The Barn Theatre, Cirencester – until 15th November 2025
Reviewed by Josie Aburrow Smith
4****
The story is a classic boy (wannabe writer) meets girl (aspiring actress) in New York. They fall in and then out of love over a period of five years. What sets this apart is that Cathy’s story starts at the end of the relationship and retraces back to where it began, whereas Jamie starts at the beginning and moves towards the end. The excitement of a new relationship is portrayed along side the sadness that comes at the end.
Cathy is played by Martha Kirby, she is a pleasure to listen to and portrays all the emotions. She carried us all along with her. Jamies is Guy Woolf and again is very convincing and also amusing with some great laugh out loud moments. They work brilliantly together. They are joined on the stage by actor-musicians Rebecca Demmer (cello), Wills Mercardo (guitar), Angus Tikka (bass), and Ellie Verkerk-Hughes (piano). They are sitting around edge accompanying the songs and then seamlessly moving into the centre to portray various characters.
A special mention should be made about the clever set. The lighting around the edge changes with the emotion on the stage
The Last Five Years is written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. The production is directed by Hal Chambers, with musical direction by Ellie Verkerk-Hughes, set and costume design by Ethan Cheek, lighting design by Jonathan Chan, sound design by Matthew Giles, and movement direction by Georgina Lamb.
In all this is a great night out and a chance to see some real talent on stage.