Relics Review at Lyric Hammersmith London

It doesn’t happen very often that I spend the whole journey home debriefing a play I’ve just seen. Relics at the Lyric Hammersmith is different. This wonderfully thought-provoking play makes you question your own values and ask yourself: who are you as a person? What do you owe to the past? Where does decency end and greed begin? Relics isn’t necessarily a play you’ll enjoy in the traditional sense, but it’s one you’ll remember, discuss and carry home with you. Sometimes that’s even more valuable.

In this dark comedy, written by Ben Ockrent and directed by Michael Longhurst, we join four siblings – Michelle, Olivia, Rob and Jonny – in their late mother’s house as they decide who will inherit what. The rules are simple: they can take whatever they want, as long as it doesn’t have any real monetary value. Anything considered valuable will be auctioned, with the proceeds divided equally between the siblings.

It starts innocently enough. Michelle doesn’t want to choose first, Rob claims the bed, Jonny wants the piano… and a painting from their mother’s bedroom that no one has ever paid much attention to.

Questions begin to arise, as Jonny has never been particularly sentimental. Soon, the family discovers that the painting may in fact be a long-lost work by Camille Pissarro depicting St Stephen’s Church. They know that their grandfather served during the Second World War and that the painting may once have belonged to a Jewish family from Wrocław who perished during the war. It also turns out that it could be worth up to £32 million.

That revelation raises even more questions. How did their grandparents come into possession of the painting? What is it really worth? And perhaps most importantly – what is the right thing to do with it? Should they sell it? Keep it? Liv’s conscience compels her to try to find the Jewish family to whom it once belonged…

As the mystery unfolds, we witness the family’s complicated dynamics, familiar sibling rivalries and long-buried secrets. The emotional weight of the family drama, the constant plot twists and the deeply thought-provoking conversations are perfectly balanced by witty dialogue, biting sarcasm and wonderfully dark humour.

Whilst the plot is captivating enough, and although the first act occasionally feels like a detective story about a stolen painting, it is the acting that elevates the production to another level. Charly Clive, who plays the youngest sibling, Michelle, particularly stood out to me with the honesty, emotional depth and vulnerability of her performance. Sally Phillips is absolutely wonderful as Liv, the bossy and meticulously organised oldest sister. Her voice and accent tickle that special spot of mine – I could happily sit there for hours listening to her read the phone book out loud! The middle brothers, played by JJ Feild and Sam Swainsbury, are equally compelling, each delivering emotionally complex performances. Watching all four actors together genuinely felt like peering into a real family’s living room, and I loved every minute of it.

Sadly, the subject matter is highly relatable, and many of us will face difficult conversations about inheritance at some point in our lives. Relics offers an extremely refreshing perspective on that experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

The entire story unfolds in a single room that never changes throughout the performance. It’s a traditional, comfortably middle-class living room, complete with a piano and shelves full of books. Combined with the modern, understated costumes and neutral lighting, it instantly creates a feeling of belonging. We’ve all visited a room like this. Many of us grew up in one.

I think the set does a remarkable amount of heavy lifting. The familiarity of the room, the clothes the characters wear every day, the relatability of the family dynamics and the universal nature of the conflicts all make the audience feel a little less alone. And somehow, amid all the arguments, grief and moral dilemmas, the play leaves you with an unexpected sense of hope – that after every family conflict, every difficult conversation and every impossible decision, there is still the possibility of clarity, reconciliation and peace.

I’m still not entirely sure whether I enjoyed Relics. What I do know is that I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I left the theatre. And perhaps that’s the highest compliment I can pay it.

Relics is a perfect fit for the Lyric Hammersmith – a venue famous for bold, relevant new writing. Just a few stations away from the West End, it boasts a beautiful Roof Garden, step-free access and plenty of toilets. More than just a theatre, it’s a cultural hub, with classes, studios and performance spaces supporting people of all ages and interests.

Relics plays at the Lyric Hammersmith until 18 July 2026

Where I Sat

I sat in the stalls, seat L5, which provided plenty of legroom and an excellent view of the stage. The stalls are only gently raked, however, so sightlines aren’t guaranteed in every seat. Rows L and M are conveniently located close to the auditorium entrance, making for a quick dash to the loo during the interval. The seats are wide and comfortable, and I’d happily sit there again.

Have You Seen Relics?

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Reviewed by Aleksandra Zielińska for SeatPlan, June 2026.