The exciting world premiere of The Journey, written and directed by critically acclaimed stand-up comedian Stuart Laws comes to Pleasance this summer. Co-directed by Phoebe Ladenburg (The Superhero, The Lyric Hammersmith; Brother Don’t Preach, Theatre503) and starring Will Brown (Unforgotten, ITV; Call The Midwife, BBC; Doctor Who, BBC) and Phoebe Sparrow  (Downton Abbey, BBC; The Dresser, The Duke of York Theatre; Inside No.9, BBC), The Journey is a romantic comedy about a breakup, set on a spaceship.

A play about self-obsession and toxic relationships, The Journey is a funny, relatable and surprising comedy following two people on the unstoppable journey of their relationship. In his theatrical debut, Laws explores a concept which many people can identify with – breaking up on holiday where you are forced to continue to share space and there’s no escape. Imagine how much this is escalated if you’re trapped on a spaceship! Although the spaceship breakup is obviously anything but autobiographical, the story exposes Laws’ private and evolving preoccupation with communication between loved ones.

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At the Edinburgh Fringe the play met with critical and audience acclaim. The Stage calling it “really smart stuff, elegantly exposing the hypocrisy of a lot of self-proclaimed feminists and asking powerful questions about power and presentation in drama, and in fringe theatre in particular.” British Theatres reviewer said “If, like me, you like the unexpected at the theatre, The Journey is the show for you. Of course, that makes it hard to write about without destroying the discombobulating delight of the unexpected for those who haven’t seen it.” The Scotsman made it clear how it affected audiences after reviewing it on a particularly boisterous Saturday performance: “Some people are walking out, others are laughing like they’re on drugs, and I’m beginning to wonder if anyone in this show isn’t an audience plant.” Mumble Theatre said “I left this show with the chills and feeling just a bit shaken at what I’d just watched. How Stuart Laws’ rom-com set in deep space, managed to take it’s audience from the plot-thin standard fare of fringe comedy to a stunned silence at it’s denouement was very clever indeed.”