'Tender' review — two women form a rich connection in Eleanor Tindall's intriguing romantic thriller

Read our review of Tender, starring Nadi Kemp-Sayfi and Annabel Baldwin, now in performances at the Bush Theatre to 21 December.

In Eleanor Tindall’s two-hander Tender – a finalist for the 2023 Ambassador Theatre Group Playwright’s Prize and now premiering at the Bush Theatre – two 30-ish women meet by chance when Ivy (Nadi Kemp-Sayfi) asks Ash (Annabel Baldwin) for a light and again when Ash buys a coffee and pastry from the overpriced café where Ivy works. Neither is looking to form a connection but a mutual curiosity develops into a tentative friendship and more.

Ivy lives with her boyfriend Max and seems to have everything sorted following an adolescence of self-harm and eating disorders – her main problem is her needy brother Cas, with his incel tendencies that she brushes off as harmless.

Ash, who now dates women (when we first meet her, she’s on her way to the “Aphrodyke” club), is living alone and being stalked by the ex-fiancé whom she jilted at the altar when living in Spain – the police refuse to take it seriously and even suggest that she should be flattered by the floral offerings he sends.

It's a sort-of thriller that doesn’t quite work in terms of creating suspense. A reliance on coincidences is a hallmark of many thrillers (and romcoms), but the link between the two protagonists is immediately obvious to the audience and it’s frustrating that the characters don’t put two and two together sooner, making the 90-minute running time feel more drawn out than it should.

However, Emily Aboud’s appropriately tender production makes for an intriguing and generous-hearted (if somewhat underwritten) study of a situation that’s helmed by two personable performances.

The Bush’s Studio space lends itself effectively to the intimate interpersonal drama, taking place against a yellow curtain and a multi-tasking yellow pouffe (designed by Alys Whitehead), featuring some striking undulating lighting effects by David Doyle.

Kemp-Sayfi and Baldwin have a nicely tentative chemistry as the two protagonists, both of whom are lonely and have few friends. Ivy (who secretly watches porn before her period is due – she tries to tell her boyfriend that it’s a French film) is judgemental of Ash (who’s clearly no flaky runaway bride) going to the pub and restaurants alone.

With her uptight tendencies, Ivy is a “typical Capricorn” according to Ash – herself a sexy, mysterious Scorpio. Most of their interactions culminate in Ivy’s passive-aggressive tendencies getting the better of her; it’s a vicious cycle and why Ash keeps coming back is somewhat questionable.

Ivy’s earlier history of self-harm frustratingly remains underexplored throughout. There are no neat endings but the play is allowed to conclude on a hopeful note, when both have (it’s to be hoped) achieved a greater level of self-knowledge.

Tender is at the Bush Theatre to 21 December. Book Tender tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Tender (Photos by Harry Elletson)