Photo: Camilla Greenwell
The titular Pemfort we’re welcomed to in Sarah Power’s new play is a castle – or, arguably, a fort – nestled in a sleepy village that’s home to a host of quirky characters. The 90-minute comedy-drama zeros in on Pemfort’s quiet gift shop, in which the absence of regular customers allows the staff to focus on a new venture: Pemfort’s first ‘living history’ event.
The gift shop (brought to life exquisitely by Alys Whitehead’s vivid yet lived-in set design) is run by Uma (Debra Gillett), a dreamy and motherly figure with a penchant for calling her younger staff members “poppet” or “chicken”. The rest of her team initially comprises adventurous Ria (Lydia Larson) and strait-laced Glenn (Ali Hadji-Heshmati), who is especially passionate about ensuring the upcoming event is as historically accurate as possible – suggestions of ‘public hanging’ or ‘medicinal leeching’ feature prominently on the ideas board.
The comforting mundanity of their daily life working in Pemfort’s gift shop is steered off course by the unannounced arrival of Kurtis (Sean Delaney), a quiet young man Uma offered a job to after they met at Narcotics Anonymous. As Kurtis tries to settle into the role and connect with Ria and Glenn, revelations about his past crash like an atom bomb, raising inescapable questions about humanity, forgiveness, and whether people can truly change.
Power’s script is full of warmth, which director Ed Madden superbly brings out with the help of the talented cast. Delaney’s turn as shame-filled Kurtis is hopeful and heartbreaking in equal measures, and he has a gently sparkling chemistry with Larson’s kind and curious Ria. At the start of the play, the role of Glenn feels like little more than a comedic foil, but as Power weaves in his devastating backstory, Hadji-Heshmati’s assured performance unearths even more layers of complexity. Gillett is perfectly cast as Uma, and her portrayal thrums with tenderness – although I’d have liked to have found out even more about the character’s past and how she ended up at Pemfort.
Initially resembling a sweet workplace comedy, ‘Welcome to Pemfort’ soon reveals itself to be a deeply thought-provoking and deeply human drama that doesn’t shy away from asking difficult questions.
Welcome to Pemfort runs until 18th April at Soho Theatre. Buy tickets at: sohotheatre.com/
Reviewer: Olivia Cox
Reviewed: 18th March 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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