Conflict of Interest – Lantern Theatre, Sheffield

Writer: Thomas Carruthers

Director: Jazmine Sewsanker

For an extremely limited run, Righton Productions present their latest new play Conflict of Interest. Set in the law offices of Hargrieve Carmichael in 1982, we examine the relationships between lawyers Arthur Carmichael and Mitchell Hargrieve as well as the women in their lives, including colleagues, wives and clients. The play explores the role that gender has to play in the world of law – and one worries that despite the play being in the 80s, less may have changed that would be desired.

Thomas Carruthers, Artistic Director and Founder of Righton Productions, writes the play. It marks a return to an ensemble oriented play after some one person plays, including Are You There Mother? which returns to London in August. Carruthers’ writing is incredibly natural for the most part – we feel like a fly on the wall of this office, rather than like we’re watching something that’s been overly dramatised. Once we reach the second act, the pacing is good with revelations and twists being given at the right times, giving each one time to land. However, the first act does drag a little – your reviewer wonders if the play would pack more punch as a tighter 90 minute play without an interval. Carruthers has created a selection of wonderfully complex characters who all have their flaws as well as their redeeming qualities.

Carruthers takes on the role of Arthur Carmichael, giving a brilliant performance. He brings to life the somewhat sleezy lawyer perfectly, whilst still being somewhat likeable. He says vile things which make us vehemently dislike him and see how horribly patriarchal this workplace is, yet somehow we still feel for him as his marriage is challenged. Playing his wife Lucy is Maeve-Anne Allen. She gives a powerhouse performance, taking us through a rollercoaster of emotions. Allen and Carruthers have a believable chemistry on stage, making some of the twists even more shocking and hard-hitting.

William Leggetter takes on the role of Mitchell Hargrieve – the more uptight of the legal duo whilst still feeling like he’s dripping in sleeze. He plays drunk believably which is no easy thing to do and manages to take us from thinking he may be the less corrupt of the duo to despising his guts. At times, it is challenging to hear every word Leggetter says – usually due to lack of projection, sometimes lack of diction. It is also a shame he is tucked away in the darkness of the back corner for much of the first act.

Rhian Holmes plays Rita Lempkin, the client of Carmichael and Hargrieve. Along with her other castmates, she captures the complexity of the character, going from someone we want to see win her case to someone who really seems like a nasty piece of work. Completing the cast is Amy Cash as Talia Cooper who is the standout of the show. She is the most likeable of the ensemble – the closest thing we have to do a protagonist. She walks the line between optimism, naivety and passion perfectly, whilst never letting the character feel too innocent. Her Talia is full of fire and we long to see her become a successful lawyer, rising above the men who are insistent on holding her down.

Director Jazmine Sewsanker does a great job at taking the audience through a whole range of emotions from anger to sadness with a little laughter scattered throughout. A little more attention to detail would have helped keep us fully immersed in the world though – there seemed to be no consistency in which way people exited the stage to go to different places.

Conflict of Interest showcases five powerhouse actors who will all likely have many more wonderful things in their futures. With a little tightening up of the script, this good and fairly gripping play could be truly excellent packing a very strong punch.

Runs until 18th July 2026