Name one certainty… one sure thing… one thing you truly believe…‘ This question pervades itself through Frantic Assembly’s stark and powerful new production The Believers, now on at Curve.

Written by Bryony Lavery, an honorary doctor of Arts at De Montfort University, The Believers follows a night of dramatic events when two families are flung together. Marianne (Eileen Walsh) and Joff (Christopher Colquhoun) escape their flooded home and are welcomed to their neighbour’s home by Maud (Penny Layden) and Ollie (Richard Mylan). The play unfolds this neighbourly gesture, the decisions and actions made during a drink and drug fuelled evening, and their consequences.

Strong performances by this cast of four are supported by minimal, but yet superb lighting by Andy Purves and set design by Jon Bausor. Jon Bausor, renowned as the set designer of the London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony, has created a stunning set which maximises the intimate scale of Curve’s studio space. The actors are superbly choreographed to revolve and interact with three piece set akin to elements of modernist sculpture. Memorable, contemporary and superbly effective.

The Believers dissects the two family’s interactions and differences over the course of the evening, confronting relationships, marriage, parenthood, love, loss and faith leading to a climatic and powerful conclusion.

The Believers offers an insightful piece of contemporary drama which will no doubt continue to build Frantic Assembly’s reputation as one of the most exciting companies in the country. Recommended.

The Believers is on now at Curve until 29 March 2014 before its run at The Tricycle Theatre, London. Ticket prices range from £10 – £16, to book or for more details on the show visit the Curve website HERE.

Review by James Hickford