Review: Hold The Line, The Hope Theatre

(Photo Credit: John Kolikis)

Gary works in an NHS one one one call center. This is the non-emergency line. One moment turns an otherwise regular shift into Gary’s worst nightmare, a routine health assessment and an unexpected death. With his inner world shaking in the midst of an investigation, he still finds himself answering the call to help. 

This show made its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in twenty twenty five to great success. As of this year, the play has been on a tour across the UK and is next due to stop in Nottingham.

The first thing to note is that from the outset, this show feels lived in, but that’s because it is. The story is based on the personal experiences of writer and performer Sam Macgregor. This gives it a natural authenticity and, to an extent, automatically creates a sense of trust in the material, aided by the fact that Macgregor doesn’t wear a costume, he wears his work clothes.  

(Photo Credit: John Kolikis)

Macgregor is as strong of a writer as he is a performer. The more serious subject matters that the show addresses are handled with exceptional care and well balanced with lighter, more humorous moments, giving the show a beating heart.   

There are some sporadic and brief moments of audience interaction, I would’ve liked to have seen more of these because they are engaging and open up more of a dialogue.

There is also a beautiful artistry within the phone dance sequence, showing how hectic and exhausting a single shift can be. The game- show-esque artistic style used during the mental health questionnaire scene is an ingenious way of using theatrical means to highlight faults within the healthcare system. 

(Photo Credit: John Kolikis)

There is good justification as to why the show needs to be a two-hander: watching the performance is like reading a diary aloud in public. To get the wider story, we need to be able to clearly see the different power dynamics and the strings attached to them. In this case, this is shown by distance between the actors within the stage space. The space between the call handler and the patient and the firm grip the business higher ups have whilst they constantly move around and change the rules. The battle of the consultant doctor and the one one one call handler to be able to meet in the middle whilst they navigate the system.  

I’ll admit that working in the NHS has given me more of an appreciation for shows like this that are trying to advocate for the system and change it to benefit workers and patients. Hold the line displays how backed up the NHS is on multiple levels. On a deeper level, it argues that we need to stop seeing it like a business based on productivity and actually start recognising that the NHS is a center for humanity. Emergency and non emergency phone line operators are real people and they deserve more support. Helping people helps people. 

Deeply meaningful and sincere, this show will make you think. 

Star rating: **** Four Stars

Age rating: Twelve plus

Content notes: Flashing lights/coloured flashing lights, coloured lights, depictions of mental health, depictions of first aid, death, suicide, references to sexual content, strong language, description of medical problems and treatments.

For more information and tickets to the next stops on the tour…

Nottingham:https://nottingham-theatre.co.uk/NottinghamArtsTheatre.dll/WhatsOn?f=2186716

Newcastle:https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/hold-the-line