We round up the reviews for this revival of Eleanor Tindall’s play, running until the 1st August.
Broadway World: “A queer romance-thriller mash-up sounds an ambitious undertaking, so one must applaud writer Eleanor Tindall and director Emily Aboud for giving it a go. However, this revival at the Bush Theatre in west London doesn’t quite come together, despite laudable performances from a young, animated cast.”
London Theatre.co.uk: “The play is explicitly bloody, to be sure, but its psychic abrasions are what really land. The play’s name notwithstanding, Tender is tough-minded to its core – and terrific.”
The Guardian: “Sometimes tender, it is also as slippery and visceral as raw meat. At 90 minutes it is a meal, not quite filling enough but every morsel delicious.”
Everything Theatre: “Tender is 1 hour 30 minutes of stellar acting with a script that leaves you aching for a little more. It is at times thrilling and full of surreal moments, but at its best when the heart and true-to-life language of the characters takes centre stage.”
All That Dazzles: “Across all creative aspects, Tender deftly manages to balance endearing comedy with complicated and dark themes without either feeling out of place. This is a queer love story that takes the framework of young romance and the hope that new starts offer and thrusts them up against multiple dark themes in a mature, scary and thought-provoking thriller that reminds us that tenderness lies at its heart.”
Time Out: “The central relationship loses some of its spark among the cannibalism, blood and eerie heat. But, Emily Aboud’s production eventually brings us back to Ash and Ivy’s attraction to one another. The action takes place on a bright yellow set; the walls pump and gasp with life. Under Aboud’s direction, the play swells with emotion. Despite all that’s going on around Ash and Ivy, their relationship has the audience on tenterhooks. We root for its success, in spite of all the excess clutter.”
London Theatre 1: ” The action ebbed and flowed, and seemed to slow in terms of momentum in the last third of the play – it was one of those ninety-minute no-interval productions. Tender by name and tender by nature, it throws the kitchen sink and then some at an increasingly convoluted storyline, including self-harm, possible eating disorders and an apparent addiction to adult entertainment. And yet there wasn’t the engrossing intensity that might have made this show more compelling. Still, patrons who have struggled with connections and relationships will find much food for thought here.”
Staged Theatre.co.uk: “Tender is a confident and deeply engaging piece of new writing, elevated by two outstanding performances. Funny, moving and emotionally truthful, it draws you into the lives of its characters with remarkable ease.”
The Upcoming: “With more refinement and a sharper focus on its key themes, this play could become either a beautiful rom-com or a compelling psychological thriller. Giving the story and its themes more space might allow them to grow and resonate even more strongly.”
Theatre Weekly: “Despite its flaws, Tender deserves ample praise for being such an ambitious, yet human piece of art. It’s a breathtaking dramatic experience, fuelled by an almost magical romance, unnerving tension, a creative team on song, and two leads who keep the Bush Theatre audience on tenderhooks almost the entire duration.”
The Reviews Hub: “There is an awful lot in Tender, perhaps too much. The emotional intensity of the love story is always at risk of being lost amid the surreal body horror. But you will remember and root for Ivy and Ash, flawed as they are.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/tender-2026/
