Review: The Perils of Universal Credit
Ellie Malhotra reviews a new play, a much-needed wake-up call for change that restores power to voices that are too often ignored.
Tucked away above a lively Camden pub, the Etcetera Theatre offers the kind of intimate space that makes you feel instantly connected to what’s happening on stage.
With its close-set rows and minimal staging, it’s a venue that strips a play down to its essentials. It was the perfect setting for The Perils of Universal Credit – a raw, heartfelt play that invites its audience to look directly at lives too often pushed to the edges of society.
I had the opportunity to see The Perils of Universal Credit there one evening in September during its Autumn run. Written by Sharron Spice, an acclaimed writer and activist, the play follows one woman’s relentless struggle to claim Universal Credit while searching for work and stability.
Performed by the Elicit Theatre Company with honesty and emotional impact, this vital play shines a light on the harsh realities of Britain’s welfare system and the people caught in its gaps.
As the story unfolds, we watch the central character’s mental health deteriorate under the crushing weight of bureaucracy, financial insecurity, and isolation.
It’s painful to witness, as helpless audience members, we see her spirit slowly unravel, conscious that her struggle is not unique but shared by thousands across the country. The play captures this descent with devastating authenticity, reminding us how poverty and systemic barriers can erode not only livelihoods but also hope and self-worth.
Throughout the performance, slides are projected onto a screen, displaying real statistics about poverty and the welfare system in the UK. These moments ground the story even further, reminding the audience that what’s unfolding on stage isn’t fiction, it’s a reflection of the real lives and real numbers that define our country’s current social landscape.
Plays like this matter because voices of lived experience matter. Drawing directly on the writer’s own experiences with the welfare system, every scene feels deeply authentic and full of lived truth. Sharron says: “It was important for me to write and share my story not only in a creative way but to also challenge negative stereotypes.”
Real voices remind us that statistics and policy debates are not abstract, they’re about real people navigating impossible choices between rent, food, and dignity. When stories like this are shared on stage, they challenge the stereotypes and stigma that so often surround poverty. They give power back to those whose voices are usually left out of the conversation.
And that conversation couldn’t be more urgent. Right now, over 14 million people in the UK are living in poverty, including nearly 4.3 million children. Food insecurity is still rising, and more people are turning to community support to get by.
Ella, one of the actors, described the play as ‘a wake up call for change’, and with a performance in Parliament planned, the company is taking the message straight to those who need to hear it most.
We hope more decision makers have the chance to witness vital stories like this: to hear the voices of those affected by their policy decisions and to understand the human cost of inaction.
The Perils of Universal Credit: background
The Perils of Universal Credit was supported by the Lets End Poverty campaign.
Keep up to date with the play’s tour schedule on Instagram – @elicittheatreco
