The Long Run

New Diorama Theatre

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New Diorama Theatre -

It’s been a while since I’ve been to the ambitious New Diorama Theatre and as soon as I find myself in the auditorium, I’m embraced by the warm Katie Arstein who kindly hands me a fruit pastel and praises me on my Dulwich Hamlet baseball cap, I feel at home already. 

Katie is here to tell us a story about cancer, a time when her mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer and her life completely stopped. But as she mentions more than once, Katie isn’t the hero of this story.  NHS data released last year tells us that a higher proportion of cancers were diagnosed at an early stage that ever before - Katie tells us at the start of the show that her mum survives because they caught it early. Others aren’t so lucky. 

Seldom have I felt so safely held in a room by a performer, I cling on to every word. There are stories of an unlikely friendship with a squeaky-shoed older gentleman, using the hospital corridors to practice for an upcoming marathon, to awkwardly lowly-stocked hospital supermarkets. Each story heartfelt, affable, and lightly laden with corny puns. 

Director Bec Martin - who recently announced her first season as Artistic Director of NDT - directs Katie superbly, never overcomplicating what we’re there for: to hear a beautiful story. Although this version of The Long Run has a slightly higher production value than its previous run at VAULT Festival, this never detracts and instead gently compliments the story. 

Completely affable, utterly charming and surprisingly emotional, The Long Run is a delightfully warm-hug from an impeccable storyteller; a story of resilience, community, love and friendship. An evening with Katie is an evening well spent, even if you are ugly crying for most of it. 

The Long Run by Katie Arnstein runs at the New Diorama Theatre until the 13th April, get your tickets here.

The Long Run is also going to the Edinburgh Fringe in August, get tickets here.

FOUR STARS

photo by Guy Sanders