NT Live: The Fifth Step

In this tightly-wound two-hander by David Ireland, we meet James and Luka. James (played by Martin Freeman) is a man many years sober in a 12-step recovery programme; Luka (played by Jack Lowden) is the newcomer seeking sponsorship and trying to navigate the storm of his life. Their relationship begins in a modest, almost familiar setting: a meeting room, coffee, shared stories of drinking, regret, and rebuilding.

What quickly becomes clear is that the play is not simply about “getting sober and everything’s fine.” Instead, it offers an exploration of trust, power, masculine identity, faith and dependency. As Luka approaches Step Five of Alcoholics Anonymous — the moment of handing over one’s written list of past wrongs to another human being — the dynamic between the two men starts to shift. What begins as mentorship and camaraderie becomes fraught with unspoken agendas and dangerous truths.

Why this production stands out:

• Performance calibre: With two top-tier actors in intense proximity, you get a masterclass in psychologically driven performance. Many reviewers comment on how their performances slice through humour and seriousness alike.

• Raw authenticity: Ireland draws on personal experience with AA to bring genuine spiritual, emotional and ethical tension to the piece — it rings true.

• Dark-humour & sharp dialogue: The play balances tension with surprising comedic beats, making the experience emotionally layered. One review describes it as “crisp funny, troubling and bracingly honest.”

• Intimate staging / live capture: The production was filmed for the National Theatre Live series at London’s in-the-round venue and is being presented in cinemas. That means you get the immediacy of live theatre — the actors, the tension, the room — in a cinematic setting.

• Universal themes under a specific lens: While the setting is AA and the conversation often about alcohol and addiction, the larger questions are about how we trust, how we confess, how we relinquish control and how we deal with the unfolding self. When watching, it appeals not only to theatre-lovers or those interested in addiction narratives, but to anyone fascinated by relationships of power, vulnerability, and redemption.

If you enjoy theatre that is character-driven, emotionally charged, thought-provoking and delivered by first-rate actors — and if you like your drama edged with wit and tension — then The Fifth Step offers a real treat.