REVIEW: SIDE BY SIDE, Stump’d Theatre Company at Etcetera Theatre 20-22 March 2026
“A confident and promising first outing” ★★★
SIDE BY SIDE marks both the debut play of writer Dexter Robinson and the inaugural production from Stump’d Theatre Company - a confident and promising first outing.
The play offers a witty and relatable exploration of modern romance, charting the trajectory of a relationship from initial spark to eventual fracture. Through a series of intimate conversations, we follow Evie and Blake as they reveal their histories, insecurities, and expectations - from secret crushes to past mistakes. As they grow closer in knowledge, they paradoxically drift further apart, confronting the uncomfortable realisation that the other is not quite who they imagined.
Robinson’s script functions as a dissection of contemporary love, interrogating the value of radical honesty within a relationship. Is it better to know someone entirely - flaws and all - or to preserve the illusion that sustains romance? This central question gives the piece its thematic backbone.
Theodora Taylor gives an excellent performance as Evie, full of energy, wit and precise comic timing, making her consistently engaging to watch throughout. Alex Jenn offers a strong, grounded counterbalance as Blake, bringing a quiet likeability and restraint that anchors the relationship. Together, they create a believable and engaging dynamic that shifts convincingly with each turn in the couple’s relationship.
Robinson’s writing deftly balances humour with emotional tension, allowing moments of levity to sit alongside more uncomfortable truths. The dialogue is sharp, funny, and rooted in the rhythms of real relationships. However, there are moments where Evie’s more extended speeches - particularly those analysing Blake’s perceived flaws - tip into over-articulation, feeling closer to psychological exposition than natural conversation.
Staging is deliberately minimal, with the action confined to Evie’s apartment, suggested through a simple living room/kitchen setup. Lighting and sound are used sparingly, allowing the focus to remain on the performances and text.
While SIDE BY SIDE captures the intensity and introspection of early relationships with authenticity, its tight focus on the couple can at times feel insular. Much of the conflict is internal, and without significant external pressures, the stakes occasionally lack variation over the course of the piece. Introducing a secondary narrative strand or an outside influence - whether another character or a tangible life event - could broaden the world of the play and provide a dynamic counterpoint to Evie and Blake’s evolving relationship.
Nevertheless, this is an assured debut. Robinson demonstrates a strong ear for dialogue and an instinct for character-driven storytelling, and Stump’d Theatre Company show clear potential as a new voice on the fringe circuit. SIDE BY SIDE marks the arrival of a promising playwright and company to watch.
https://www.etceteratheatrecamden.com/events/side-by-side
Instagram: stumpdtheatre.co
