Sam and Amelia are running away from failed dreams. Amelia’s a triple threat performer (an actor, singer and dancer), fleeing a job-less London by doing a stint on a cruise ship. Sam is an eco-activist, escaping relationship issues they’d rather not face, with two weeks at sea prior to embarking on a new career in Marseille. The pair meet over margaritas, though it quickly becomes clear that both are looking for more than cocktails.

Cruising is a quick-witted new play by Katrina Bennett about relationships and working out what matters when the world is burning. The cruise ship’s a neat metaphor for global disregard for the climate crisis, sailing into the sunset to a soundtrack of banging pop tunes and buoyant voiceovers from the invisible ship’s captain (Fabian Bevan).

Sam (Davy Roderick) is well aware of the unfolding climate catastrophe  whilst  Amelia (Clare Stenning) has a lot to learn. Some of the intrigue in the story lies in her crisis of conscience when she’s finally forced to choose what matters most. Cruising also offers a fascinating insight into polyamory, epitomised in Sam’s colourful litany of previous paramours.

There’s a lot going on in this play – climate protest, authoritarian control, open relationships and the tensions they can bring and Stenning and Roderick  handle the various themes with infectious energy. The resolution might be more satisfying had each character’s goal been clearer from the outset, but this may be a deliberate choice by the writer, reflecting the way in which personal priorities sometimes need to shift, in a world that is in itself  in a state of flux.

Director Sophie Leydon makes great use of the performance space. Lights (Francis de Lima), sound design and colourful props along with zippy performances make for a fun, vibrant hour of theatre. Cruising is a fascinating attempt to wrestle with what matters most  in a world that’s on fire: love, life, professional dreams or making a stand as the temperature rises and we sail into unchartered seas.