BRIGHTON FRINGE: Hot Death Theatre: PowerSUIT – The Actors

Seb – Lawrence Tucker

Nelly – Freya Benteaux

You’re in a Brighton pub. It’s a Friday night. You go up some stairs. On your chair lies a packet labelled ‘infiniberries’, a pile of suspicious looking blue beans. Do you take them? SHOULD you take them?

Welcome to Infinilife, your definitive opportunity to be rich, attractive and successful. Delivered by Seb, a sweaty man in a polyester suit, a point which suits the character but feels spectacularly mean to highlight in a heatwave, get set for a presentation that’s somehow both familiar and entirely peculiar. It’s definitely not a multi-level-marketing scheme, honest. ‘Supported’ by the surname-less Nelly, this duo deliver on the promised dark undertones in spades.

Presenting Alan Partridge awkwardness with a side of Peter Serafinowicz, Hot Death Theatre’s PowerSUIT harks back to an era of timeshares, tupperware and big suit energy. Imagine a world where for just a small investment, you too could be a successful human. The promise is allegedly alluring, and the pseudo-80s presentation? More than a tad alarming, by design.

There’s an increasing air of desperation from our anti-hero, Seb, as the show progresses. We know his neck is on the line. Lawrence Tucker portrays this character to full aplomb, making the madness of this surreal show feel real. Benteaux, as the supposed sidekick with a sinister edge, has a strong presence on stage that draws attention at just the right moment. In terms of performance the pair are utterly faultless. Believable, bonkers, and just the right touch of sleaze.

It’s cleverly crafted – it’s clear to see that Tucker and Benteaux are intelligent, thoughtful theatre-makers. The details are whip-sharp and creatively conceived. They have directed and produced this piece themselves, as well as performing in it. Amidst that, though, the primary critique on this show is that, on this occasion, it is simply far too long. Less is more here – the show would be funnier and slicker if it were shorter. It starts over 15 minutes late (this bit likely not their fault) but then also runs for 80 minutes rather than the advertised sixty. All the sections feel like they could do with tightening-up. But this reviewer knows the horror of having to kill your darlings, so who is she to judge?

With a quick crop, PowerSuit will be a powerhouse of a show. It’s giving multi-level-marketing meets multi-level-madness, and we’re here for it. Top notch acting and an interesting, immersive concept from a pair of creative theatre-makers.

Reviewed on 22 May 2026.