Simon Stephens' post-apocalyptic play, 'A Slow Fire', is currently running at Jermyn Street theatre in London. The production, directed by Rex Ryan, places two men, Ashton (Ross Gaynor) and Reece (Ian Toner), in a bunker following an unspecified global catastrophe.
The characters, described as Beckettian, spend their time rehearsing stories, singing, and waiting. They engage in memory games, enacting scenes from their past lives, which include moments of optimism such as a declaration of love or a pregnancy announcement.
The set design suggests the threats above ground with high winds and machinery sounds, while occasional reports from outside hint at further dangers. The production, which first premiered at Glass Mask theatre in Dublin, also introduces two additional characters, Presley (Fionn Ó Loingsigh) and Mary (Holly Demaine).