FOG

“The Finborough is a Fringe theatre in a class of its own: last year's programme was so good that it was worth moving to West Brompton for...Its first new writing premiere of the year is a bruising lyrical short about teenagers in London whose quality and impact suggests that 2012 in London's only wine bar theatre, will be as impressive as it was in 2011.” Caroline McGinn, Time Out

“While most folks are still recovering from hangovers, the Finborough has been the first theatre in the country to get rolling with a premiere. Artistic director Neil McPherson has, since 1999, worked tirelessly to make this tiny fringe venue in Earl's Court a trove of high-calibre new plays as well as rediscovered gems. Note for 2013: McPherson really should be on the list for a New Year's honour.” Kate Bassett, The Independent on Sunday
 
“At the Finborough, on the outskirts of Chelsea in West London, hard-hitting Fog is selling out fast with its mixture of powerful acting and devastatingly pointed writing.” Martin Newman, Huffpost Culture
 
“A thumping, emotionally fraught and brilliantly written play.” Aleks Sierz, The Stage
 
"Funny, powerful and very, very real, it is also mesmerisingly sad.” Martin Newman, The Mirror

“A painful, promising play, raising the thorny issue of fatherless boys and of young care leavers and their difficulties.” Sarah Hemming, The Financial Times

“Aching and explosive.” Caroline McGinn, Time Out
 
“Emotionally devastating” Aleks Sierz, The Stage

“A stimulating, satisfying and stunning evening in the theatre.” Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide
 
“A story that leaves you stunned by its violence, and its terrible sadness...Fierce and terrifying” Aleks Sierz, The Arts Desk

“A gripping new chamber play.” Kate Bassett, The Independent on Sunday
 
“Powerful acting and masterful writing put Britain's care system on trial in courageous new play.” Martin Newman, The Mirror

“The play's portrait of a social system that offers care but no protection leaves an uneasy aftertaste.” Michael Billington, The Guardian
 
“Opening in a week when housing benefit has been capped - a policy which will hit London's inner city where it hurts - 'Fog' is not only a subtle study of lives adrift: it is also a powerful warning about what happens to kids and parents when they don't have a home to call their own.” Caroline McGinn, Time Out

“Agonising and funny at the same time.” Paul Taylor, The Independent

“At its best, the language of the play feels like it’s been inhaled through a water pipe and then exhaled to the beat of drum ’n’ bass. It burns, it stings, it makes your blood tingle...there’s an intensity and a rush to the dialogue that gives the work its emotional punch...Fired up by this linguistic energy, Fog is sometimes frightening in its anger and desperation. Although it rushes along like a roach flushed down a plughole.” Aleks Sierz, The Arts Desk

“Tash Fairbanks and Toby Wharton’s new play is an interesting and unusual collaboration. Fairbanks is a founder member of the lesbian feminist Siren Theatre Company and Wharton is an actor who specialises in hard-hitting new work. She was born in 1948 - he was born in 1984.” Aleks Sierz, The Stage

“'Fog' is unique as a piece of new writing: I can't remember the last time a sixtysomething founder member of a lesbian feminist theatre group teamed up with a twentysomething actor to write a play, but Tash Fairbanks and Toby Wharton's benefits richly from the verve and faux-yardie argot of youth and the poignant wisdom of experience.” Caroline McGinn, Time Out
 
“A collaboration made in the vicinity of heaven.” Paul Taylor, The Independent
 
“A raw, punchy piece which suggests that Wharton is a talent we should watch out for.” Henry Hitchings, The Evening Standard

“The writers have an ear for language that captures Cannon’s more cockney London and the youngsters’ street talk with brilliant accuracy, yet keeping it penetrable for audiences unfamiliar with its vocabulary.” Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide

“The dialogue continually bubbles with unpredictable comic life...A salutary corrective to the post-riots musings of David Starkey.” Paul Taylor, The Independent

“I hope to see and hear a lot more from author/actor Toby Wharton.” Paul Taylor, The Independent

“Like the writing, the acting in Fog is truly phenomenal, moving the audience from shock and tears to laugh-out-loud humour.” Amy Stow, WhatsOnStage

“The cast is brilliant throughout.” Carolin Kopplin, UK Theatre Network

“Swinging between loud-eye catching displays of bravado and subtle emotional turns, Wharton's performance is nothing short of riveting.” Martin Newman, The Mirror

“It's easy to walk out of Fog marvelling at the whirlwind performance of its lead actor Toby Wharton, but this production offers a good deal more with a perceptive take on Britain's broken-in-places society.” Martin Newman, The Mirror

“As Fog, Wharton’s nervy intensity plays off Victor Gardener’s brawny blokiness as Cannon perfectly, their scenes together have a real potency and an explosive dynamic.” Ian Foster, The Public Reviews

“Toby Wharton and Victor Gardener are outstanding as Fog and Cannon, totally convincing, with Benjamin Cawley’s gentle Michael in the same class.” Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide

“Whilst perfectly cast all-round, Toby Wharton and Victor Gardener as Fog and Cannon respectively stand out” Amy Stow, WhatsOnStage

“Victor Gardener as his angry dad, Annie Hemingway as his roughly used sister, and Benjamin Cawley and Kanga Tanikye-Buah as a pair of high-flying black siblings offer strong support.” Michael Billington, The Guardian

“The excellent Victor Gardener.” Caroline McGinn, Time Out

“Excellently played by Victor Gardener.” Sarah Hemming, The Financial Times

“Che Walker’s sizzling and stunning production features utterly convincing performances from co-author Toby as Fog, Victor Gardener as his muscular father and Benjamin Cawley as the gentle Michael.” Aleks Sierz, The Stage

“Benjamin Cawley gives a sensitive and touching performance as Michael.” Carolin Kopplin, UK Theatre Network

“Annie Hemingway plays Lou with quiet intensity. She does not say a word in the one scene with her father but her body language and her eyes express everything.” Carolin Kopplin, UK Theatre Network

“Kanga Tanikye-Bush is vibrant and self-confident as Bernice.” Carolin Kopplin, UK Theatre Network

“Ché Walker’s sizzling production, on Georgia Lowe’s unyielding concrete slab of a set, features unforgettably powerful scenes from a thoroughly committed cast.” Aleks Sierz, The Arts Desk

“Ché Walker’s gripping production strips things to their bare bones and formalises the scene transitions with staccato lighting effects and harsh music that emphasise the reality of the playing.” Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide

“Che Walker's cleverly heightened production jangles your nerves and twists your heart.” Paul Taylor, The Independent

“Che Walker's production also has a swift urgency and is vigorously acted.” Michael Billington, The Guardian

“Pumping, alienated urban yoof portraits are often the first base for new writing. But 'Fog' has a tenderness and subtlety - drawn out beautifully in Che Walker's rhythmic, observant production - which deepens its impact.” Caroline McGinn, Time Out

“Ché Walker's production – with a lone sofa in a raw concrete cell – is intimate, tender, terrifying, and occasionally funny.” Kate Bassett, The Independent on Sunday

“Georgia Lowe’s hard and bare set perfectly captures the story’s bleakness.” Aleks Sierz, The Stage

"The dialogue is exquisite.  It does more than simply jump off the page, it leaps out grabs you by the throat and smacks you around. A truly original well written piece that succeeds in doing what I always want from a good play.  To learn. To think. To laugh. To cry. To feel." Roy Williams OBE, playwright.

"Beautifully pared down, the rhythms of life are really there. The writers have given a voice to those who have none." Jane Boston. Senior Lecturer and Head of International Voice, Central School of Speech and Drama.

"A vivid piece of writing, funny, sharp and intriguing." David Tucker, TV director.

"A play like this helps to dash the misconceptions that children get into the care system because of something they have done wrong. A moving experience to watch as the story unfolds and one that needs to be put there for the public to see." Pam Redican, Principal of Wings School, Cumbria and Nottinghamshire. Winner of the Pride of Britain Award for her dedication to the education and care of ‘difficult’ young people.