Review from Leeds

Performance: Monday 4th February 2002
Venue: Chapletown Leeds
Reviewed by: Sara Belkadi

An old man is found dead in his home by two unfortunate burglars and chalk outlines are discovered in the area.
That's the plot for the touring play Thick as Thieves, which will put your living room centre stage with the Hard Graft Theatre Company.
The play ran in Leeds for one night only, telling the story of two inexperienced thieves whose discovery of a murdered budgie is just the beginning of a disturbing night's work.

Scripted success
But it's the cleverness of the script and its delivery dragging you straight into this experience as if it were your own house being burgled.
This hour-long play represents condensed theatrics at their best, with the comical, philosophical thieves Barry and Steph in a brilliant double act, which wouldn't look out of place on Friday night TV.
Mark Whiteley and Daniel Hoffman-Gill (Barry and Steph) have already enjoyed on-screen success, with film and TV performances ranging from 'Playing the Field' to 'Long Time Dead'. Here they perform for charity at their own expense.

Travelling showmen
The group perform when and where they are asked to by visitors to their website, and fund their expeditions from their own pockets, so far they have travelled 650 miles.
And it's not just living rooms they visit. From Leeds, the Nottingham-based Company will be performing in venues all over Britain, including a narrow boat.

Theatrical revolution
Thick as thieves is a refreshingly simple; involving and entertaining play driven by an innovative concept.
The Thick as Thieves tour can be summed up by "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."
Wise words for us all.