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Heavy meta: Why am I So Single? @sosinglemusical

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Being young and single never seemed so fun, full of energy, yet full of contradictions in this high-concept meta-musical, Why Am I So Single? The fourth wall is not so much broken as endlessly pummelled as the cast talks directly to the audience. Frequently. But essentially, it’s about young people with neuroses and smartphone addiction exploring why they can’t find love in present-day London. Told with a series of spectacular songs and dance scenes in this new musical from the creators of Six, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. But while we don’t necessarily get an answer that rings true to the question posed by this show, you are likely to be distracted mainly by the energy and the songs. It’s currently playing at the Garrick Theatre.  A new musical based on an original idea, the premise is that Oliver (Jo Foster) and Nancy (Leesa Tulley) - which are not their real names but names taken from their favourite musical, Oliver - have to write a new musical but are stuck for an idea. So, after e

Let's talk about stuff: Clickbait @theatre503


Clickbait is a comic new play about society’s attitude to porn and the women who make it for themselves. But it is hard to know exactly what to make of it.

There is enough material for several plays here; attitudes to pornography, how to set up a sex empire, concepts of consensual sex. They are all explored, but all too briefly to make much sense.

The play follows Nicola (played by Georgia Groome) who, threatened with the release of an amateur sex video, makes a snap decision to post it online herself.



But soon she is fielding unrelenting media interest and setting up her own sex empire with her two sisters as if it were as easy as setting up a theatre blog.

It all feels a little superficial. The youngest teenage sister (played by the amusing Alice Hewkin) also gets the raw deal in having to explain vast chunks of social media-speak to the audience.

The silliness builds as Nicola becomes a powerful porn magnate who wears polyester pyjamas and bunny slippers. It only redeems itself in the final moments when it grounds it back to origins of the revenge porn.

It is a pity as there is an interesting story among it all. There are some interesting ideas about responding to revenge porn, social media trolls (depicted by the actors with masks) and what it is to be sexually empowered. But none of them are considered long enough to support the show.

And while the title is catchy, it is a little confusing. Clickbait is those links to stories such as "how to retire at 55" or "what you should do for thinning hair". It isn't really about sex or revenge porn. But then again, I wasn't sure the play was either...

Clickbait by Milly Thomas runs at Theatre503 until 13 February.

⭐︎⭐︎

Photos: Production images by Oliver King

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