My Arms (24:7 Theatre Festival – Manchester)

Venue: Three Minute Theatre
Where: Manchester

Directed by Box of Tricks’ Adam Quayle and starring Roberta Kerr who impressed in last year’s production of True, My Arms has already been bookmarked by many (including whatsonstage.com) as ‘one to watch.’ Luckily, it does not disappoint.

The play begins with Colin returning to his home in rainy Greater Manchester after four years in prison. He is ready to put his old life together, but his wife has moved on. They awkwardly talk about common acquaintances and heating up a bag of fish and chips, before discussing the real reason they are there. The audience are not watching a beginning; they are watching an end.

My Arms is told in reverse order. There are four scenes, almost all a few years apart, and in each one you learn a bit more about how they reached that end. Writer James Leach weaves the strands together perfectly. Each scene not only holds it own but also links to the one before.

The cast captures the characters perfectly. Colin (Josh Moran), a man of few words, does not appear to change over the years, even if the audience’s perception of him does. In contrast, Roberta Kerr’s Helen is strong and independent at the beginning and as the play progresses we see how different she once was.

Starting at the end does not make the play any less compelling, in fact it keeps you guessing right to the beginning. My Arms should definitely still be considered one of the highlights of this year’s 24:7, as it is an excellent play.

– Joanna Ing