HANNAH SCHMIDT

Veda and Bea haven’t spoken since their Dad’s funeral; not since Bea scratched something obscene into the bonnet of Veda’s cherished convertible. But one wet Tuesday morning, Veda shows up out of the blue on Bea’s doorstep, determined to break down the walls built by so many things left unsaid. But before they can do that, there’s the small matter of the physical walls Bea has surrounded herself with – walls made of newspapers, suitcases, cutlery, commodes, keyboards and hundreds, likely thousands, of bags-for-life…

The world premiere of Chloë Lawrence-Taylor’s Personal Values, directed by Lucy Morrison, is a perceptive, poignant and witty look at sisterhood and the enduring strength of even frayed family ties.

Production
Cast: Holly Atkins, Rosie Cavaliero, Archie Christoph-Allen
Directed by Lucy Morrison
Set Designer – Naomi Dawson
Associate Designer & Costume Designer – Hannah Schmidt
Lighting Designer – Holly Ellis
Sound Designer – Max Pappenheim
Associate Sound Designer – Anna Wood
Production Manager – Josh Collins
Stage Manager – Oliwia Rokowska
Hampstead Theatre
London, UK
11 April 2025
Credit and copyright: Helen Murray
http://www.helenmurrayphotos.com

Objects pile and tower as walls in Chloë Lawrence-Taylor’s debut play. Since their father’s funeral, when Bea scratched an obscene picture into Veda’s car bonnet, the two sisters have lost contact, and Bea has been isolated in an ever-growing haven of “stuff”. Old vinyl, books, crockery, bags for life and mountains of cutlery have turned her home into a graveyard of the past. To an outsider, it is the depths of hoarding; to Bea, every dusty item is a relic to be pored over and adored.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/23/personal-values-review-hampstead-theatre-london