Author: The Reviews Hub - East Anglia & South East

Circus escapades from top clowning talent, and reported twunk. Lachlan Werner made a storm on the clowning scene with his debut character show, Voices of Evil. Does WonderTwunk have the potential to match the magic? The WundaBarn at the SpiegelGardens provides a suitable setting for the circus. Werner strides onto the stage as Jack Hammer, supposedly the world’s strongest twink/hunk (twunk). There’s lots of posturing from this whimsical weightlifter, while the show puts him under continued strain. His devious dad has warned him that he’s a very strong boy. You can look, but you can’t touch. Just the merest of…

A versatile variety show, on a night where the energy doesn’t quite match the madness on stage. A&E Comedy is the brainchild of jesters, Abigail Dooley and Emma Joy Edwards. With the support of their trusty assistants, PC World and Roger That, the pair promise to tackle despair and disconnection with a joyous middle finger. Does this show meet the brief? Do All The Things is a creative extravaganza of ideas and silly sketches to really get the party started. The duo take to the stage adorned in sequins as characters Suck It and See, perfecting the creepy, corny vibes…

Extraordinary show that strikes the perfect balance between performance and personal reflections. We’re in an intimate space just off the seafront in Brighton for a quick catch-up in Dad’s shed. With a golden-crested-chaffinch twittering in the background, stylish gilet on-hand, and supersized cuppa, complete in a ‘favourite farter’ mug, all must be well. Unfortunately, poor Dad has to put up with ungrateful, ‘woke’ and wayward children – sometimes known as ‘the audience’. But he’s not going to let that ruin his day. Dad Jokes is a lovingly ludicrous portrayal of a parent struggling with the gender identity and sexual orientation…

A muddled and confusing attempt at feminist reinvention. Helen of Troy was “the face that launch’d a thousand ships”, and “burnt the topless towers of Illium”. Most remember the opening line of Marlow’s poem, but it’s the second line That Witch Helen focuses on: how women are blamed for men’s violence. Blending a mixture of storytelling, Greek myth, and lots of swaying around inside fabrics, Catie Ridewood’s reclamation of an infamous figure is a worthy idea unevenly and, in some moments, embarrassingly explored. As with a lot of myth, the Greek Heroic Age is a mess of contradictions, nonsense, and…

Director: Cathy Marston Reviewer: Steve Turner Cathy Marston’s interpretation of this well-known classic manages what might seem impossible by giving us the whole story in a performance lasting around two hours. Everything is here, from Jane’s childhood as an orphan, through her school days, and on to her relationship with Mr Rochester. Marston opts to add an extra element or two, adding to the drama on stage without tampering with the original text too much. Opening with Jane’s rescue by St John Rivers, her early life is retold as if she is relating it to the Rivers played out at…

Too Small To Tell is an important story that is absolutely not too small to tell. But is this play the right format for it? Lisa Rose details her experiences working in Harvey Weinstein’s offices. As an aspiring actress in the 90s, this office work could have helped her access her big break. But the realities of working for Weinstein soon become apparent, which she shares with the audience on stage. Rose largely takes a narrative approach to the story, showing the audience what happened, when. She takes on multiple character roles – many not feeling distinct enough from each…

An intriguing debut from a well-known and loved Brighton alternative comedian. It’s a Tuesday evening at 9pm, and we’re here to see Alec Crane commune with, nay control, the dead. It’s important to distinguish, this is definitely NOT the Brighton comedian, Alec Crane, but the disgraced doppelganger and TV medium who happens to share his name. Obviously. The environment is suitably spooky. Faux candles encircle a table on stage, the lighting is dipped, and each person is scanned for spirits as they enter the room. But does this dial-a-deviant deliver the goods? Crane’s attempts to ‘control the dead’ are comedic…

Written and performed by: Ben Bailey and Chris Parkinson Since 2021, Ben Bailey and Chris Parkinson have been bringing their delightfully nerdy PowerPoint presentations to the Brighton Fringe. There are two self-imposed rules to The Slide Show Must Go On: one, every night in the run is different; and two, no one is told beforehand what the shows will be about. As evidenced by the packed Rose Hill audience, it’s a winning formula and the combination of well-researched niche topics and visually-cued humour doesn’t disappoint. The evening begins with two shorter presentations. Parkinson delves into moral panics, from Socrates publicly…