Dawn of Reckoning Review – White Bear Theatre London

Photo credit: Rob Cheatley

⭐⭐⭐⭐

There’s something quietly compelling about discovering a new piece of theatre in an intimate pub venue, and Dawn of Reckoning at the White Bear Theatre London leans fully into that closeness. Tucked above a rather nice South London boozer, the space invites you in with the promise of something raw and immediate—and for the most part, it delivers.

This two-hander follows two women bound by a shared past that slowly unravels over the course of the evening. As women just a little younger than the characters on stage, we found ourselves unexpectedly pulled into their world—not because we’ve lived their story, but because we recognised its foundations. The fresher days at university, the drinking, the dancing, the questionable music choices, the boys who felt important at the time, and, most crucially, the life-long friendships forged in that hazy, electric bubble. The play captures that sense of “before” beautifully, which makes what follows land with a heavier weight.

It’s also refreshingly rare to see such rich, complex roles written for women of this age—and here, both actresses rise to the challenge. Jilly Bond (Ruth) delivers a performance that feels finely tuned, balancing control with an undercurrent of fragility, while Bryonie Pritchard (Helena) brings warmth and emotional openness that makes her instantly engaging. Together, they create a dynamic that feels lived-in and authentic, the kind of friendship that doesn’t need explaining. Their chemistry is the heartbeat of the piece, and it’s what keeps you leaning forward even when the narrative slips into more ambiguous territory.

And ambiguous it is. At times, we found ourselves slightly adrift—was this a ghost story? Were the characters sleepwalking, literally or figuratively? Or was that sense of dislocation a reflection of grief itself? There’s a thread running through the piece that suggests the latter: that after an unbearable loss—particularly the loss of a child—you don’t quite return to yourself. Instead, you drift, half-awake, moving through life in a kind of emotional sleepwalk. It’s an intriguing idea, and one that lingers, even if it isn’t always clearly defined.

That slight confusion doesn’t detract from the emotional pull, though. If anything, it adds to the unsettling atmosphere. Under Matthew Parker’s direction, the piece leans into stillness and silence just as much as dialogue, allowing the audience space to sit with what’s unsaid. It’s not always comfortable, but it feels intentional.

What we were left with, more than anything, was curiosity. As the play draws to a close, there’s a sense that the story isn’t quite finished. We found ourselves wanting to know what would unfold at the solicitor’s the following day—what truths would surface, what decisions would be made, and whether any kind of resolution was possible.

Dawn of Reckoning isn’t a straightforward narrative, but it’s a thoughtful and emotionally charged one. Anchored by two strong performances and a relatable emotional core, it’s well worth a visit—especially if you’re drawn to theatre that leaves you with more questions than answers.

Cast

Jilly Bond (Ruth)

Bryonie Pritchard (Helena)

Creatives

Writer: Mark Bastin

Director: Matthew Parker

Venue: White Bear Theatre

138 Kennington Park Road

London SE11 4DJ

Dates: Running until 28th March 2026

Performance Times​

Tues - Sat | 7:30pm

Running Time:

70mins without an Interval

Tickets £13 to £18