That FaceWhen That Face debuted at the Royal Court in 2007, writer Polly Stenham was just 20. She was acclaimed with having written one of the best new plays of the year, and now, six years later, the Landor Theatre has revived it for its winter season.

The play follows teenager Mia at boarding school, leading a ritual initiation process and administering her mum’s Valium to a young girl. At home, Mia’s brother Henry spends his days looking after their mentally ill and alcoholic mother whilst their stock-broker dad lives in Hong Kong with his new family. It all sounds a bit dark, but what Stenham creates within the middle class, dysfunctional family is a witty yet blunt look at addiction and the effect it has on those closest around you.

It is a stark set by Rachel Stone, consisting of a solid wooden bed and the audience split on two sides of the theatre. As the families lives unravel over the course of 90 minutes, so too does the neat bedroom. Director Tara Robinson, who is currently the Associate Director to Michael Grandage on his West End season, directs a quick-paced, dry humoured, small cast to a magnificent performance.

Relative newcomer Stephanie Hyam as Mia and Rory Fleck-Byrne as Henry are the children who become parents to their parents, and each provides a strong, naturalistic portrayal of angry teenagers vying for attention from their estranged parents whilst struggling with the horror of addiction and embracing the childlike vulnerability that comes with it. Caroline Wildi as the menacing alcoholic mother is wickedly brilliant, especially when depicting Martha’s incestuous feelings for her son, making it completely uncomfortable yet enthralling for the audience.

Supporting cast Georgina Leonidas, Imogen Byron and Tony Donnelly put in strong performances, too, but the show belongs to the three members of the family that show behind closed doors, addiction faces and often destroys everyone in its path. There seems to be something in watching a family on the brink of destruction that affects the audience greatly – and indeed young playwright Polly Stenham has provided a perfectly formed play, and is now easy to see why it was such a hit the first time round.

That Face is playing The Landor Theatre until 1 December 2013. For more information and tickets see the Landor Theatre website.