Opening to the earthy scene of long drained beer bottles, ‘The Spaces Between’ looks at love from a variety of angles. Not content simply to speak with the voice of those hurt by a relationship ending, the Jane Austin argument speaks from all sides of failed relationships. The act is the simple cabaret fare of interchanging keyboardist and singer but the songs themselves are well written and performed in dynamic fashion. The act looks and feels as if the cast have been caught at home after a particularly rough night out. The anecdotal lead-ins capture the sadness, anger and wistfulness of regret without over doing it. When they move towards observational humour that pokes fun at the pretensions of hipsters and the rowdiness of chavs its counterbalanced with the implication that simplicity might actually be desirable and that complication is a mask for fear.
The performance has a tendency towards rapid shifts in pace and direction which makes the show feel disjointed. While it could be argued that this is a deliberate effect to highlight the volatility of love, the pacing would suggest otherwise. A few changes in the song order and this show would have a seamless narrative and be the richer for it. On the whole though, the simple comraderie of the performance and it’s affectionate sentiments make this show thoroughly enjoyable.
4/5 
Benn Beaton
