Uncompromising and hard hitting in its portrayal of the Irish Troubles, Never Closer asks us to confront and acknowledge the trauma experienced by countless young people in Ireland’s very recent history.

We’re in Northern Ireland in 1987, and Deirdre and her friends are parting ways for the first time since finishing high school. All have lived through much of the Troubles; some like Niamh will seek leave them behind, departing for England – the enemy of Irish Catholic people – to study. Others like Deirdre, Jimmy and Harry will stay behind. When by chance, they reunite at Deirdre’s house 10 years later to find out that Niamh has a British fiancé, all hell breaks loose as a decade of resentment and opposing values spills out.

The power of this play is in writer Grace Chapple’s infusion of her personal connection to the Troubles into the story, giving it an undeniably familial, grounded nature.  Director Hannah Goodwin  fosters this  feeling on stage that these people have known each other forever, bonded by fear of bombings and the escapism their friendships offered each other. Her emphasis on the former strength of these bonds ensures we feel the fall out as intensely as possible.

This story imbues real complexity in each character; no one is just angry, or spiteful, or oblivious. All are running from or dealing with trauma. Emma Diaz captures this nuance in Deirdre, her outbursts of anger stemming from deep pain within. Niamh, played by Mabel Li, has her shackles up, understanding her friends’ perspectives but feeling trapped by them. Conor, played by Adam Sollis,  is a little less redeemable, his behaviour a little too extreme for his redemptive arc to quite land.

Set design by Grace Deacon is at once cosy and alienating depending on the mood and gives the cast a lot of room to move, be it dancing at midnight or storming out. Lighting and sound contribute to the atmosphere; the inside of the house a safe haven from the terrors beyond.

Grace Chapple’s unflinching story of friendship and loss  is a unique and compelling take on the Troubles, and a play I won’t forget.

Purchase your ticket to Never Closer here.

Sauvignon Blanc | Wine Pairing

The herbaceous and earthy notes of Sauvignon Blanc are what draws me to it for Never Closer, capturing the gritt of the characters and their surely resolve to rise above the conflict around them.

Never Closer, Belvoir St Theatre & Essential Workers | Tasting Notes

Aussie Season	25 May to 16 June 2024, Belvoir St Theatre
Ticket $	$52-95
Writer	Grace Chapple
Director	Hannah Goodwin
Theatre Type & Genre	Drama
See it if you like	Modern history
Wine Pairing	Sauvignon Blanc
Criteria for Wine Pairing	herbaceous notes, high acidity