The Fifth Step

by David Ireland

The point is to divest yourself of shame… It's about getting clean.

Thirty something Luka is new to Alcoholics Anonymous and looking for a sponsor.? James is older, has been in the programme for years, surely he's the perfect person to shepherd the younger man through each of the twelve steps on the road to recovery. Or maybe life just isn't that simple.

In a programme that requires both of them to come to terms with their past, can Luka and James face their transgressions to find a new way of living??

The Fifth Step is David Ireland's grimly comic, provocative new play about men, intimacy and what we choose to put our faith in.

This edition was published to coincide with the National Theatre of Scotland's production at the Edinburgh International Festival, in August 2024.

Genres: Plays

104 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2024

About the author

Irish Playwright

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially staged for 2024's Edinburgh Festival, and recently transferred to the West End with the formidable cast of Jack Lowder and Martin Freeman, Ireland's latest doesn't reach the insane and hilarious heights of his Ulster American, but is still full of some great moments, even if it does get a bit predictable in its final scene.

Basically a critique of toxic masculinity and its relation to alcoholism (the title refers to AA's tenet of admitting to God, oneself, and to another human being the exact nature of one's wrongs), it has some sobering (sorry/not sorry!) things to say, but all wrapped in the playwright's typical absurdist humor.


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[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

„I am strong and I am worthwhile”

While my perception is strongly influenced by the fact I’ve seen „The Fifth Step” on stage last month, David Ireland’s text itself is undoubtedly a delight. It’s witty, hilarious and thought provoking; keeps the reader fully engaged til the very last page. Luka and James are both fascinating and well-crafted characters, navigating through crisis, trauma and suppressed emotions. It’s an exceptional two-hander exploring themes of masculinity, religion and recovery through enthralling and surprisingly funny conversations.
I sometimes tend to value texts on how they influence me as a writer, and may I say, „The Fifth Step” is one of those that inspire me to write and strive to achieve such proficiency.
Jack Lowden’s and Martin Freeman’s brilliance and great chemistry only elevated the great writing. It’s a joy to read, but hits even better on stage. So glad I got to see it.

[Conor Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A play of its time. Gripping, intimate, and poignant. A story of male companionship examining addiction, loss, and fear. Steeped in explicit and implicit religious symbolism, probing themes of masculinity, insecure attachment, and redemption.

Ireland draws on his personal experience to construct an engrossing narrative relying only on two characters, with minimal stage direction. The Fifth Step is a series of blunt conversations between broken men. The emotional resonance of the depth of their intimacy is punctuated by crass comments and frank discussion of personal flaws, bringing humour to the depiction of their relationship. An excellent read due to the simplicity of its construction. My only regret is my inability to see it live.

[Reece Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

My jaw is on the floor. One of the three best plays I've ever read/engaged with, with a thrilling, escalating structure to it's two characters and their relationship. Information delivered as a means of tension or levity, about the characters themselves or about their past and present, and a highly fascinating angle that Ireland perfectly crescendos towards. Scene Five, the final scene, is an absolute knockout that gives both characters the chance to become fully realised after four scenes of exciting teasing about what sort of men they are outside of their conversations. I can not wait to see the performance of this for theatres in November. Again, a top 3 play for me, I can not stress it enough. There are no other words.

[Caitlin Buxbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what I expected, or if four stars is the right review...I mean it was a quick read, the characters were clear, the story was interesting, and I would go see the show (Jack Lowden may be feeding into a certain bias of mine), but I didn't really like the ending...and by that I mean, the ending kind of makes it feel pointless, like, what should we take from this?

[Steve Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but I don’t really get it, why does one of the characters suddenly go off his rocker and I don’t understand what the fifth step is.