Review: Steve & Steff For Ever - Theatre Royal BSE

Open up your heart and allow yourself to be seduced by this gentle, sweet, and romantic piece of promenade theatre as this latest production from Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds invites you to witness a love story develop in the heart of the beautiful town the Theatre calls home.

It opens with the audience being invited to don some silent disco style headphones in order to hear the dialogue and thoughtfully selected music. Then, guided by the helpful Theatre staff, we head to the first location where we meet Steve (or Stephen).

Steve is the epitome of sensible - he works in insurance, wears smart jeans and knitwear, and likes a bit of Simply Red. When he heads on a date looking for love, he finds it rather unexpectedly when the carefree, 'bubble on a breeze' Steff floats into his life and changes the course of his evening.

What follows is a gorgeous, heart-melter of a story, as our two endearing actors, Joshua Diffley and Anna Soden, aided by a smart and funny script from Ian Jarvis, take us on a gentle amble around the pretty town of Bury St Edmunds as their romantic tale unfolds at various meeting points.

The show is perfectly cast, with Diffley occupying the bumbling, posh, but ultimately charming Hugh Grant-type, while Soden saunters into every scene with a gorgeous down-to-earth, free spirit energy, which fans of classic British rom-com will recognise. Speaking of the rom-com genre, the script is dotted with a number of movie references which audiences will appreciate too.

Filling most of the gaps as we walk between locations is a series of amusing voicemails and failed voice notes from Steve's mum, Carol (Alice Robertson) charting her feelings about his romantic liaisons.

The piece is impressively and precisely choreographed by Director Owen Calvert-Lyons, in tandem, presumably, with some local businesses, as some of the action takes place at a few different locations including a wine bar, a clothes shop, and the local cinema.

It's not a show that requires much thought from its audiences, it's simply a lovely way to spend 70-odd minutes as an invigorating love story works its magic to envelop your soul.

Steve & Steff For Ever continues until 30 Aug. Visit theatreroyal.org for performance times and tickets.