REVIEW: Fire Fire By John Webber at Arcola Theatre 9 September - 3 October 2026
’Too many un-focussed ideas’ ★★
Paige is looking to cause some chaos. She and others are climate activists and road closure to a countryside sanctuary is their latest effort to show themselves and hopefully get others to understand and agree with their view of the world. On this day, however, Paige encounters Eddie who is holding a memorial for his late brother. Eddie doesn’t like Paige. Paige doesn’t like Eddie. The perfect set up for the world premiere of John Webber’s Fire Fire.
The two hander is performed in the Arcola’s studio theatre and following their initial ‘meet cute’ the duo continue to bump into one another - not implausibly - and their conversation widens. We learn that Paige and her partner are at breaking point and that she had a challenging upbringing. Eddie is divorced, has a daughter and is looking for more to his life - and his health is deteriorating. Paige, a young woman of colour and Eddie, a middle aged white man from Essex are natural ‘opponents’ but who find common ground through talking and thinking - and understanding what drives the other.
In a neat if slightly uninspired step-stage and lighting that adds more than it takes, Fire Fire has all the ingredients to be a thought provoking meditation on how opposites can find common ground & goals in light of personal and global differences. But, for a number of reasons, this just doesn’t work.
Both performers work hard and well. As Paige, Gabrielle Brooks (so good a few years back in Get Up, Stand Up!) is a little too one note whilst Chris Simmons’ Eddie has greater depth and you believe his lived experiences. Indeed, all the best bits are when they are talking to one another. Much less good are the singular turns to the audience and as we head towards the climax, the whole thing just becomes muddled and slightly baffling - too many themes, too many metaphors and it’s also about 20 minutes too long. Attempts at humour don’t land and the moments which should move the audience didn’t work for me I’m afraid.
All in all, there is clear writing talent here but too many un-focussed ideas do not a great play make - and this never catches fire.
Fire Fire by John Webber
Arcola Theatre
Produced by Webber & Co and Metal Rabbit Productions
Directed by Jennifer Tang
Starring Gabrielle Brooks & Chris Simmons
Images: Mark Senior
