Laughs aplenty at the New Theatre Cardiff as Mischief present their first musical Thespians, about the accidental invention of acting (review)

Thanks to the New Theatre Cardiff for providing us with review tickets for Thespians

We are huge fans of Mischief Comedy and their Goes Wrong plays and TV shows which follow a hapless amateur dramatics society and their calamity-prone productions.

Thespians, their latest production, while filled with the witty chaos we have come to know and love from Mischief, takes a different direction. It’s their first musical for a start, and is set in Ancient Greece, offering an imaginative and laugh-out-loud funny account of Thespis, the 6th-century poet and performer widely regarded as the world’s first actor when he stepped out of the Greek chorus, donned a mask, and engaged in character dialogue with the chorus leader.

Little is known about the real Thespis, but Mischief’s character (played by James Spence) is an affable young man who lives on the tiny Greek island of Ikaria. With drought blighting Greece, he and his friends are summoned to Athens where The Tyrant – Rhys Taylor bringing a dose of panto-esque villainy while dressed in a flamboyant robe and headpiece – is forcing people to compete in a Eurovision-style prayer competition. Thespis becomes a star, loses himself along the way but ultimately remembers what’s important thanks to the friends who don’t give up on him. 

The laughs come thick and fast throughout – from the obvious jokes and humour to more knowing nods at the acting profession, references to musicals, and word play on Greek mythology. It won’t spoil your enjoyment if some of this goes over your head (with an age guidance of 8+, younger audience members may wonder what some of the laughing is about) but it just gives an added layer of humour for those who do get it. 

As Thespis’ star rises, we find ourselves rooting for his tribe of friends – his grounded sister Poly (Claire-Marie Hall), the love struck Atlas (Luke Latchman), the prophetic village elder Melampus (Mia Jerome) and even Marc Pickering as a rather delusional Adonis who goes to comical lengths to ensure everyone knows about his strength and good looks. 

It’s all set to a vibrant score heavily influenced by all kinds of musical theatre and played by an energetic live band, positioned on stage among the columns of an Acropolis-style set.

I took my 12 year old son, a Mischief fan who has learned about Greek tragedy and masks in his school drama lessons, and he laughed the entire way through. We were sat not far from a school trip of pupils who looked to be around 16 or 17 and who were having a great time cackling away. The humour isn’t as slapstick or physical as the Goes Wrong shows but this is still great family entertainment if you have older children. 

It’s a wonderfully energetic and fun performance, and alongside all the belly laughs, a lovely underlying message of empathy and seeing the world from someone else’s perspective. 

Oh, and the New Theatre was surprisingly cool last night and a lovely escape from the current heatwave. 

Thespians is at New Theatre, Cardiff until Saturday 27 June. Tickets, from £21.50, are still available. #

Age guidance 8+. Running time 2 hours 40 including interval. 

Book online here 

Also coming up at New Theatre, Cardiff

The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rock Show, 5 July 

The Last Laugh, 7-11 July

High Society, 21-25 July 

Rude Science, 28 July 

Dinosaurs Live, 2 August 

Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show, 5-6 August