In a dingy nightclub cloakroom, we see the comings and goings of twenty passing clubbers from the perspective of a mostly nameless cloakroom attendant. Vaguely recognised as ‘Danny’s brother’s boy’ or the ‘choirboy’ from school, he is a voiceless voyeur, playing a quiet role in their unfolding adventures. Malachy O’Callaghan’s ingenious, sparkling new dramedy will have you laughing hysterically one minute and misty-eyed in the next, through a subtle but poignant exploration of interlocked lives and the importance of human connection.

Joe Ryder’s performance as the cloakroom attendant was nuanced and deeply introspective, conveying the weight of his character’s repressed grief masked under cheerful conversations with passing clubbers. With dimmed lighting occasionally placing a spotlight on him, we are invited to see the world through the eyes of a side-lined character. The simple but effective set design helped the audience to see the world through his lens, with no scene changes mirroring his constant presence in the cloakroom as a mostly silent participant in the conversations of passers-by.

Playing 20 characters in 50 minutes is a task that the other three actors make look effortless. With so little as a change in jacket, the cast morph in the blink of an eye. Although it may take a split second to remember who is who, we reencounter familiar faces, learning progressively how their stories interconnect. Daisy Smith, Louis Mockler and Menna Hyde morph from posh Londoners and stag party goers to clubbers in lobster costumes – the audience can never predict who wanders into the cloakroom next. Rapid-fire costume changes allowed characters to be recognisable through a single piece of clothing. Louis Mockler in particular perfected the drunk party lad who loses his shoes, Scouse aunt, and aspiring Louis Theroux impersonator.

Witty writing and rapid-fire line delivery made for a refreshing and original comedy, with the audience lost in laughter over segues into Simon and Garfunkel renditions or quotes from Winnie The Pooh. As the characters’ connections are revealed, the play takes an increasingly introspective focus on the cloakroom attendant’s emotions. We follow his journey to finding purpose among the flurry of drunken strangers. As the characters’ lives interweave, we are reminded of how belonging is found in relationships and connections with others.

At once witty and deeply moving, ‘Loose Threads’ reminds us that no man is ever truly an island.

‘Loose Threads‘ is at the Space @ Surgeon’s Hall – Haldane Theatre until Tue 12 Aug 2025 at 17:15