The Hunger was a masterclass in theatrical tension. The post-apocalyptic genre was explored on a more personal, individual level rather than on an epic scale. What happened to the world is only relevant in so far as it effects the two characters and because of that focus on character, it wasn’t full of clunky exposition. This was first and foremost a relationship drama about a mother and a daughter. I was impressed by the care and sensitivity that Madeline Farnhill added to this play.
The Hunger was genuinely surprising, but the writing was so well crafted that every revelation of the play made complete sense. I felt a growing sense of tension and unease as the play progressed. The ending was a crescendo of brilliant writing, direction, acting and design. Everything worked really well together and I want to particularly highlight the skilled direction of Natalie Simone for bringing it all together.
Both central performances were fantastic. Elinor Coleman and Hollie Burgess were so skilled at holding the tension in the room, there were moments in the play where I felt like the whole audience was holding their breath. Burgess’s manifestation of fear and unease was so skilled that it made me feel frightened and uneasy. Coleman had one of the strongest on stage performances I have seen for a long time, she took quite a complex character and infused her with so much humanity.
Finally I wanted to take a moment to highlight the great design in this piece. The skilled sound design of Mark Fenton and the lighting design of Zidi Wu made this piece feel truly unsettling. The set really brought the kitchen-sink drama part of the play to life. The overall design is one of the main reasons that The Hunger felt so claustrophobic. I don’t think the play would have been as powerful without this.
The Hunger is one of those plays that reminds me why I love fringe theatre so much. It’s run is over now, but it ran from the 7 – 8th of October in Sheffield Theatres as part of Sheffield Open Works Festival.
Reviewer: Nerissa Monroe
Reviewed: 8th October 2026
Theatre Muse UK Rating: *****
