We Had Fun retraces the footsteps of two friends who come together on a drunken night out. For one, it’s the climax of a long-running chemistry; for the other, a night that didn’t go as planned.
Through clever set design and believable dialogue, the night is unpicked to show either side. Containing overt references to sexual assault and other strong themes, it explores a well-trodden topic in a way that is still refreshingly nuanced.
The intentional use of set pieces and lighting means you’re never confused about where or when the action is taking place. That helps keep the narrative tightly paced within its short 65-minute running time.
That’s not a long time to get to know the two main characters, Oscar and Ela, or their two friends, Sydney and Quinn. Nonetheless, the realistic dialogue and commanding performances from all four actors create some impressively three-dimensional characters in such a short time on stage.
It’s essential that these characters feel fully fleshed out, especially in the case of Oscar and Ela, as otherwise there’s a world in which they could come off as cartoonish. Both are flawed, both make mistakes, and the audience is invited to view them, thorns and all.
There are moments to see their side and moments to condemn them, but ultimately the driving force of the show is that it feels like such a situation could easily crop up in our lives too. Here, it can be explored at arm’s length, with the hope that it would help anyone finding themselves in similar circumstances.
There’s a true empathy for both sides of the conflict throughout We Had Fun, without excusing any acts or invalidating any feelings.
The actors appear visibly moved at the end of the performance, adding extra weight to what is a serious topic. The artful piecing together of events allows for a slow uncovering of the night without becoming repetitive.
We Had Fun is a serious but not heavy exploration of an enduring topic. It will certainly make you think, offering a human lens on an issue that feels wholly grounded in real-world experience, laid out on stage for the audience to engage with. As issue-driven theatre goes, it strikes an excellent balance between thought-provoking and entertaining.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
