Personal Values at Hampstead Theatre

Hoarding has long been a subject of fascination for storytellers and audiences alike, spawning countless pseudo-docs offering an exploitative peek into the lives of sufferers. Emerging playwright Chloe Lawrence-Taylor is clearly fascinated with the subject, too, but presents a more sympathetic, nuanced view in Personal Values. Stuck (almost literally) in her overstuffed living room, Bea occupies an oppressive and ever-decreasing world. It’s the same house she grew up in, cared for her dad in, and grieved both her parents in, and as a result, her attachment to it (and everything inside it) is unshakeable. Her only lifeline arrives in the form of her estranged sister Veda, appearing unannounced and sodden on the doorstep, with some bad news – and an ultimatum.

Lawrence-Taylor cleverly uses the relationship and indeed the contrast between these two sisters – one escaped, one didn’t – to gently examine what lies beneath the surface of hoarding. While the dialogue does sometimes take a turn for the theatrical (this is theatre, after all), for the most part it’s naturalistic and convincing. Paired with good performances from Rosie Cavaliero and Holly Atkins as Bea and Veda respectively, it’s a believable portrayal of a sibling dynamic, as fraught as it is affectionate and loving. There’s also the kind of worn-in sense of humour that only families can share, with Lawrence-Taylor serving up a few good jokes alongside the serious subject matter.

The closeness of Bea’s existence is well-illustrated by a great set designed by Naomi Dawson; the cluttered bric-a-brac feels tangibly like the sort of stuff you’d find at your nan’s house. The set has multiple levels, and director Lucy Morrison makes good use of the space, escalating the sense of claustrophobia with the way the characters pick through the piles of paraphernalia. 

Joining in the play’s final act is Archie Christoph-Allen as Veda’s son Ash, giving an excellent performance during some of the play’s more heartrending moments. Personal Values is weakest when it takes a turn away from the naturalistic, but a return to honest, upfront exchanges in the final scenes leaves the play on a moving and hopeful note. Lawrence-Taylor’s efforts move beyond a voyeuristic take on this intriguing disorder and instead present an interesting insight into sisterhood and grief.

Maggie O’Shea
Photos: Helen Murray

Personal Values is at Hampstead Theatre from 11^th April until 17^th May 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.