By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 9 August and runs through 10 August 2024 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (without interval)

Professional stage debuts are always exposing but Cole from TV’s Peaky Blinders and Animal Kingdom completes his in only 2 pairs of the titular swimming trunks.

• Read on for reasons including how Red Speedo is an intense highboard dive into a world where the stakes are high and the emotions heightened

He plays would-be US Olympic star Ray who has been taking performance-enhancing drugs and argues he’s doing so to level the perceived playing field with athletes with maybe more physical and economic advantages than him.

He’s not the brightest and Cole not only convinces physically but also mentally as a man who has found his 1 talent and, misguidedly, decides to boost his chances of success with action completely at odds with the Olympic ideal he is chasing.

He’s given solid support here by Ciaran Owens as his lawyer brother Peter who is almost Trumpian in his domination of the situation and determination to make his fortune on the back of his brother in the pursuit of a lucrative sponsorship deal.

Fraser James as Ray’s coach brings a different perspective to the fore with his advice to Ray never to talk of his luck because it is disrespectful to those he has beaten but instead to emphasise his hard work and the support of those around him.

Parker Lapaine is Ray’s ex-girlfriend Lydia and she worked in pharmaceuticals before being sacked and it is she who the swimmer turns to when his drugs are discovered in the team’s fridge, he manages to deflect suspicion but needs a new supply before the Olympic qualifiers.

This is our 1st visit to this intimate venue and it’s well-suited for this character-driven piece centred on a strip of pool brilliantly designed by Anna Fleischle (Hangmen, Wyndham’s Theatre) and directed by Matthew Dunster (2:22 A Ghost Story, Shirley Valentine, The Homecoming, The Pillowman).

We loved the welcome from the venue (see pictured below) left on our front row seat before the show and we’ll definitely return here because what it lacks in seats (180) it more than makes in atmosphere and intensity.

Author Lucas Hnath writes in the programme about the play’s theme: ‘I remember thinking about the phrase ‘performance enhancing’ wondering if it could/should apply to things outside of drugs – economic background and training and access to facilities and on and on and on.

‘I wondered about fairness and how we decide where to draw the line between what is and isn’t fair?’

It’s a really interesting idea for this play to explore and, in truth, Hnath only ever skims the surface of its depth here but Red Speedo is an intense highboard dive into a world where the stakes are high and the emotions heightened.

As this run comes to a close, we can’t help but wonder whether the campaign for its West End transfer should start here because it’s a knockout ensemble cast with a thrilling star turn of an interesting play that is elegantly realised.

The run at this gorgeous Richmond venue closes tonight (Saturday 10 August 2024) but rush to see it if it surfaces in the West End because it deserves a much wider audience and second breath of success.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Orange Tree Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen an Orange Tree Theatre show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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