Phone at Courtyard Theatre

Following his 2023 debut of Pimms and Piety at the Etcetera Theatre, Sam Taylor now tackles the challenging themes of mental health and phone addiction in his second play, Phone. Through a sharp exploration of human connection in an age of constant connectivity, and with some witty writing, Taylor sheds light on the isolating effects of technology.

The plot centres on siblings Helen (Flora Ashton), Issy (Jessica Garton), Harvey (Ted Walliker) and Luke (Felix Warren), who gather for their father’s birthday in Hastings yet remain isolated by their phones. Helen, jaded by her family’s obsession with their devices, tries repeatedly to engage meaningfully with her estranged siblings, but all are locked into their online personas, unable – or unwilling – to connect in the real world.

Each sibling’s struggle with isolation is unique. 17-year-old Issy is absorbed by social media and a questionable opportunity with John, a photographer five years her senior. Luke, temporarily suspended from school for an assault, has no friends aside from a Chinese online friend he constantly games with. And Harvey, a publisher disenchanted with the world around him, immerses himself in his phone to the point of alienating his long-term girlfriend, Sara (Lauren Koster).

Despite its brief 90-minute runtime, Phone explores its central theme from multiple angles. Each character reveals the emotional toll of digital dependence: Luke’s withdrawal into gaming, Issy’s focus on social media and Harvey’s disregard for the physical world. Even characters not intoxicated by their phones feel the impact, such as Sara, who investigates teenage mental health, is shocked at how infantilised and complacent students have become, or Reece (Matt Wake), the hotel receptionist who knew the family when they were younger, struggles to connect with them as he once did. While a couple of monologues feel somewhat heavy-handed when delivering their takes on the issue, the writing is generally well-managed with some succinctly phrased moments.

There is much to like in Phone. With enjoyable performances, clever dialogue and a refreshingly simple production – also directed by Sam Taylor – it’s a thoughtful play addressing a pressing issue that is more than well worth dramatising.

Michael Higgs
Photos: Percy Walker-Smith

Phone is at Courtyard Theatre from 7^th until 9^th November 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.