Directed and written by Francesca Woods, Alone, Together offers an insight into the lives of six teachers working at the same school. Wood goes beyond the “masks” that these teachers put on each day as they step into the classroom, exploring the numbing sense of loneliness that ties these very different people together.
We see how these characters connect through three different stories, exploring everything from love to loss. More dramatic scenes are interspersed between more light-hearted moments that portray the development of these characters’ relationships with different songs setting the scene. These musically jarring moments were enjoyable but almost too brief, serving as a sort of filler between the main scenes, which did feel intentionally awkward.
Gianlorenzo Neir as Pietro certainly offered some much-needed humour in his scenes with friend Eva (played by Francesca Woods herself). Neir’s great comedic timing and his skills on the piano were impressive. Another standout came from Chloe Lauren Cheung’s portrayal of Sophie, who delivered a heart-wrenching soliloquy on grief and feeling left behind, which was powerful and certainly encapsulated the overarching sense of solitude throughout the 50-minute performance. A bit more of a focus on Sophie’s story, which was arguably the most emotionally charged, would have had more of an impact, just to see more of their individual experiences.
The central scenes were also broken up by inventive choreography, which worked well in some instances, especially the teaching scenes, which united the six-strong cast. Seeing the characters in the classroom more would’ve helped tie the story together nicely. More moments of togetherness amongst the loneliness would’ve been nice in symbolising what they all do have in common despite their differences.
Wood does a stellar job of portraying loneliness in a multitude of forms, from romantic relationships and friendships to co-workers. Alone, Together certainly takes you on quite the emotional rollercoaster in less than an hour, and each actor plays their parts very well, making it a thought-provoking watch.
Reviewer: Gemma Prince
Reviewed: 3rd August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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