Review: Happiest I've Ever Been

📍 Just Out Of The Box at Just The Tonic at The Caves

🗓️ 22nd August 2026

🎟️ PR Invite

Written by Holly Archibald and Katie Young, this 60-minute play follows Fiona, a high-flying corporate girl who thinks she has it all — a good job, a house and all the best skincare. But when she wakes up in an almost empty room with no recollection of how she got there, she’s forced to look at her life in a different way. When a brightly dressed and super enthusiastic Skye shows up, Fiona is forced to face the reality of her situation: she’s had a nervous breakdown, she’s in hospital and the two of them are, in fact, inside her subconscious. But can her new… or old… friend help her find herself again?

This is a beautiful show that reminds us not to lose touch with our inner child. Adulthood comes with plenty of stressful and serious situations and decisions, and there’s a risk of becoming disconnected from who we truly are in an effort to fit into the corporate world or maintain grown-up friendships.

It’s an interesting concept, presented in a way that really makes you think about how you live your life — this time through the eyes of your inner child. There’s a lovely balance between the more serious themes and plenty of humour, making the show both thought-provoking and incredibly enjoyable. There are also plenty of millennial throwbacks that put a smile on my face!

Walking into the theatre space, I was initially quite underwhelmed by the set — or lack of one. However, it quickly became clear that this was actually the perfect setting for what Fiona was experiencing. The emptiness actually worked really well to show what Fiona was going through and how her mind had let go of all the things that used to bring her joy. It’s a really cleverly written piece that has plenty of humour mixed into it, despite some of the more serious themes.

The two-person cast were fantastic at bringing their characters to life. Eilidh Harrower perfectly captured Fiona’s stress, disbelief and struggle to accept that the life she thought was perfect had ultimately pushed her to breaking point. While Holly Archibald as Skye was the perfect opposite, with her boundless energy, quick talking and perfectly endearing childlike quality.

The two worked incredibly well together, bouncing off each other’s energy and reactions and creating a really sweet dynamic. Their performances brought plenty of humour while still allowing the more emotional moments to land.

There’s a wonderful message running throughout this show: don’t lose your inner child. Hold on to your sense of wonder, remember the things that make you happy and, most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. It’s a sweet, funny and thought-provoking piece of theatre that leaves you with plenty to think about after leaving the theatre.

Happiest I've Ever Been runs at Just The Tonic at the Caves until 30 August at 10:40am.