Theatre Review: ‘Di and Viv and Rose’ -A Triumphant Celebration of Friendship and Feminine Resilience.

Theatre Reviewer Roger Lilleystone shares his take on Di and Vi and Rose, a five star production at the Queen’s Theatre.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, in collaboration with Theatre by the Lake, presents a truly moving and masterfully acted production of Di and Viv and Rose — a play that captures the heartbeat of female friendship through the ages. Written by Emilia Bullmore, directed with great sensitivity by Fay Lomas, and performed by the formidable trio of Emilia Donker (Viv), Sally Hodgkiss (Di), and Olivia Sweeney (Rose), this is theatre that resonates long after the curtain falls.

This is a story about three women who meet as freshers in the 1980s and whose bond carries them through the joys and storms of life well into the 2000s. It’s a narrative stitched together with laughter, heartbreak, and unshakable humanity. From the awkward early days of university life with Di discovering her identity, Viv wrapped in the literal and metaphorical corsets of academia, and Rose gleefully navigating her free-spirited promiscuity, to the later years of motherhood, loss, and survival, the play beautifully encapsulates the evolving tapestry of womanhood.

The brilliance of Bullmore’s writing lies in its honesty. She neither glamorises nor softens the realities of life. When one of the women faces the trauma of sexual assault, it is handled with a quiet, gut-wrenching power that silences the audience. Yet, even in its darkest moments, the play never loses sight of its warmth. The humour — often dry, occasionally wicked, acts as a lifeline, reminding us that friendship can weather even the fiercest storms.

Each performer inhabits her role with unflinching authenticity. Olivia Sweeney’s Rose is all effervescence and light, her warmth masking a quiet vulnerability. Sally Hodgkiss brings emotional depth to Di, whose journey of self-acceptance is both tender and courageous. Emilia Donker’s Viv grounds the trio with an understated strength, her intellectual curiosity gradually giving way to the profound emotional intelligence that holds the group together.

Fay Lomas’s direction is elegant in its restraint. She allows the silences to speak, the laughter to breathe, and the bond between these women to unfold organically. The minimalist set works beautifully — a few simple pieces that transform effortlessly from student digs to adult homes, mirroring how friendships adapt to life’s changing scenery.

By the final scene, as the years and their struggles catch up with the trio, there isn’t a dry eye in the house. Yet this is not a story of despair, it’s a celebration of endurance, of the humanity and humour that keep us going.

Di and Viv and Rose is, quite simply, a five-star production, funny, heartfelt, and profoundly human. It is a love letter to friendship, womanhood, and the quiet heroism of everyday life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.