CityLife

Human Habitation @ 24:7 Theatre Festival

FRESH out of psychiatric hospital, Blackpool lad Michael (Ben Worth) is settling into a squalid flat in down town Manchester. Michael is a young family man with two kids - only his mind shoots blanks.

Sympathetic letting agent Frank (Mike Woodhead) is helping Michael settle in, while sinister John threatens trouble.

There are plenty of insights into mental health problems and some smart jokes too and, much against expectations, Rob Johnston's script has an optimistic, uncompromisingly happy ending, a very pleasant change for a contemporary drama.

The two main performances are convincingly fleshed out and director Christopher Neil paces it exactly right.

Human Habitation is on at Blue at Pure, Printworks until July 27. Performance schedule: July 22, 12.30; 23, 6pm; 24, 9pm; 25, 7.30; 27, 12.30. Click here for more information.