Hold The Line is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of those unseen heroes working behind the scenes at the NHS 111 helpline. The play follows Gary, a Geordie actor (played by Sam Macgregor) who relocates to London and takes on a job as a health advisor at the height of covid, only to find himself, five years later, still tethered to the headset. Through sharp, darkly comic episodes and poignant drama, the show immerses the audience in a high-pressure world of emergency call handling. The ringing never stops, the calls never slow down and the emotional whiplash is relentless. 

One moment Gary is fielding absurd non-emergencies (‘I swallowed an apple pip: will I die?’), the next he’s thrust into actual life-or-death situations and grappling with mental-health crises. But when one call ends in tragedy, Gary finds himself at the centre of a harrowing inquiry, forcing him to confront the toll of a job that demands everything and gives little in return. Gabi Chanova plays all the other characters brilliantly, from a rushed-off-their-feet clinician, a suicidal caller and a quota-hungry boss. A gripping, heartfelt tribute to those who hold our healthcare system together. 

Hold The Line, Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 August, 4.25pm.