Checkout – St John’s United Reformed Church Hall

Soup Productions presented ‘Checkout’ staged in St John’s United Reformed Church Hall, Warrington.

Set in the bustling aisles of the fictional discount store Super Save, ‘Checkout’ written by the fabulous Mike Pirks and Sam Duxbury is a warm-hearted yet emotionally resonant play skilfully blending comedy with timely social commentary. Featuring initially a core trio of supermarket workers navigating daily life, difficult customers, however, this production delivers more than just laughs.

The story centres on three colleagues: Tracy (Karen Hewitt) with leadership, calming qualities and compassion, Marlena (Lisa Rhodes) a brilliant boisterous bold sharp witted flirtatious singleton and Molly (Louise Wright) in a touching, vulnerable but hilarious performance. The chemistry is palpable from the start, with fast paced banter and moments of quiet solidarity that reflects the deep bonds formed in everyday workspaces.

At first glance ‘Checkout’ is a comedic romp through the chaotic world of retail – full of familiar characters who frequent the shop: the impatient Karen (Jayne Dittrich), the sweet but slightly confused pensioner Betty (Barbara Hebden), Fingers the shoplifter (Josh Gosney). These archetypes are played to perfection by the cast, adding pace and energy to the piece alongside trolley collector Phil (Andrew Kenny).

But underneath the laughs lie a play with a beating heart. As the story unfolds, each of the women’s personal struggles are gradually revealed. Molly’s dream of a holiday home abroad turns into a nightmare of fraud and betrayal. Tracy and the team offer quiet strength as they support their new colleague Chris (Jo Preston) who is experiencing domestic abuse, a subplot that adds emotional weight to the play. Another new colleagues Lottie (Samantha-Jane Twigg) offers comedic value during the reflection of Covid-19 pandemic but equally it reflects tragedy following Alice’s (Lesley Hall) loss of her husband during this period.

The writing from Pirks and Duxbury is clever and nuanced, moving seamlessly between humour and heartbreak, the dialogue feels natural and grounded, with moments that draw genuine belly laughs followed swiftly by scenes that leave the audience hushed and reflective.

In lesser hands, juggling topics like domestic abuse, fraud and pandemic grief alongside comedy might have fallen flat. But ‘Checkout’ never trivialises these issues – instead, it uses humour to deepen our empathy and reminds us of the resilience in ordinary lives. At the heart, ‘Checkout’ is a celebration of unsung heroes – the shop workers, the loyal friends and the quietly courageous. It’s a reminder that even the mundane settings, powerful stories are playing out every day.

The cast have clearly worked hard to deliver this play and there were some stand out performers, which where the trio Tracy, Marlena and Molly who were all brilliantly casted for their roles. Well done for your interpretations of these characters as you delivered outstanding performances tonight.

The play is funny, moving and refreshingly honest which is a huge credit to both writers and directors Pirks and Duxbury.

Reviewer: Katie Leicester

Reviewed: 5th July 2025

North West End UK Rating: