At first glance, Spare Room could almost be mistaken for a ‘Men Behaving Badly’ scenario. An unsuspecting young woman moves into a flat with a group of male slobs who don’t even possess a kettle or toaster, and initially there are plenty of laughs to be had at their expense. But this is no harmless comedy about hopeless flatmates, and the mood gradually shifts into something far darker.

Co-writer and actor Georgina Housby plays Jodie, who moves in with Ben, Jack, Alex and a man called Mary (not his real name!) in an attempt to escape the pain of her life at home. Instead, she finds herself joining them on a seemingly never-ending roundabout of drink and drugs, with devastating consequences.

The attitudes towards women are dreadful, while the men’s complete lack of ambition, responsibility and even basic self-care is off the scale. What initially seems amusing becomes increasingly uncomfortable as we realise just how damaging this environment really is.

It is the gradual change in tone that makes Spare Room so effective. By the end, the realisation of what these men knowingly participated in – or simply stood by and allowed to happen – is jaw-dropping.

A wonderfully acted, dark, unsettling production that lures you in with humour, before revealing something much more disturbing underneath. Get there early though, as there is little or no view from the back row and the performance I saw was packed out. A must see!

****1/2

Reviewed By Rona