REVIEW: WELCOME TO PEMFORT @ SOHO THEATRE

🎭 Welcome to Pemfort

📍 Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

🗓 Wednesday 18th March 2026

⭐️ 3 Stars

A GRAND ESTATE ON SHAKY FOUNDATIONS

Walking into the Main House at Soho Theatre tonight I was immediately struck by the scale of the world that had been created. The set design by Alys Whitehead is, quite frankly, a triumph. A crumbling estate that feels lived-in, atmospheric, and impressively grand for the space.

Unfortunately, Sarah Power's script for WELCOME TO PEMFORT doesn't always match the heights of its surroundings. It's a bit of a mixed bag to be honest - a tale of two halves that never quite settles into a consistent rhythm. Regular readers of mine will know that the central script is one of the things I value highest in any production.

The writing fluctuates wildly between gripping, high-stakes drama and moments that feel decidedly lacklustre. When it's good, it's epic, but when it's not so good, my mind wandered. While there are certainly funny beats, I found myself a bit detached - the rest of the audience seemed to be laughing far more than I was. There's a hard-hitting core here about historical reckoning, but the first thirty minutes seemed to drag. Honestly, the show could easily lose at least 20 minutes of its runtime to keep that restlessness at bay.

However, what makes this play an absolute "must-see" despite the script's flaws is the powerhouse performance from Sean Delaney as Kurtis. It is without a doubt the strongest bit of acting I have seen all year. Delaney takes us on an emotional rollercoaster, and you can see the toll of his character's journey in his very physicality. He was outstanding from start to finish, and I was completely mesmerised by how he lived every second on that stage.

He's matched by the wonderful Debra Gillett as Uma, who oozes a comforting warmth that fills the entire auditorium. It's just a shame that while the writing for Kurtis and Uma is razor sharp, the characters of Glenn and Ria, played by Ali Hadji-Heshmati and Lydia Larson, unfortunately feel much thinner. At times, it felt as though the script had been written by a consortium rather than a single voice, leading to a strange lack of cohesion.

This inconsistency carries right through to the finale. After building towards what I expected to be a massive, explosive event, the lights simply went down. It felt quite strange and left me wanting a climax that never arrived.

It's a knotty, challenging bit of theatre that will certainly spark debate - just don't expect it to be a smooth ride.

WELCOME TO PEMFORT continues performances until Saturday 18th April. Click here for more information 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 person.

My ticket for this performance of Welcome to Pemfort was gifted by Soho Theatre 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 LIST:

Sean Delaney as Kurtis; Debra Gillett as Uma; Ali Hadji-Heshmati as Glenn; Lydia Larson as Ria

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 40 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Occasional bad language; References to sexual assault, domestic abuse, suicide, suspected murder, and substance abuse

AGE GUIDELINES:

16 +

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