Showmanism ★★★ Hampstead Theatre | Jun 18 - Jul 12, 2025


It's summertime and the season of fringe theatre is upon us. One-person shows, performers with niche talents and curious experimentation are among the hallmarks of this annual experience, and Showmanism certainly meets the above criteria. Created by and starring Dickie Beau whose gift is a formidable ability to lip-sync and some skill at mime, this production is a collage of various interesting commentaries about the theatre and theatrical production. The various snippets are neatly patched together, but their relevance to each other is left for the audience to determine. They run from the challenging and academic to the silly and anecdotal, and they certainly provide a quirky pastiche of commentary about the art of performance. From the acoustics of the Ancient Greek amphitheatres, to feminist questions about drag, to a reminiscence about a visit to Oberammergau, there are lots of interesting insights here, and an enormous amount of material is covered. To the proceedings, Dickie Beau brings his lip-sync skills and a mimed commentary on the audio clips that provides visual interest. In turn, his efforts are supplemented by some very good production values. The sound, visual effects and sets are first-rate. However, as with many fringe shows, at the end, we are left with a set of questions that the author/performer probably did not intend. Was this all profoundly self-reflective or simply self-indulgent? Is this deeply thought-provoking or merely intellectually pretentious? Bold experimentation, or boring exhibitionism? The intended value of fringe theatre is that it pushes boundaries. However in the final analysis, individual audience members will have to decide whether or not this particular effort results in a rewarding theatrical experience.

Rated: ★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Amanda Searle

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Eton Ave, London NW3 3EU, UK

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