Shotgunned ★★★★★

Touching and emotive, as well as very funny, Shotgunned, written and directed by Matt Anderson, is like a series of artist’s studies, detailing precise, particular and pertinent moments between its protagonists, Dylan and Ros. Meeting at a party where they both express their disappointment in their partners, who happen to be siblings, the two fall in love, then move in together and get pregnant before it all begins to unravel. Written as vignettes and told out of order, this piece is written so as to completely captivate the audience – story telling at its finest and combines great humour with dreadful tragedy – this we also know as ‘life’.

Lorna Panton and Fraser Allan-Hogg, as Ros and Dylan, inhabit the characters’ every emotion, switching seamlessly between locations whilst simultaneously exploring each stage of the relationship. A gesture, a word, an embrace or the simple movement of a shoulder is sufficient to define a mood. This is well crafted and compelling.

There is great chemistry between the actors: their fights erupt with the same passion as the love they display which makes the breakdown as powerful as the attraction.

Two-handlers detailing a relationship of any kind is a challenge to make fresh – the formula can only vary so much. Shotgunned however, with the strength of the rapport between these two exciting actors, never falters and seems like a completely fresh take on a story which resonates with us all.