The Last Time We Saw You

Written and Directed by Bradley Barlow

On the eve of his release from prison, the people Darren used to know begin to question the evidence against him. With tensions high and his guilt in doubt, will Darren and his former friends uncover what happened on their fateful holiday many years ago…?

5-star Review from What’s Good to Do

4 April 2017 – read the original review here

Together with my husband we spent an intriguing evening last night watching The Last Time We Saw You, a new play by Bradley Barlow. The play is performed by Pitchy Breath Theatre Company, a community theatre company based in Crawley bringing a real local flavour to the performance.

The performance of The Last Time We Saw You was held in the Studio at The Hawth, a small auditorium within the main theatre which perfectly suits a small production such as this. With a full cast of thirteen the play tells the story of Darren and his friends and their fateful holiday 13 years ago. When Darren’s girlfriend, Becky, goes missing after a night out drinking the blame is automatically centred on him. After a tough start in life Darren’s bad boy image comes back to haunt him when on learning he has been in prison and young offenders several times before he becomes the prime suspect. Although a body is never found Darren gets convicted to life in prison for the murder of Becky. 13 years later he earns an appeal and the case is once again brought to court. The production tells the story of everyone he knows, from his so called friends, to school teachers, prison officers and police.

As we delve deeper into the story it’s obvious someone is lying, but who, and why. The evidence against Darren is fairly flimsy and becomes more questionable as the play goes on. The 20-minute interval leaves you time to question each storyline yourself and decide who, if anyone, is telling the truth. With a lot of people keeping secrets the production keeps you thinking throughout and although I guessed correctly who had done it the reason why was a real surprise.

My husband and I really enjoyed this production from Pitchy Breath Theatre Company and would definitely attend any future performances of theirs. Brilliantly performed by the cast, the story is intense in parts and humorous in others making the perfect compromise for a relaxing evening at the theatre. Fine acting skills and an intriguing storyline really brought this play by Bradley Barlow alive. Highly recommended. Rating: 5/5

Notes from the Programme

The Last Time We Saw You explores the impact of tragedy and the lengths we go to in order to support one another at our darkest moments. Much like our 2014 production of Dead Leaves, the play introduces the audience to an array of characters from all aspects of Becky Wilson’s life. Each person you meet is vital to uncovering the truth behind her disappearance, so pay close attention to the words of every character. Spend time over the interval to discuss with one another what you’ve witnessed and see if you can work out what happened on that fateful night. I’d like to thank everyone involved in the production for their dedication, creativity and commitment to producing an exciting evening of original theatre.

2016 was a year of change for Pitchy Breath, a time in which I was fortunate and honoured to take on the role of Artistic Director of the company, which is now in its 22nd year. Pitchy Breath has always thrived on change, with every production welcoming new faces and others returning to us after a short break. We are committed to producing bold, limitless and new theatre, be it an original work or a vibrant new version of a classic such as this November’s Julius Caesar or next year’s Monsters to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Frankenstein. I hope to see you there!