Escape to Theatreland...

The physical theatre company Frantic Assembly is performing its production of Stockholm at both the Brighton Festival from 3-10 May and the Hampstead Theatre from 13-24 May.

Previously shown at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in October of last year, Stockholm follows the seemingly perfect couple Kali and Todd as they prepare to set off for a holiday to the capital.

They guide us around their plush apartment and gush about their sickeningly ideal life. They clearly cannot get enough of each other.

But all is not as sweet it seems. The title also refers to the psychological condition of Stockholm Syndrome, and it is soon apparent that Kali and Todd are caught in a dangerously obsessive relationship.

The living space, which had previously appeared as slick and minimalist, now reveals itself as a stark isolation booth, complete with an ominous line of knives against the back wall. Sequences of contemporary dance, as Kali and Todd wind and twist around each other, are chilling to say the least and yet keep the audience captivated.

The most alarming aspect of this production is that Kali and Todd could easily be your friends. They chat to the audience about their day whilst cooking dinner, before neighbourly familiarity is replaced by sinister monologues about the darker aspects of their relationship.

Up there with the best of the year so far, this is a terrifying, erotic and haunting 70 minutes watching two people hurtling towards disaster

The Guardian

The Guardian has pronounced it 'up there with the best of the year so far, this is a terrifying, erotic and haunting 70 minutes watching two people hurtling towards disaster'.

If that doesn't take your fancy, the West Yorkshire Playhouse is currently showing Fast Labour until 17th May before it moves on to the Hampstead Theatre from 30 May - 21 June.

Featuring a face many may be familiar with, Craig Kelly ('Clocking Off', 'Queer as Folk') takes on the role of Victor, who has just arrived in the UK from the Ukraine. From a business and a family in his homeland, the UK brings toil and labour. But Victor is not to be taken for granted, and quickly works his way up in the world...

The Yorkshire Playhouse promotes it as 'the story of one man's journey in a growing culture of human exploitation'. Not to be missed.