Carol, an anxiety-ridden mother, has arranged a small family party to celebrate the 21st birthday of her severely disabled son, Andy, who has long been in a care home. Carol has meticulously planned every detail for the family celebration – balloons, party hats, sausage rolls. But as relatives gather and tensions rise, unexpected guests force long-buried truths to the surface.

It doesn’t go too well.

Those invited are Andy’s elder sister, Claire, and his grandparents, Brian and Patricia. But there are also two unexpected guests: Claire’s boyfriend, a performance-poet, and Andy’s father, Ian, who abandoned the family and who is cordially loathed by everyone in the room.

Rory Kinnear’s acclaimed play is a heartfelt, sharply funny look at family dynamics. It explores the weight of caregiving, sacrifice, trust, forgiveness and the complexities of love and responsibility. The characters’ interactions provide a poignant and often humorous look at the challenges and energies within a family facing extraordinary circumstances.

The Herd will be hosting a charity preview performance on Thursday 18th September
in aid of the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice