The Box – The White Bear, Kennington
Brian Coyle’s tense, intriguing exploration of a couple in a relationship crisis. Although the reason for the crisis does not become evident until later in the piece Initially the couple Tom and Kate appear to be playing games with each other assuming alternate identities. They continually compare themselves unfavourably with the relationships of other couples they know who to them seem more " normal". Coyle is fascinated by deception. In the play he claims that lying is inherent almost everything we do, in work, in relationships, and even with those we are closest to.
The setting was simple with the audience on two sides of the White Bear's playing area dominated by a large box wrapped in paper. The purpose of this box is not clear, although it is obviously very important to both t...