Written by Theo Toksvig Stewart, a play with a title so long I can only hope they were not charged per character for their poster – The Play With The Really Long Slightly Poetic Sounding Title That’s Actually A Bit Too Long But That’s OK Because It’s About Something Important… or, She Howls Kelp. This show aims to highlight the issue of the climate crisis. But there is much more beneath the surface of this brilliant piece of metatheatrical fringe theatre.

Toksvig Stewart and Madeleine Gray, play a lighthouse and an otter, respectively. Both performers are natural storytellers, piking our interest, captivating our attention, and ensuring we remain focused on them for the entire run time. I don’t want to dive too deep into the plot because I don’t want to spoil it, but there are tricks and twists along the way which aim to surprise, and they definitely do.

Toksvig Stewart’s writing is sensational, perfectly utilising the metatheatrical devices to comedic effect, and full of witty hilarious jokes, which those that love theatre and work within it will particularly enjoy. The delivery of these lines feels natural throughout, as though the two of them were improvising, or even talking amongst themselves, the audience simply there as a coincidence.

There is some audience participation, and the audience members at this particular show were spectacularly good sports. Heavy on satire, superbly acted, and hysterically funny from beginning to end. A highlight of the festival so far, completely original, brimming with potential, and very much worthy of the three S’s of success (Sell-out, Soho, Sonia) – and no, no flattery props were used on me. I cannot wait to see what Yellow Hat Productions do next!

{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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