Shoulders, the tender yet witty play by Fintan Dineen, lives up to its title — you may well need a shoulder to cry on after this. Following the death of Matty (Jack Solloway), one of a close-knit group of seven friends from South London, his companions mourn him and confront their grief in different ways. Told largely through the relatable chaos of a group chat thread, Shoulders examines loss, friendship, and masculinity in the digital age. The result is both humorous and heartbreaking — a rare feat achieved through sharp writing and an authenticity that captures the essence of South London youth.
Staged in Kennington’s modest Golden Goose Theatre, the audience wraps closely around the stage. While the seating arrangement occasionally felt a little intrusive for the performers, the intimacy worked in the play’s favour. The absence of microphones heightened that closeness — there’s something powerful about hearing a raw, unamplified voice that no sound system can replicate.
Lighting and music were used sparingly. The occasional wash of blue light during more sombre moments added atmosphere but little emotional depth. Ultimately, the strength of Shoulders lies not in its visuals, but in its script and performances.
James Craze is magnetic as Edgy, a man desperately clinging to the bonds of friendship after Matty’s death. Opposite him, Jacob Wayne O’Neill delivers a vibrant portrayal of Simon, Edgy’s young son. Their dynamic crackles with tenderness and tension — there are moments you forget you’re in a theatre at all.
Dineen’s writing shines in its grasp of modern humour. The jokes land consistently without ever sliding into caricature. The integration of memes, emojis, and photos could easily have felt forced, yet here it’s effortless — a truthful reflection of how a generation expresses love, frustration, and grief through screens. While some older audience members may have been momentarily puzzled by the digital shorthand, for the younger crowd, the humour hit home: witty, current, and deeply relatable.
If there’s a weak spot, it lies in a strange, possibly supernatural subplot involving an imaginary friend. Without giving too much away, it jars slightly against the otherwise grounded realism. Similarly, the haunting on-stage presence of the deceased Matty, though conceptually intriguing, feels unnecessary at times, diluting rather than deepening the emotional impact. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise nuanced and compelling production.
Shoulders is a raw and resonant exploration of what it means to mourn in an age of constant digital connection. It reminds us that grief is not uniform — some cling to memory while others run from it — and that moving on doesn’t always mean letting go. With its fresh dialogue, authentic performances, and emotional intelligence, Shoulders lingers long after the final bow.
Golden Goose Theatre
Playwright & Director: Fintan Dineen
Cast: James Craze, Ishaka Kalokoh, Jack Solloway, Jesse Bateson, Dan Furlonger, Jacob Wayne O’Neill, Daniel LeCann
Running Time: 90 minutes (no interval)