Writers: Tom Brennan and James Newton
In International House of Vape: Redefining Theatre Experience, Fringe stalwarts Tom Brennan and James Newton offer their audience the best financial advice possible: package some theatre, sell it everywhere, and let the cash flow in. The seminar-style act they unleash on their audience is a fantastic satire of millennial start-up culture and the Edinburgh Fringe itself, which morphs into something unexpectedly heartfelt.
Although the show feels spacious and improvisatory, it operates within a nicely developing structure. We start with a caricatured pair of tech bros, obsessed with useless jargon and Hinge, who present their case for comprehensively commercialising theatre with a painfully recognisable brand of aggressive optimism. Cashing in on this well-observed set up, Brennan and Newton then demonstrate ‘International House Of Vape’s ready-made theatre catalogue, which is an absolute riot and a chance for the actors to showcase their impressive range.
At this point, it becomes clear that the pair are going to deliver more than just comedic parody. Their facades start to crack, and we come across the darker, messier side of their subject matter as they explore what theatre means to them and how difficult it is to make it. The performers’ artistic and personal relationship takes centre stage, and their sparky banter flips to an emotionally fraught chemistry. As they convulse and prowl around a bare stage, the increasingly abstract performance reaches beyond its initial offering to become an honest dissection of modernity and how it makes us all feel. The physical theatre elements are gritty and committed and feel more profoundly truthful than the jaunty sequences towards the start of the show.
Whilst it is more rewarding, this latter part of the show does feel a little self-indulgent. This is acknowledged by Brennan and Newton, however, who inform their audience that they wrote that part for themselves. Even if losing the audience and lowering the energy is an intentional and compellingly experimental move, it’s a big risk which might not pay off for every member. For the most part, though, Brennan and Newton carry us along for the whole tumultuous ride and deliver a timely reminder that theatre must always be eccentric, random, and a labour of love.
Runs until 24 August 2023
The Reviews Hub Score
Compellingly Experimental
