📍Lion and Unicorn Theatre, London

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Following a successful run in late 2024, Nothing Theatre is back with Nina Fuentes’ A Million Miles Under Hampstead Heath. It is difficult to believe that this marked Fuentes’ debut as a writer; the hour-long drama utterly captivates, brimming with rich and dynamic dialogue exploring the highs and lows of young love.

Set against the backdrop of North-West London, A Million Miles Under Hampstead Heath is a close examination of how to navigate a relationship. Young professionals Maya and James meet as fellow commuters on the Northern Line – an enviable meet-cute in the age of swiping and matching online. What begins with coy exchanges over book recommendations as the hapless James tries to impress the more reserved Maya soon turns to romance; as an audience we are invited to watch the evolution of James and Maya’s relationship as they navigate life as twenty-somethings experiencing the various tribulations of a relationship. Towards the beginning of the hour-long play I relaxed into viewing what I believed to be a touching romantic-comedy – all the elements seemed to be there. But as the relationship progressed, this became much more of a comment on the difficulty of maintaining a relationship amidst the various struggles that life imposes, and the painful reality of these when trying to build a life together.

Fuentes’ writing perfectly captures the feeling of your first big love as Maya and James go through the passionate throes of the ‘honeymoon’ stage, moving in together, and eventually navigating their differences. Anna Hewitt and George Prentice (Maya and James) are at complete ease on stage. Their chemistry is instant and natural; it often feels as though you are watching a real-life couple play out parts of their day. Hewitt’s monologues on grief, after Maya experiences not one but two losses, was a masterclass in emotional delivery, her portrayal perfectly coupled with Fuentes’ writing. These more emotional moments felt entirely authentic and balanced, and never contrived, in the intimate space of the Lion and Unicorn. Prentice’s James was instantly loveable and though his arc did not allow for the same level of emotional breadth as Maya’s, his turn from happy-go-lucky to ill-equipped lover dealing with an emotionally struggling partner was executed beautifully.

Mention must also be made of director Robert Monaghan who seamlessly managed the transitions between the character’s inner monologue and dialogue throughout the piece. With a design comprising of little more than a singular park bench, the relationship was given the entirety of the space and focus, and Monaghan’s direction smoothly shifted from moment to moment.

A Million Miles Under Hampstead Heath is a piece that needs to be watched and perfectly justifies the need for smaller theatres highlighting new talent – this is the beginning of some exciting careers, and certainly marks an exciting beginning for Nothing Theatre!

A Million Miles Under Hampstead Heath plays until the 26th of April at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town.

🎟️Tickets and information: https://app.lineupnow.com/event/a-million-miles-under-hampstead-heath-1