Early on I had my misgivings. A rather clichéd opening monologue did a good job at setting the scene, but it did feel quite a lot like exposition, and over the course of the next few minutes I couldn’t help but be a little sceptical of the unfolding love story. The actors all seemed to be slightly nervous and it took them a little while to fall into character.

But when they did, what a play it was. The changes shown in the couple’s relationship over time was utterly compelling; I found myself honestly caring about their problems and feeling engaged by their struggles. The characters were sympathetic in both narratives, and the ease with which the actors bounced the storyline between them showed a lot about their ability and understanding of the play. I felt like I was intruding on some of the most intimate moments of a couple’s life – their quirks, arguments and jokes were presented so convincingly that it was almost uncomfortable for an outsider to watch. And yes, I did cry. I cried a lot. It was all a bit embarrassing, but luckily most of the rest of the audience were in the same position as me anyway. It was truly heart-breaking.

There were a few moments which I felt slightly distanced by. The dance between all four actors did look beautiful but was a little odd and could occasionally feel out of place. A bit more rehearsal to improve their confidence and fluidity probably would have made a fair difference, but for what it was it was really quite lovely. Occasionally the stage looked crowded, and the constant entrances and exits of the characters could be distracting, but on the whole this wasn’t an issue – and the idea of ghosts of the past and future lurking around was so poignant that I didn’t mind the shuffling in the background, or the persistent stumbling and slamming of doors.

Overall, it was a heartrendingly beautiful play, spectacularly acted, and enhanced by excellent music choices. It became clumsy here and there, but that didn’t prevent the audience from being forced out of their hard English exoskeletons and being made to actually feel strong emotions for a change.