Two
17 April 2026
Park Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Two, running this week at the Park Theatre until the 25th April, celebrates British pub culture in this semi-immersive 90 minute piece. This witty observational two-hander sees Peter Caulfield and Kellie Shirley take on 14 different roles, effortlessly slipping into a variety of characters that bring the neighbourhood boozer to life.
The audience are welcomed into the set of a local pub, many taking seats at tables placed around the room, that feels familiar to anyone who has set foot in a pub. Firmly set in the 80s, the pub is dressed up perfectly, with framed photos along the weathered walls, mismatched chairs and tables, beer and booze ads, and of course a well-stocked bar stretching along the back wall. It’s a comforting familiarity that settles over the crowd before the actors bring the stage to life. Patrons are even able to buy drinks in the pub, by purchasing vouchers at the bar beforehand.
Seated amongst the action, visitors in on-stage seating are directly spoken to and often subjected to funny quips and observations, though not required to be part of the story. The landlord and landlady are a well attuned married couple, familiar with each other’s quirks and personalities, loud and cheeky, bantering with each other and their guests. The story of their life together is interspersed with that of their working class patrons, all played by Caulfield and Shirley who show off incredible acting chops by conjuring a wide variety of characters. A little outfit alteration, a different posture, accent, timbre, it’s fascinating to see these two become so many different people across the short runtime of just an hour and a half, including a short interval.
From a pensioner taking their routine drink on the way home, over the young couple bickering over banalities, to the young child looking for their drunkard father, the variety of characters is compelling, bringing a sketch-like atmosphere with these familiar but colourful characters. The most solidly drawn characters are of course the proprietors, telling of a life lived behind the bar, in service of their patrons. A gorgeous production of the play that really benefits from incredible acting and a very cosy atmosphere!
