Tense new Sheffield Crucible drama will make you hang on to every word

You can cut the tension with a knife from the moment one woman flinches at the other’s approach in the tautly-written, acted and directed play, hang, that packs quite a punch into one short hour.
By Julia Armstrong
Published 28th Feb 2019, 12:34 BST
Updated 28th Feb 2019, 12:37 BST
Marianne Oldham as ONE, Diveen Henry as THREE and Sid Sagar as TWO in hang at the Crucible Studio, SheffieldMarianne Oldham as ONE, Diveen Henry as THREE and Sid Sagar as TWO in hang at the Crucible Studio, Sheffield
Marianne Oldham as ONE, Diveen Henry as THREE and Sid Sagar as TWO in hang at the Crucible Studio, Sheffield

Writer debbie tucker green doesn’t give director Taio Lawson and his cast of three much backstory but they superbly build the tension as we meet a woman whose family has been torn apart by a terrible crime. Diveen Henry is a fizzing cauldron of  anger waiting to erupt as she meets two officials in an anonymous room to say exactly how she wants the death penalty carried out.

It’s agonising to watch as the staff, played by Sid Sagar and Marianne Oldham blunder on, blandly trying to make her feel comfortable in a process that just prolongs her nightmare. Moments of dark humour underline the mood.

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Clever design, lighting and sound from Rosanna Vize, Andy Purves and Dan Balfour add to the atmosphere brilliantly.

hang is at the Crucible Studio, Sheffield until March 9. Tickets: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk