Red Line Theatre’s “In Good Conscience” is a new two hander play at the King’s Arms in Salford as part of Greater Manchester Fringe 2026. It explores several interrelated topics head on and certainly doesn’t pull any of its punches. There is a bit of humour, but of a dark variety.
The two characters, Phoebe and Elliot, played by Barabra Diesel and Oli Wyatt, really do get under your skin – Phoebe especially. They are a “couple” who start out at opposite ends of the protest spectrum – she’s all for it, he’s more cautious as he’s a legal observer – who end up rather the other way round.
The play is a great insight into how protest marches are organised, and the consequences of being in them, especially when peaceful protest turns into direct action against people and property, and it certainly took us out of our comfort zone.
Things started with a little warm up as we entered, being asked if we’d been on a march before, and given written instructions on what to do if we were arrested. Good practical advice.
There are a couple of hints that all is not well with Phoebe. A former partner still lingers in her background, and she fiddles nervously (and endlessly) with a cat’s cradle. At one stage I thought she might use it to strangle Elliot in one of their more heated exchanges, who becomes more militant as time passes.
It’s all very well done.
Afterwards we were told that the play is still very much a work in progress, so things could change, but I’d say it’s largely there, just slightly too long.
There is one more performance on the 14th. DETAILS HERE
Paul Schofield for Canal Street Online
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