Review: Pillow Talk

📍 Golden Goose Theatre

🗓️ 8th June 2026

Written and directed by Rufaro Museva-Sauti, Pillow Talk follows Ben and Rachel, a couple who have been together for eight years and tell each other everything... or do they?

When Ben reveals a secret he has been keeping from Rachel, her world is turned upside down, and the realisation of events over the last eight years makes her question everything. Although the running time was advertised as 90 minutes with a 15-minute interval, there was no interval on the night. However, I do think this worked to the show's advantage. The momentum was never lost, and I think an interval might have affected that. Set primarily in the couple's bedroom, the space effectively transports the audience into their world, with a bed centre stage and clothes strewn across the floor and chair.

At the start of the show, we get a glimpse into Ben and Rachel's life together and their relationship.

Through playful joking and sarcasm, they are clearly comfortable with each other. However, something Ben said while drunk the night before is playing on Rachel's mind and has clearly left her thinking. It is not long before the truth comes out and the mood shifts.

Nina Fidderman and Gruff Williams do a great job of portraying this couple and the range of emotions they experience throughout the piece. They give a very believable performance as a couple in love and settled in each other's company. Nina handles the shock of Ben's revelation wonderfully, portraying Rachel's disappointment and struggle to process the truth while ultimately remaining logical about their situation.

Much of the comedy within the piece comes from Ben, played by Gruff Williams, particularly when he imagines the worst possible scenarios while Rachel tries to calm him down and encourage him to think logically about their choices. The pair go on an emotional and intense journey throughout the 75-minute runtime, and Nina and Gruff tell their story really well. Overall, the story is interesting and engaging, helped by the believable way the characters are portrayed. The piece generally flows well, with quick scene changes, music and lighting helping to maintain momentum and shift the mood. The first half in particular moves at a strong pace. However, later in the piece, when the story jumps forward in time, some moments feel a little underdeveloped.

The play explores themes of grief, acceptance, and the impact that time, busy lives and unspoken truths can have on a relationship. It's well-written piece and, with some tightening, could become something really special. The balance between intense moments and comedy is handled well throughout. At first, it isn't entirely clear how far forward we have jumped when the story moves ahead in time, as the shift in timeline isn't immediately made clear. This does become clearer as the story progresses.

There's a lot to like about Pillow Talk. Thoughtful, funny and emotionally engaging, it explores its themes through two strong performances and a relationship that feels genuine throughout. Despite a few issues with pacing and clarity, it remains an engaging piece of theatre with plenty of potential.