Shifters

by Benedict Lombe

'Something is shifting between you – again.
Something terrifying
and comforting.'

Dre and Des. Young. Gifted. Black. He stayed. She left.

Years later, Des and Dre come crashing back into each other's lives, carrying new secrets and old scars. With the clock counting down until Des has to leave again, memories of their past collide with their present and they're forced to question if destiny has brought them back together for a reason.

Benedict Lombe's play Shifters is a fierce, funny and beautifully intoxicating celebration of the enduring power of memory and first love. It was performed at the Bush Theatre, London, in 2024, directed by Artistic Director Lynette Linton, before transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End. It went on to win Best Production (Play) at the 2025 Black British Theatre Awards.

Genres: Plays

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2024

Reviews

[Sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watched the play at the Duke of York’s theatre in September and absolutely loved it. It was so nice to read the playtext and revisit the story of Des and Dre 🫶🏽🥹

[Tisha Nakai · Rating 5 out of 5]

As beautiful in print, as it was on stage. A narrative that you find yourself coming back to, a script that feels like a perfect game of tennis, characters that feel so full, a real wonder. Even after watching it on stage, having read it, and re-reading it, Dre and Des’ story is still something that feels so refreshing and impactful to have experienced.

[kayla michelle pisano ✮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more. The playwright clearly has a beautiful knack for language, very poetic, lots of captivating phrases and lines. I did care about these characters. But this play felt very long, and I was frankly bored. Lack of punctuation —while seemingly intentional —made the words feel extraneous. Additionally, the stage directions (and constant fourth wall breaking) annoyed me and felt very pretentious. Specific songs were included every other page (at least it felt like.) I was gonna give this a 2 (more like a 2.5) but I didn't want to tank the rating. Also this play was very non-linear in a way that I don't think worked.

[Lady Aimée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely sobbing. My favourite play of all time!

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the play. 10/10.

[khadra · Rating 5 out of 5]

no notes!! spectacular!!!

[Hollie-Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read this in a day.

However your soul will feel its impact for a lifetime.

[Milan · Rating 5 out of 5]

is it still a rom-com if you cried the whole time?

[Cartier D · Rating 4 out of 5]

i wish i knew the ending