Thanks for Having Me is one of those rare productions that manages to feel both incredibly fresh and instantly familiar – a snapshot of modern life that’s smart and genuinely funny. I caught the show at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith and was totally won over by this sharp, thoughtful and delightfully honest piece of new writing.

The play captures the raw and messy realities of young relationships when everyone is pretending to have it all worked out but having very little of it worked out in actuality. Four twenty-somethings are navigating the complex dynamics of dating and friendships. Confirmed bachelor, Honey (Kedar Williams-Stirling) is on a first date with Maya (Adeyinka Akinrinade). Honey’s best friend, overthinking and anxiety-ridden Cashel (Keelan Kember) turns up and hijacks the date following his breakup with long-term girlfriend, Lily (who he even misses in his sleep). Enter the beautiful but emotionally unavailable Eloise (Nell Tiger Free). Can she distract Cashel from his breakup? The play explores the rules of modern romance, a comedy of manners for the Tinder generation, if you like.

The set, designed by Eleanour Wintour (whose CV includes working under award-winning Es Devlin), was a fully realised modern apartment that spanned the width of Studio 2. On one side, a sleek kitchen with a central island; on the other, a lived-in lounge space with a sofa, two inviting armchairs, a coffee table and a bookshelf. Abstract art adorned the walls. The kitchen shelves were dotted with little details — candles, photographs, a radio — that grounded the scene in realism and hinted at the personalities within. The whole place had a slightly masculine feel, fitting since the apartment belongs to Honey, one of the two male characters. Every part of the space was used — from the unseen front door and hallway behind the kitchen to the offstage bedrooms accessed via doors upstage — giving the actors plenty of room to play while making the apartment feel genuinely lived-in.

And that sense of authenticity extended to the writing, too. Keelan Kember’s script is terrific — clever, pacy, and laced with wit. It’s a play about young people navigating romantic relationships in an age where dating is shaped by both digital life and real-world awkwardness, where traditional norms no longer apply, and where games are still being played, just in different forms. The dialogue flowed with ease and spark, full of sharp observations and memorable one-liners, but always grounded in something human and relatable.

Each character felt fully formed, with just enough mystery to keep us leaning in, wondering what they’d reveal next. I found myself especially intrigued by Eloise, played with cool intelligence and emotional restraint by Nell Tiger Free. Her reluctance to be loved hinted at a backstory I wanted to hear more of. As Honey, Kedar Williams brought warmth and complexity to a character trying to help his best friend while managing his own quiet vulnerability and complex relationship with relationships. Adeyinka Akinrinade was credible as Honey’s girlfriend Maya, bringing an authenticity and naturalness to the character. 

The standout for me was Keelan Kember himself, who not only wrote the play but also starred in it as Cashel, a character gripped by anxiety and overthinking everything. His performance was beautifully judged — comic timing on point, mannerisms subtle and real, never veering into caricature. Cashel’s emotional arc led to a twist I didn’t see coming, and it added a whole new layer to a character I already found compelling. It’s a hugely impressive double act of writing and performing — Kember is one to watch.

Monica Cox’s direction also deserves praise. She may be early in her career, but this was a confident and thoughtful production, full of nuance and perfectly paced. Combined with Wintour’s excellent set and costume design, this young team has crafted something that feels truly exciting.

Thanks for Having Me is a brilliant showcase of emerging talent and it’s exciting to hear new young voices. It’s rare to see something that captures the anxieties, contradictions and humour of modern relationships as well as this team has done. If this is a snapshot of what’s to come from this young team, the future of theatre looks very bright indeed.

Thanks for Having Me is on at the Riverside Studio, London from 17 – 26 April, to book tickets visit www.riversidestudios.co.uk.

Words by Helen Keegan

Photography Oliver Kember