REVIEW: Hold The Line by Sam MacGregor at The Hope Theatre 21 – 25 April 2026
‘a brilliant, relevant and captivating story’ ★★★★
NHS111 deals with non-emergency medical needs only. But what happens when a patient calls on the verge of death?
In ‘Hold The Line’, Gary, an aspiring actor freshly new to London, works in a NHS111 call centre. Day after day, he picks up the phone, again and again, having to deal with various people reporting a number of – sometimes nonsensical – injuries. But when a 57 years-old man dies while his daughter is waiting to be put in touch with a doctor, Gary’s reality suddenly takes a dark turn.
‘Hold The Line’ offers a gripping insight on the UK’s NHS, diving into the workers’ crisis. With an almost dystopic climate (as if watching an episode of ‘Black Mirror’) the play moves from comedy to tragedy in a heartbeat. A claustrophobic feeling hovers over the stage, made out of a single white desk. As Gary struggles to keep up with the calls flooding in, the atmosphere rapidly turns distressing. Even the once light-hearted waiting music now feels oppressing.
Sam MacGregor, writer, co-producer and main actor, does a fantastic job at raising to the surface an important issue in a unique and engaging way, drawing from his own experience working for the NHS. Overworked staff, high pressure environments and wages that are simply not good enough – resulting in serious shortages in the workforce – the whole system is seemingly becoming a business. Gary’s boss, Lee – played by Gabriela Chanova, also co-producer of the show – obsesses over ‘increasing productivity’ while repeatedly ignoring employees’ mental health wellbeing. A relevant depiction on relations between companies and their workers nowadays: little humanity, and a strong sense of overall absurdity.
‘If you’re going to blame someone, blame the government’ retorts nurse Tony (Gabriela Chanova), after being accused of mishandling a situation. But there is little hope in her voice. ‘It’s all just fucked’ seems to be the cruel reality for most NHS workers.
As we face the biggest crisis in public health care services, McGregor’s ‘Hold The Line’ offers a brilliant, relevant and captivating story, with a terrific potential for a big future.
Read interview with writer / performer Sam MacGregor here
HOLD THE LINE by Sam MacGregor, directed by Laura Killen at The Hope Theatre 21 – 25 April 2026
Cast & Creative team:
Sam Harry Macgregor – Writer, Co-Producer - Gary, Lee
Gabriela Chanova – Co-Producer - Lee, David, Rosie, Toni
Laura Killeen – Director
Johnny Phethean – Sound Designer
Ruby Sevink-Johnson – Stage Manager
Sidney Smith – Prop Maker
Nalani Julien – Carpentry
