For anyone old enough to remember the 1970s, Owners will leave them dewy eyed and nostalgic for a simpler era. When Caryl Churchill's play was first performed in 1972, Britain was on the cusp of great social change. Popular culture had created a fashion pendulum that went to extremes. From the red dial telephones to floral patterned dresses, it was a unique era, which is brilliantly captured in this new production directed by Stella Powell-Jones. The small but beautifully formed Jermyn Street Theatre plays host to a compelling study of power and manipulation.

Our friendly neighbourhood butcher Clegg (Mark Huckett) has fallen on hard times. His wife Marion (Laura Doddington) is a skilled developer who delights in buying property and removing troublesome tenants as cheaply as possible. Her suicidal corduroy wearing sidekick Worsely (Tom Morley) is on a mission. He needs to get shot of sitting tenants Lisa and Alec (Boadicea Ricketts and Ryan Donaldson). They have two children and another on the way. With an elderly mother sharing a small flat they will be easy to convince given the right incentive, or so Worsely thinks. Meanwhile, there is a thin line between love and hate as Clegg dreams of ways to kill Marion.

Like all plays, Owners is a reflection of the era in which it was written. Nevertheless, its central character Marion seems to be a very modern woman. Confident and successful with a lucrative property portfolio would have been unusual for a woman during the 1970s. Caryl Churchill may have seen the future but the timing of the play is significant. It landed squarely between the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. They were milestones in gender equality and signalled the beginning of change. Owners then becomes an important social document and illustrates how open discussion can make a difference.

Whilst a period drama, it also has resonance for modern audiences. Marion is a softer version of the ruthless landlords who exploited vulnerable tenants during the 60s and 70s. Such vulnerability grows from a shortage of housing. The law may have moved on, but we are in the midst of a housing crisis where the symptoms are largely the same as they were back then.

For all its weighty historical context, there are strong three dimensional characters on display. A sharp script packs a rich seam of darkly comic humour and there are laugh out loud moments. Some characters may come across as outdated stereotypes but they show how society has moved on. An excellent cast nail their respective roles and capture the nuances of every character. Each scene is marked by extracts from pop hits of the day, which triggers a wave of happy memories for me personally. History is sometimes looked upon as a celebration of the present; this play is a marker for the progress we’ve made. An irresistible snap shot of life in the 70s.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Brian Penn

Owners plays at the Jermyn Street Theatre until 11 November, with tickets available here.