We meet Carleen and Crystal (Leah St Luce and Jadesola Odunjo), a content-creating duo and inseparable best friends, who desire to become famous influencers!
Their latest post pushes boundaries, but on FLIP!, a new social media platform, they find a second chance at fame and wealth. But what happens when morals are traded for engagements, likes, and reposts? Written by Racheal Ofori, FLIP! shows us the impact an ever-growing social platform has on ethics, compassion, and friendships.
St Luce and Odunjo are fantastic in their roles, delivering comical and high-energy performances. I adore their natural chemistry and the authenticity of the characters. They are quirky, fun honest…and so in sync, (shoutout to Aline David’s movement direction!) St Luce and Odunjo are brilliant comedic actors, but also wonderfully showcase the more emotive and vulnerable moments. I was also impressed with how the two seamlessly embodied multiple roles. As they portray a chorus of online users – some sharing compliments, others outrightly hating – the show delves into the nuances of influencer culture.
Emily Abaoud’s fast-paced direction pairs well with Ofori’s sharp script. Together, they create an exciting and engaging production that keeps the audience on their toes. I also enjoyed Abaoud’s direction mirroring the instantaneous nature of the online world. The absurd scenarios and parodies of real-life social channels made the audience cackle, adding an extra layer of humour to the show.
Ofori has cleverly portrayed the impact of our actions in the pursuit of validation. The characters exclaim, “Collect the cheques!” which prompts the audience to question the cost of chasing fame.
FLIP! is not only entertaining – it’s a timely and relevant piece that perfectly captures the essence of our digital age. The script offers thought-provoking commentary in a way that reminds me of the TV show, Black Mirror. Particularly with the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in the story, Ofori has created a unique exploration into one of society’s hot topics.
With a witty script, slick direction, and strong performances, FLIP! is a hilarious and reflective show on the dilemmas of social media.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}
The title of this winner of Theatre 503’s 2023 International Playwriting Award by Roxy Cook may seem like the set-up to a joke, but the narrative that unspools is instead an affectionate, gently barbed and at base quite sobering portrait of three ordinary souls (and one restless feline) adrift in modern Moscow. There is much affable, satirical back-and-forth commentary on the accepted myths & stereotypes of the Russian spirit & soul. Beset by the indignities of age, opportunism, graft, fatigue, the characters orbit one another, doomed to play out their roles in an unjust, predatory and saturnine universe. The play opens … More A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
Peter Pan Goes Wrong first premiered in London at the Pleasance Theatre in 2013, and earlier this year the show made its Broadway debut. Now the production is back in the West End for the Christmas season. Following on from The Play That Goes Wrong, in this production, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is staged by the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society and goes awry, disastrously so. The meta-comedy is filled with slapstick comedy, sometimes the humour may be predictable and silly, but it’s universally funny throughout – there is something for everyone here, and the laughs come thick and fast … More PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
Drawing heavily from the classic canon of the British supernatural, High Tide’s trio of contemporary Gothic narratives uses traditional storytelling formats to address contemporary themes. Directed by Elayce Ismail, reverent musical interludes accompany tales of apparitions and nighttime conjurings that speak of women from the East of England. Unfortunately, the effect is less chilling and more lightweight, with conventional structures, predictable plot twists and an over-reliance on external forces to drive narrative shoring up some of the less relatable aspects of the genre. Nicola Werenowska’s The Beach House, perhaps the cleanest of the three tales, tells of a mother and … More GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE
Drum roll please…(Cue a literal drum rolling across the stage.) The Lyric pantomime is one of traditions with the return of many well-loved jokes and skits. Costumes and sets are all made at the Lyric itself by Good Teeth, with set pieces being reused year on year. This year Cinderella gets the Hammersmith makeover, with some success. The costuming is fun and vibrant, with the ugly stepsisters’ equine pyjamas and hoop-skirted ball gowns giving all the wrong kinds of extra you need for those characters. Cinderella’s on stage dress transformation is magical and really well-timed. The Dame, Lady Jelly-Bottom’s, outfits … More CINDERELLA – REVIEW – LYRIC HAMMERSMITH
Amy catches up with Linus Karp ahead of his performance of Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, at London’s Clapham Grand. Linus and Joseph of Awkward Productions are also the masterminds behind the new show Gwyneth Goes Skiing. Hello Your Majesty/ Candle Entrepreneur, how are you feeling coming back from a hugely successful fringe and triumphant tour across your kingdom, ahead of performing in front of 700 of your loyal subjects, and before (the list never ends!) opening a brand new show, which has recently gone viral? Exhausted, exhilarated and alive. We’ve had the most ridiculous year – I feel … More INTERVIEW – LINUS KARP – DIANA: THE UNTOLD AND UNTRUE STORY