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Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker Two
Sam Macgregor’s Hold the Line was a powerful piece of theatre, set within the high-pressure world of an NHS111 call centre. Alongside him was one other actress in a supporting role, and together they told the story of what happens when a routine call spirals into tragedy.
The play really made me think about the immense strain these call handlers must be under. They’re expected to make quick, often life-changing decisions while following strict guidelines, and the weight of that responsibility came through strongly in the performance.
There was one sequence that stood out for being slightly unusual. The two actors ended up in what was essentially a choreographed dance, each holding a pair of telephone receivers which were tethered to the desk. It was visually striking but also felt a little disconnected from the rest of the piece, almost as if it belonged in a different show.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It didn’t completely pull me in the way I hoped, but it was well acted and carried an important message about the unseen pressures behind the scenes of our healthcare system.