Relics

There’s some Alphabites in the freezer. Pop
the oven on. You can eat your own words.

When four siblings reunite at their recently deceased mother’s home with the intention of divvying up her possessions, a long-buried family secret explodes out into the
open – with devastating consequences for their morally-upstanding family identity and individual relationships.

True to form, Liv thinks she can bulldoze them all to safety, on her own terms. People-pleaser, Rob, just wants everyone to get along. But Michelle’s had enough of doing as she’s told. And with prodigal son, Jonny, hellbent on getting what he wants, they all look set to lose everything – their dignity included.

Relics is a darkly comic family drama which explores the legacies we inherit, the choices we make, and the heart-breaking compromise of growing up.

This edition was published to coincide with production at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in June 2026.

Ben Ockrent is an award-winning writer and director for theatre, film, television and radio.
In the US, he’s currently developing a new scripted comedy for Lionsgate / Sacha Baron Cohen’s 4 x 2 and another for BBC Worldwide. In the UK, he’s developing a new scripted comedy with Martin Freeman’s Dancing Ledge, a feature film for Nick Frost and a new stage musical for the Young Vic Theatre.
Previous TV work in the UK includes The Secrets (BBC1); Youngers (E4); Joe Mistry (ITV2 pilot); Waterloo Road (BBC1) and Material Girl (BBC1). Other non-broadcast commissioned work includes Genius (Tiger Aspect); Khoa San Road (BBC3) and Kidnapped (BBC3). In the US, he’s sold comedy pilots to FX and TV Land and a drama pilot to Paramount Studios / Anonymous Content.
Previous theatre work includes More Than Words (Neal Street/Fiery Angel); Hacktivists (National Theatre Connections); Breeders (St. James Theatre, Planet London Award for Best New Play); Provenance (Manhattan Theatre Club performed reading); Carrot (Latitude Festival), The Pleasure Principle (Tristan Bates Theatre) and Honey, which was nominated for an Olivier Award as a part of the Tricycle Theatre’s season, Afghanistan: The Great Game (which toured the US, including a one-off performance in the Pentagon).
For the radio, he’s currently writing a new drama for BBC Radio 4. Other radio plays include Cordite For Breakfast (BBC Radio 4); Vital Statistics (BBC Radio 4) and Honey (BBC Radio 3).
Ben has also directed some of the world’s most celebrated actors in his own short films. His first, Dust, starring Alan Rickman and the new Dr Who, Jodie Whittaker, was long- listed for the BAFTA for Best Short Film and nominated for a National Film Award for Best Short Film. His second, Edmund the Magnificent, was financed by Creative England / BFI, stars David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter) and Sir Ian McKellen and was also long-listed for the BAFTA.