REVIEW: A SLOW FIRE By Simon Stephens at Jermyn Street Theatre until 26 September 2026
‘Emotionally intelligent’ ★★★★
This could not be a more timely play. This dystopian drama, set in an industrial lock up in the early 2000s, is a world on fire, with scarcity of water and food. Who of us did not feel grateful for the rain after 50 consecutive days of sunshine? Wonderful though it is, the pollinators have been struggling during the draught. Not to mention the wildfires all over the world and other consequences of global warming.
It’s a very clever play. Mary drowned in some distant past. Now everything is on fire. A very meaningful contrast.
Yet the play isn’t primarily about mankind failing to look after the natural world, instead it is a story about what it is to be human. Mainly within the connections between Ashton and Reece, some of the most powerful and welcome emotions emerge; compassion, loyalty, feeling safe, and feeling loved. The pair act out scenes from their past inspired by the theme of ‘hope’. Into their world, comes Presley, looking for Mary and bringing new dynamics to the story.
It becomes clear that the writing is so good that it is a gift, and the company have matched their talents to his. The director Rex Ryan has given the play plenty of room to breathe, so important to engage audiences rather than skimming over any of the passages. All are important to the whole. The scene showing the power of music is particularly poignant. Ross Gaynor as Ashton, gives him an emotional intelligence as well as a verbal one whilst Ian Toner as Reece, has a habit of open mouthed vacancy showing his interior thought processes at work and his shocked reactions. Both are believable as men barely holding it together and becoming reliant on each other to stay sane. Fionn Ó Loingsigh as Presley is suitably intimidating, not to be trusted, clearly a survivor and we all know what that entails.
Stephens has used some of the familiar tropes but avoided being a facsimile, he is saying something new. He concentrates on human connection, support, honesty and hope.
Here in the UK, we have had seven Prime Ministers in the last ten years, we’ve had the sound bites and the promise that they will make their mark, but they all fail to do so. The job is overwhelming, that’s clear. The future that Stephens imagines in his play feels imminent, isn’t it time that our world leaders took this more seriously? What’s the plan guys? Ah, that’s right, more wars, more divisions, more saleable goods.
And if (or when) it all comes to fruition, according to Stephens, we will still have hope and shards of humanity, and some of us might survive.
Jermyn Street Theatre and Glass Mask Theatre present
A SLOW FIRE By Simon Stephens at Jermyn Street Theatre 20 August - 26 September 2026
BOX OFFICE https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/
Cast: Ross Gaynor (Ashton), Fionn Ó Loingsigh (Presley), Ian Toner (Reece)
Director: Rex Ryan
Set Designer: Andrew Clancy
Costume Designer: Migle Ryan
Lighting Designer: Jess Fitzsimons Kane
Stage Manager: Summer Keeling
Photography: Alex Brenner
