Creators: Michael Kunze, Hugh Edwards and Fergus Shipman
From the moment the audience enters, Boy Band sets the tone as very tongue-in-cheek. Michael Kunze and Hugh Shipman greet us with playful improv, asking if they’ve met us “at a show in Paris” or how our “restraining order is going”. Within minutes, we’re positioned as die-hard fans, offered autographed posters and encouraged to chant “Boy Band is forever”.
The show opens with the number We Are Boy Band, complete with fittingly naff choreography, including a trust fall, and an infectious chorus that’s lovably ridiculous. What follows is a ‘concert’ of comic songs laced with camp energy and audience participation.
Kunze and Shipman, head to toe in white, make no attempt to conceal that they are very much grown men playing teenage pop idols, and it’s this self-awareness that fuels much of the humour. Kunze, in particular, radiates confidence, maintaining eye contact with every corner of the room. The pair handles technical mishaps with endearing ease, improvising their way through with charm.
The musical numbers riff on funny premises: a heartbreak ballad about needing an actual heart transplant from a lover, ‘bad boy’ posturing undermined by mild behaviour when their mum is out and a love letter written via email. The highlights are those that embrace chaos, particularly the inventive use of edible props, which add a welcome layer of mess and mischief.
While Boy Band’s scrappy aesthetic is part of its appeal, it sometimes comes at the expense of a slick performance. The piece lacks a clear throughline or sense of build, resulting in a mild climax and an ending that feels abrupt. Still, its rough edges are matched by an undeniable sense of fun, a knowingly shambolic portrayal of pop stardom that wins the audience over through its charm.
Reviewed on 11 October 2025
