Review: Housemates - a phenomenal masterpiece of theatre which warms your heart

Photo: Peter Mooney as Jim and Caitlin Lavagna as Sian in Housemates, at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. Photograph: Mark Douet

A wonderful production which tells the true story of how residents of a Cardiff institution and a student revolutionised supported living which is told through world-class performances and a dynamic storyline.

Housemates is theatre at its very best and a truly life changing play which you will be thinking about for the rest of your life. There are truly not enough superlatives to describe how spectacular this production is and it deserves to be in theatres across the world.

Banding together to share a living space with multiple people. A common concept for university students. But not for the 100,000 people deemed “sub-normal” and, under the feeble-minded (control) bill of 1912, segregated and put into institutions.

Two groups of young people from Cardiff battled to change this situation for decades and inspired a movement: residents of one of those now closed institutions, Cardiff’s Ely hospital, and students from the university. Together, they fought for change which eventually resulted in the closure of more than 90 institutions and the idea of supported living which is still used in our lives today. This is all told brilliantly in 90 minutes straight which depicts their struggle and eventually the euphoria of being able to live independently with others.

The talented and excellent writer Tim Green tells their story through the use of clever props, educational entertainment and live music combining fast-flowing action, bold narration and sharp characterisations from a cast of perfect actors. Joe Murphy (artistic director of the Sherman) and Ben Pettitt-Wade (artistic director of Hijinx, a theatre company based in the Wales Millennium Centre and specialising in inclusivity for neurodivergent artists) are the joint directors who combine to create the play of a generation with a lasting impact.

The performances felt so real and it was like you were experiencing everything with the characters who you instantly love and want to be friends with. Gareth John who plays Alan delivered a standout performance which was gritty, fun and ultimately incredible. This play makes you laugh, cry and is in the end heartwarming. It is truly an experience of a lifetime which everyone can empathise with in some sense and touches you to the core.

Housemates initially debuted at the Sherman Theatre in 2023 and was an acclaimed first run and remains a story of friendship, community and resilience which resonates with so many and continues to do so in 2025. The cast and crew are wonderful which connects them with the audience who provided a five minute standing ovation for a production that everyone will love for the pure brilliance. This play is all about continuing the story of change and is a unique telling of a story that I can't stop thinking about.

As you settle into your seats; 1970s hits are performed expertly by a live band who greet you and interact with the audience which is a fun way to start the show and feels personal and intimate. The whole audience sing and dance along to some classics for 20 minutes before the show starts which is seamlessly transitioned into. The tone of the evening is fun and engaging all the way through which is counterpointed by highs of emotion and lows of horror and indignation. Housemates is a fantastic telling of a true story which depicts the determination for change which results in a success story that is replicated across the country. It all wraps up beautifully and you experience all of the emotions, a production that everyone needs to see because it is a diamond of a play which is one of the best pieces of live theatre I have seen.

The story revolves around the friendship between student Jim Mansell and hospital resident Alan Duncan and their shared love of music – and its consequences. The two meet when Jim goes to volunteer on the day when Alan and his friend Heather are to be taken out somewhere they have never been by someone they have never met which is a day that changes the course of all of their lives. Jim then dedicates his life to brining about change which is told brilliantly through an impeccable script. A play which is flawless throughout.

Among equals in the impressive well-balanced, nine-strong ensemble are Peter Mooney’s loveable Jim and Gareth John’s determined Alan – the strength of their friendship radiates from the stage and warms the heart. A play which shows, practically and affectively, how individuals taking action can transform lives and society for good.

Housemates is at the Sherman theatre, Cardiff, until the 8th of March and then continues to tour at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the Torch theatre, Milford Haven