REVIEW: THE WASP @ SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

🎭 The Wasp

📍 The Little, Southwark Playhouse,  77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

🗓 Saturday 9th May 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

A STING IN THE TALE

It’s no secret that I never walk into The Little at Southwark Playhouse Borough with trepidation. More often than not, the programming is top-tier, and this revival of Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s THE WASP - a Greenwich Theatre production - is absolutely no exception.

The premise is a total hook. Two former school "friends", Heather and Carla, reunite after years of silence. That initial meeting is deliciously awkward, with the interaction feeling painfully natural. With the audience sat on three sides of such an intimate space, you feel like a voyeur witnessing a private conversation you really shouldn't be hearing.

It’s immediately clear they’ve lived worlds apart since childhood. From the sharp contrast in their dress and accents to the way they carry themselves, the class divide is written in their DNA. Heather is the picture of suburban success, while Carla is world-weary and struggling to keep her head above water. But as they reunite, the air is thick with the ghosts of their shared playground history. Then comes the first big twist: Heather makes Carla an unthinkable, deadly proposition in exchange for a mountain of cash.

The writing here is truly stellar. Morgan Lloyd Malcolm has crafted a script that is as sharp as a razor and twice as mean. She has this incredible knack for capturing the specific, lingering trauma of female friendships and the long shadows cast by childhood bullying. The dialogue is snappy, rhythmic, and carries a biting wit that makes the story equally as comical as it is dark. It’s a play that explores how the past can be a prison, and the writing keeps you constantly guessing about who is truly the predator and who is the prey.

I have to be honest, though, there was a creative choice that I felt stifled the momentum, particularly in Act 1. The action was frequently rewound and repeated. I’m not sure if the intent was to show different perspectives or build tension, but it just didn't land for me. It felt repetitive and, frankly, a bit annoying. Throw in a transition that felt incredibly drawn out, and the flow took a hit. Honestly, I think that if you cut the repeats and tightened the tech, this could be presented as a powerhouse one-act play that would be even more gripping.

These choices are a real shame, because the play itself is a masterclass in tension. Act 2 is where this show truly catches fire, with multiple twists and turns. I usually pride myself on being a bit of a "theatre clairvoyant", but this play completely blindsided me. The plot doesn't just twist; it corkscrews. Every time I thought I had a handle on where the power lay, or which direction the story was heading in, the rug was pulled out from under me in the best possible way.

Performance-wise, Serin Ibrahim is the undisputed heartbeat of the show. She is nothing short of exceptional as Carla. Ibrahim brings a wonderfully brash, "don't mess with me" energy, but layers it with such profound vulnerability that you can’t look away. As the layers of Carla’s history are peeled back, Ibrahim shows us exactly how this woman was forged. She has the audience in the palm of her hand from the jump, and even when Carla is displaying her least likeable traits, Ibrahim makes her human, desperate, and utterly magnetic. It’s a masterclass in grit and depth.

Cassandra Hercules’s Heather felt a little more stifled, perhaps due to some clunky directorial choices or a heavy focus on maintaining that polished, well-spoken exterior. That said, when Hercules finally lets loose, she is formidable. I also loved her unexpected direct address to the audience towards the end. It was a total gear-shift, but it offered a chilling insight into her psyche.

Despite my niggles with the pacing, I really did like this play. It’s sharp, mean, and full of surprises. I’d definitely go and see it again.

THE WASP continues performances at Southwark Playhouse Borough until Saturday 30th May. CLICK HERE for more information, to check availability, and to book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of The Wasp was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

CAST:

Cassandra Hercules as Heather; Serin Ibrahim as Carla

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 55 minutes, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

This production contains descriptions of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, infertility and animal cruelty. There are sexual references and depictions of murder, kidnap, violence and the use of fake blood.

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

15 +

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