Master Class by Tim Connery. The Bridge House Theatre, 2 High Street, Penge, London SE20 until 4 October 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Master Class by Tim Connery. The Bridge House Theatre, 2 High Street, Penge, London SE20 until  4 October 2025,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Touching, funny, beautifully acted.”

Tim Connery, who wrote the splendid What A Gay Day about Larry Grayson, has come up with an equally good play in Master Class. Touching, funny, beautifully acted by Alex Dee and Kurt Lucas it is about being an actor, becoming an actor, life upon the wicked stage and growing old. Dee plays Roger Sutherland, an ageing actor of distinction – he has played Shakespeare, been in films and on television and is famous but not as famous as in his prime. He is reduced to holding master classes in obscure venues to avoid the Inland Revenue and get some cash in hand. To the primary school classroom in which he is appearing come Gary Brock played by Lucas, a brash young Australian, once a soap star boy lead, who has come to England to expand his range and learn. The confrontation between the two is very funny - chalk has met cheese – or maybe not. As their war of words goes on they start to bond, the old man, who is facing up to the ravages of old age and a failing memory, finds in the younger one hidden behind the modish method acting theory he spouts real talent. Connery has crafted as good a two hander as can be and manages to find an ending one does not see coming and director Luke Adamson has guided his players perfectly. The Bridge House is a splendid pub two or three minutes walk from Penge West station – take the Windrush Line - which adds to what is already a very good night out.

Cast

Alex Dee – Roger Sutherland.

Kurt Lucas – Gary Brock.

Creatives

Director – Luke Adamson.