Deposit

by Matt Hartley

Matt Hartley’s new play throws a lively and topical spotlight on ‘Generation Rent’ and the lengths they will go to in order to get that first step on the property ladder.

Genres: Plays

396 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2015

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hartley has a deft way with naturalistic dialogue, and he gets off both some zingy one-liners as well as some emotional fireworks here. But the play seems padded and the interludes between the actual scenes would seem nigh impossible to stage, as The Guardian review made plain:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/201...

[Tuti · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent play about two couples of friends in london, sharing a flat for one year so they can save some money for a deposit to buy their own places. cohabitation in a small place leading to the complete loss of privacy, differences in income between the two couples, smaller and bigger reproaches and decisions which are interpreted as treason... all define a modern version of hell in which human relationships start desintegrating and new definitions become necessary for things like "friendship" or even "love" ("we've decided to buy a home together... isn't that enough?")
funny and sad and wise, fast paced, with good character definition and relationship dynamics and quite a few surprising turns- a great read! would love to see it on stage.

[Emilia Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really really loved this play, such an enjoyable read with such brilliant interactions and relationships between characters. I think overall the play flowed really well and although the ending could seem a bit underwhelming in other circumstances, it fit the domestic feel of this play perfectly. Overall, this is a fabulous play which heavily focuses on the real-life issue of unbelievably expensive property prices in London, and the lengths people have to go to to get by in a city where having a morning coffee each day amounts to a thousand pounds a year. I really enjoyed it!

[Joe Clegg Prada · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great premise with great promise, and for the most part it delivers what you need it to deliver, with some exciting choices for the world in which they live in that would be lush to interpret on stage. The end though didn’t seem to stick the landing as it kind of stumbled into an underwhelming conclusion.

[Tracy Hollen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars