided a great contrast between the joy of childhood games and a growing reliance on devices. A standout moment was when the group sat down together for a simple card game, bringing warmth and connection. But occasionally his character felt far too comical and disconnected from the overall tone of the scene.
Overall, Phone had moments of engagement but struggled to consistently hold my attention. Helen’s repeated, unanswered attempts to start meaningful conversations became repetitive, losing impact over time. The production might have benefited from a tighter focus on fewer central themes, like technology and youth mental health, and from exploring how these themes intersect more deeply. Ultimately, I left wanting a bit more.
★★.5
