Writer: Zara Jayant
Directors: Zara Jayant and Emily Ritchie
With The Salt Path scandal still very much in the headlines, now is the perfect time to stage a comedy about publishing. However, The Publicist lacks the drama that Raynor Winn has caused with her alleged fabrications.
Working-class Marcus Phillips (once referred to as MP before he became famous) is last year’s best-selling author with an autobiographical novel about a childhood lived below the poverty line. Now there are rumours that his book will be turned into a film with some big names attached. “Timothée. Nicole. Idris,” Marcus’s publicist, tantalisingly confides to TV chat show host Olivia, hoping that the latter will agree to interview the author on her weekend breakfast programme.
The publicist and Marcus go way back. He’s not lost his working-class accent, but she has. She runs in more exclusive media circles, although there is evidence that she’s not that good at her job. Landing an interview for her client on prime-time TV might just resuscitate her career. The only problem is that Marcus isn’t that keen; he doesn’t trust himself to say the right thing on live television. And he has a few secrets that he’d rather keep to himself.
It’s an interesting premise, but perhaps not quite enough for a 60-minute play, which is padded out by some social media influencer skits. These digressions would work if they were funnier or more sharply observed. At the moment, they only distract from the story.
Julia Pilkington is excellent as the publicist, a little world-weary, always on the verge of collapse. It would come as no surprise if the actor has had real experience in the industry. Joe Flynn gives an unsettlingly charismatic turn as the wide-boy-turned-author, and in other roles demonstrates that he has a talent for accents.
Playing Olivia, Julia- Hetta Johnson nails all the characteristics of a daytime TV host, nodding away as her guest runs a trail of self-destruction. And Georgina Collins is very funny as Natasha, who arrives at the publicist’s office armed with a manuscript.
The actors are often sitting down in their scenes, which makes it difficult for the audience to see what’s going on. If Halfway Productions were to perform in the same venue again, the company may want to think about sightlines a little more or restore the Libra Theatre Café to its usual cabaret seating arrangement. But it’s heartening to see the venue sold out for the play.
At the moment, The Publicist seems a little thin, with only Marcus given some depth. Some more backstory to the publicist herself may give the play a little more weight. Why is the upcoming interview so important to her? What happens if it all goes wrong? However, the final draft doesn’t feel very far away.
Reviewed on 9 August 2025
Camden Fringe runs until 24 August 2025
