An intimate production performed in the intimate space of the Bread and Roses Theatre allows the audience to watch every movement and observe their body language. Here Comes Your Ghost Again centres around Dan and Esther’s relationship over time, from their first meeting up to the current day.

The story begins when Esther (Sam Nixon) visits Dan (Phil Nair-Brown) in the hospital. What happened to Dan is never fully explained in the dialogue and unless you read the online programme you can only guess by his mannerisms that he has suffered from a severe stroke. The couple never discuss it, Esther almost tip-toes around awkwardly around Dan during her visits.

Here Comes Your Ghost Again leaves many unanswered questions and loose ends, which reflects some relationships we encounter during life. We never discover exactly who “she” is the mystery famous ex-girlfriend. Although it is clear that Dan has never moved on from their break up.

The chemistry between the two is more platonic friends and they are both “nice” but they don’t particularly ignite anything in one another. I would like to have seen a glimmer of lust between them when they first met in the busy bar, something more to invest my interest in as to whether or not they make it as a couple.

The storyline has potential and writer Callum Murray captures what it can be like to never completely move on after a relationship ends but without more passion, it falls slightly flat as a romantic production. Esther deserves better than what she has settled for.

For more information about Here Comes Your Ghost Again and future productions at the Bread and Roses Theatre please use the link below.

Three Stars.

Cast and creatives

Esther: Sam Nixon

Dan: Phil Nair-Brown

Movement Director: Rose Ryan

Writer: Callum Murray