The Long Run by Katie Arnstein. The New Diorama Theatre, 15 Triton Street, London NW1 to 13 April 2024.

4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“A heart-warming story impeccably told.”

Katie Arnstein’s mother has bowel cancer. Katie takes her to hospital for treatment regularly. Katie meets the other people who attend, and gets irritated by George, who regularly walks up and down the hospital corridor clicking away. But a friendship grows as she discovers why George is exercising. Arnstein has performed this piece, part stand up routine, part dramatic monologue, before at the Vaults to considerable praise and this return to the stage is more than deserved. It is a frequently, in spite of the subject matter – and bowel cancer is no laughing matter – very funny evening as she observes the life in the hospital and also, as we learn more about George, an even more amoving one. Her mother, by the way, did recover. This is a play about survival, about getting on with life in spite of what has happened and coping with it. Arnstein greets her audience dishing out sweets before proceeding with her story. About half way through George suddenly appears and things take a rather different course as he has his own story to tell, except that Katie and her mother and the rest of the people in the cancer unit also have a part to play. The monologue becomes a dualogue. Arnstein is delightful company as, indeed, is George, Whoever plays him is not credited but his performance is admirable and it makes a perfect foil to Arnstein’s ebullience. Those welcome sweets by the way also have a part to play in what is a carefully crafted evening. After the show, if you wish, you can donate to Cancer Research UK.

Katie Arnstein.

George.

Writer & Performer - Katie Arnstein
Director - Bec Martin
Sound Designer - James Telford
Lighting Designer - Holly Ellis
Stage Manager - Andy Hollingworth
Producer - Grace Dickson
Assistant Producer - Rory Thomas-Howes