Set in 1970s London, this production follows four co-workers as they approach retirement and navigate the quiet transitions of their later years. The narrative centers on their individual rituals and daily routines: Marcia’s drift into solitary hoarding, Letty’s quiet aspirations for change, Edwin’s religious refuge, and Norman’s resistance to the shifting modern world. Together, the four characters form a fragile social compact, exploring how shared time and small routines provide a necessary structure against the onset of isolation.

The play is the first-ever stage adaptation of Barbara Pym’s Booker Prize-shortlisted novel, adapted for the stage by Booker Prize-winning author Samantha Harvey (known for Orbital). The world premiere is directed by Dominic Dromgoole, whose notable credits include serving as the artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe and the Bush Theatre. Their collaboration translates the novel's wry, observational tone into a live theatrical experience.