Ben Ockrent's new play Relics, now playing at the Lyric Hammersmith, brings together a quartet of fractious siblings to divide their late mother's possessions. Despite a starry cast including Sally Phillips and Charly Clive, and direction by Michael Longhurst, the production struggles to find its footing, lurching between farcical comedy and weighty philosophical debate without successfully landing either.
A promising start undermined by tonal inconsistency
Joanna Scotcher's set design initially impresses, with a screen lifting to reveal deep wood panels and sentimental knick-knacks that evoke a beloved home where secrets lie. Yet the screen itself bears giant packing tape reading 'FRAGILE'—a heavy-handed hint at the lack of subtlety to come. Early physical comedy, reminiscent of Mr Bean, is tightly choreographed and effective, but as the play introduces bigger ideas, it becomes a mishmash that leaves the cast struggling to mine either comedy or tragedy effectively.
The four siblings are broad archetypes: Michelle (Charly Clive) is the baby of the family in baggy denim and Crocs; Rob (Sam Swainsbury) is the practical peacekeeper in plaid and Converse; Jonny (JJ Feild) is the distant, business-focused eldest in a gilet and tight trousers; and Olivia (Sally Phillips) is the martyred caregiver desperate for control. Their bickering is recognisable but surface-level, until Jonny's interest in an unassuming painting sparks a revelation about its potentially significant value and dark past.
Ethical quandaries collide with slapstick
The painting's backstory divides the siblings, raising interesting questions: are we responsible for our families' problematic pasts? Should we give up life-changing financial opportunities on moral grounds if doing so has no real-world impact? However, rather than exploring these ideas with nuance, the second half tries to juggle philosophical debate with slapstick comedy, including extended song and dance routines and a slow-motion fight scene set to 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'. These bewildering sequences feel messy compared to earlier physical comedy, stretching too long and losing the abstract concepts entirely.
The final scene attempts a philosophical payoff that is emotional yet unearned. According to Time Out critic Isobel Lewis, 'I had high hopes for Relics; it's Sally Phillips, how could I not? But I left hoping to see her shine in another production in the near future, and with the feeling that Relics might be better left relegated to the past.'
Details and practical information
Relics runs at the Lyric Hammersmith (Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL) from 25 June to 18 July 2026. Performances are at 19:30 most evenings, with matinees on Saturdays and Thursdays. Tickets range from £10 to £55, and the running time is 2 hours 15 minutes. The nearest Tube station is Hammersmith.
