What is love? And what are our expectations of it in the 21st century? Love Steps, written and directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour, is a beautiful portrait showcasing the chapters we go through when dating in modern society.

In Osei-Kuffour’s debut play, pressures of significant others and personal identity are wonderfully captured and told within every aspect. Through poetry, monologues, even music, we breakdown the stages we go through when searching for ourselves and the people we want in our lives. I was blown away by every element of the show, I wanted to rewatch it as soon as it finished to continue my technical study of Anastasia’s talents and witness the wonder of the performers again.

The show stars two incredible talents who draw us into their stories and keep us hooked for the full runtime. Sharon Rose plays Anna, someone who is persuaded to online date to find her person. She’s all of us in the audience who have tried to date and love but not always succeeded. Her pacing and flow were incredible, I could not take my eyes away from her movements and style of performance. Starring across from Sharon is Reece Richards who effortlessly moulds himself into multiple characters, from Anna’s mother to the people she dates. His body language, accents, everything about the roles he played were so unique and individual, really highlighting his skills. To bring these two people together made Osei-Kuffour’s words jump from the page in the best way possible.

Entering the theatre space, Sharon Rose is stood on stage in minimal light, emphasising the loneliness we can feel when navigating the dating landscape. The whole show relies on the performers to fill the space, but words and spotlights appear to highlight the shadows and transport us to phone calls, club spaces and church. It was simple, yet so powerfully effective in feeling like a view of our own lives and the stereotypes of modern dating that so many people go through. The choice to have no major sets and costume changes may have been one the creatives behind the scenes thought about, but the lack of them is the perfect option for this show.

If you’re looking for incredible performers, a stunning debut, and a clever script, Love Steps is the show you should choose to see.

You can see Love Steps at the Omnibus Theatre until 20^thApril 2024, and then at the Talawa Studio Theatre between29^th May – 1^st June 2024

Omnibus Theatre Booking Link: https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/love-steps/

Talawa Booking Link:https://buytickets.at/lovesteps2024/1178845

Photos by Steve Gregson