Spanning from beginning to end of a troubled relationship, ‘Like Blood From a Cheap Cigar’ takes an intimate look at the lives of couple Margo and George. Beginning at the end, we see a jaded Margo who has taken to lurking in George’s driveway at night, while the ageing, drug-addled George still acts like a bad-boy. Occasionally predictable, and with characters that can fall into stereotypes, the story can often become familiar. But the writing is thoughtful, building with fast-paced intensity throughout. Writer/performer Genevieve Joy plays Margo, with Joseph Reitman as George, and both performances can get a little overexcited. The intensity of their performances outweighs any overeager stumbles, however, and creates an intriguing look at two flawed characters.

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, until 26 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Bethan Highgate-Betts]