THIS is a little gem of a play, in which a suicidal policeman, fresh from a fatal stabbing of yet another East End youngster, is forced into re-evaluating his life when approached by a mentally troubled and mistreated Ghanaian woman.

Set one night on the notorious suicide spot Beachy Head, the action catapults between formative moments from their pasts and their quirky interaction as an unusual relationship develops that will carry them through the hours of darkness.

As the bloodied copper who has seen too much and still carries the weight of a tragic childhood experience, Gabriel Vick gives an intense performance.

Switching instantly between an enthusiastic childhood version of himself and the angry and depressed grown-up he has become, he reveals the full extent of his painful journey.

Susan Aderin provides a glowing performance as Fifi, the counter balance to his negativity, as she appears from nowhere with cat box and picnic gear in tow.

She has boundless energy and a passionate engagement with the world but her suspect engagement with reality is the result of how poorly life has treated her.

Francis wears his desperation like a cloak as he keeps the world at bay, whereas the regularly institutionalised Fifi openly shares her troubles with grace and humour and we are impelled to wonder who is the more disturbed.

Produced by Playing On, the late Philip Osment’s play is based on a detailed study with East End mental-health programmes and there’s a purpose to the poignancy as the two characters’ interactions enable them to share their grief and illuminate their darkness.

Jim Pope’s direction injects humour, tension and pathos in equal measure so that the pacey 70-minute show grips from start to finish.

It’s a world premiere of the last play by Osment, a co-founder of Playing On, and the company have done his memory proud with this bittersweet exploration of mental distress.

Runs until March 21, box office: omnibus-clapham.org