Beginning, started its life at the National Theatre and is the first play in a trilogy by esteemed playwright David Eldridge that examines love and the fragility of human relationships and I was super excited to go and see it at The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, a perfect place to set this two person play, set in a plush West Didsbury apartment.

The two people in question are strangers Laura (Erin Shanagher) and Danny (Gerard Kearns) and the story tells of them meeting for the first time at Laura’s new home when her housewarming party has finished and it’s just the two of them left alone.

Set around Laura’s kitchen island the awkward meeting seems accidental, how has Danny stayed back when his friends who seemed to know Laura better have left and why is Laura still there and not left too?

And this is what we are there to find out. Laura as we watch them start to get to know each other, and start to understand where they both are in their lives, their quirks, their vulnerabilities and past heartaches all while circling the kitchen island, in will they, won’t they fashion.

What makes this play so realistic is it’s about real people and it’s set in real time, over the course of 1 hour 50 minutes with no interval, so it actually makes it feel like you are in the room with them, feeling the awkwardness, wanting to give them a hug, or share a laugh, it feels like you know them!

Kearns gives the perfect performance as Danny, a guy who’s been through the mill, he’s known love, lost love, misses his kid, lives with his mum and is so scared of anything new you just want to give him a hug and say go for it!

Equally brilliant is Shanagher as Laura who captures the independent career driven West Didsbury, doing well vibe perfect while all the time hiding the fact that she wants what her friends have, love and a family of her own.