The Good House is the second directorial outing for Nancy Medina since she became Bristol Old Vic’s artistic director in 2023. Written by Amy Jephta, it’s a superb satire that explores race, class, property and community politics.
The play centres on the prosperous South African neighbourhood of Stillwater. The middle class residents are enjoying their lives in the luxury surroundings until the arrival of a mysterious shack with its inhabitants nowhere to be seen.
White couples Christopher (Scott Sparrow) and Lynette (Olivia Darnley), and Andrew (Kai Luke Brummer) and Jess (Robyn Rainsford) are shaken by the shack’s appearance and want to get rid of it, fearing the negative impact of “squatters” in their community. They set out to recruit Black residents Sihle (Sifiso Mazibuko) and Bonolo (Mimî M Khayisa), a couple they’ve pretty much completely ignored until the shack’s arrival, to be the face of a campaign to banish the unwanted neighbour.
All six actors are superb as they deliver the story which looks at the limits of good neighbourliness and what is required to fit in.
Despite the serious subject matter, the play is often hilarious. There are also periods of tension which are communicated brilliantly as the couples face their own prejudices and misunderstandings of their neighbours and each other.
The set is simple but very effective, with furniture moved around as we journey between the living rooms of the neighbours’ houses. In the background throughout is the unsettling presence of the shack which grows in structure, as does the tension amongst the couples.
At an hour and 40 minutes long, we were at first intrigued by the lack of interval. However, it works perfectly without a break, which would have interrupted the growth of the story.
The Good House, a co-production with the Royal Court Theatre in association with The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, comes highly recommended.
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The Good House is at Bristol Old Vic until 8 March.
Images by Camilla Greenwell
