Does Revisiting an old love bring back painful or happy memories? Shifters, by Benedict Lombe is a time-hopping love story of Dre (Tosin Cole) and Des (Heather Agyepong) which delves into the idea of first love.

We start the play at Dre and Des’s re-meet-cute at the wake of his Grandma, eight years after their breakup. Born into different social backgrounds, yet their world is destined to collide. He is a Brit of Nigerian heritage raised in a loving household by his grandma; She of British Congolese heritage and is raised by her absent neurologist father.

Lombe time-hopping love journey show how even though people change over time, they don’t truly change when around the people they love. This is a duologue piece, switching between Dre and Des’s version of events resulting in a unique non-sequitur narrative.

Cole, mainly known for his onscreen resume, gives an impeccable performance as Dre, working well to the stage and filling it with a Shakespeare-esque delivery of the dialogue. Alongside Agyepong exquisite portrayal, who executes the pressure surrounding the female Black body beautifully. Their chemistry organically captures the awkwardness of young love and the pressure of unexpressed love.

Both give heartfelt and at times gut wrenching portrayals of how abuse, abandonment and neglect affect people differently. As well as giving strong comedic energy and their timing was perfect in relieving tension between the two.

Lynette Linton quick paced direction helps build the bubbly tension between the character, without it feeling messy. But Linton beautiful staging helps fill even the silent moments on the stage with such nuance.

Alex Berry sets a minimalistic backdrop, with only a few black boxes with very few props inside. To me the boxes symbolise the characters boxing up their emotions and with each box they open they’re opening up to each other with it. Berry’s use of strip lights around the traverse stage signified the shift from present day and past memories. Using warm lighting/undertones when reliving happier memories. Then using a cold/white light/undertones when showing a sad memory.

There was not one weak link in this production. Each piece of the play fits together perfectly like pieces of a jigsaw.

Do not miss this gorgeous piece of theatre, currently playing at Bush Theatre, London, until 30 March.

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