Shotgunned – Traverse Theatre

Roz (Lorna Panton) packs up the belongings of Dylan (Fraser Allan Hogg), her ex. She hesitates, then adds one last item, a cheerful framed painting of the name Olivia.  

We see the tenderness, and the anger, that Roz and Dylan hold for each other. The story of their romance is told nonsequentially. These are the familiar, everyday moments of life, as two young people in love laugh and cry together. Their first awkward conversation. Dylan teaching Roz how to play on the Xbox. Sharing their hopes and dreams for the life they will build together.  

It all falls apart after Roz suffers a miscarriage. The grief for their daughter, Olivia, is too much to bear.  

The story is simple, and Matt Anderson’s script is very much character driven. He has provided some lovely moments for the two actors, who bring a beautiful humanity to their roles. The story is all the more heartbreaking for its familiarity. The pacing is spot on, giving the right amount of space for the characters to breathe.

I liked Giulia Pizziol’s set very much. Echoing the simplicity of the plot, there are few items on stage, but there is a cosy vibe, with a backlit window at the back of the stage. Likewise, Ella Catherall’s sound design, and Jack Reid’s lighting, keep us on track with the locations and timeline, without distracting from the performances, which are central to the piece.

This excellent play shows how the grief of miscarriage affects the bereaved parents, in the everyday moments of life. Many people suffer miscarriages, but we don’t talk about it much. Shotgunned provides a reminder of how vulnerable we all are.

Reviewer: Wendy McEwan 

Reviewed: 24th April 2026

North West End UK Rating: