The Gift

What would you do if one morning you received a parcel in the post, only to find a rather unsavoury gift inside? And if you looked back on your life and all the people you might have wronged, how would you feel? Dave Florez's new comedy explores these questions through the eyes of Colin, a man in his 40s confronted by The Gift.

The play opens with three characters staring into the mysterious package. The Gift follows Colin, his sister Lisa, and her partner Brian as they discuss and dissect the contents—and the implications it might have. That package, it turns out, contains a human dump. While the setup may sound shocking, it quickly unfolds into a hilarious and surprisingly insightful exploration of how our actions are interpreted by others, and how much control we truly have over our lives.

Nicholas Burns plays Colin, wonderfully capturing the character’s downward spiral. From initial confusion to obsession, blind confidence, and eventual calm, Burns delivers a believable portrayal while nailing every comedic beat. Laura Haddock plays Lisa, acting as the voice of reason and the grounded foil to Colin and Brian. Her frustration grows throughout, yet Haddock balances humour with warmth and emotional depth. Alex Price rounds out the trio as Brian, a man simply trying to get through life while making witty jabs at every opportunity. The chemistry between the three actors is impeccable, made all the more engaging by the intimacy of the theatre space.