Brazen Hodgepodge at Drayton Arms Theatre 24 – 28 February 2026

‘thoroughly enjoyable evening, a brilliantly fast and entertaining collection of sketches’ ★★★★

The part of sketch shows I most enjoy is knowing you’re never watching the same show as those who were there the night before, or indeed the run before. Brazen Hodgepodge gives the impression of a show that isn’t afraid to rework itself, and to add and change sketches and references depending on when and where it’s shown. Four outstanding actors (Sam Gibbons, Martha Cranston, Sebastian Senior, Dan Thorn) each play a range of vastly different characters, working just as well in solo sketches as they do all together.

Different time periods are used effectively – 1930s, for example - to approach the same concept multiple times, each sketch yielding a different result; the mother appearing at the most unexpected times being my favourite repetition, and the fall and rise of Debbie. A partially improvised scene with the audience was particularly effective, and again is testament to the versatility of this cast playing a wide range of characters in hugely different contexts; the atmosphere developed by the cast meant the audience were not afraid to engage at this point in the show.

It would be unfair to call the show simply ‘a collection of sketches’, as there are multiple threads throughout the show that connect the themes and keep the audience engaged, including audio-only pieces and ‘behind-the-scenes’ sketches. Some sketches revolve around a larger idea, taking time to develop and reach the punchline (Have you had your Weetabix?), and some are simply a number of seconds long – it’s safe to say that the cast work tirelessly to keep the audience entertained, ensuring no time is wasted.  

For a sketch show, it is quite long, but this time passes quickly, and there were only a couple of times where I wondered how much more they were going to squeeze into a half. The show is so intense that the first half became a little tiring, though I’m sure this will continue to be refined as time goes on.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable evening, a brilliantly fast and entertaining collection of sketches, a show that has the potential to be morphed and adapted to any audience and setting. The atmosphere in the theatre after the show ended is a reminder of what good a bit of comedy can do for Londoners.

As the social climate of the world shifts again in the coming years, and should Brazen Hodgepodge return to the stage, I’ll certainly return to see how it has changed in response.

Brazen Hodgepodge plays at the Drayton Arms Theatre until 28 February 2026.

BOX OFFICE https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/brazen-hodgepodge

Cast: Sam Gibbons, Sebastian Senior, John Upton, Dan Thorn, Emily Duncanson, Eden Tredwell

Directed by Sam Gibbons

Reviewed by Seb Gardiner

Company website https://www.brazenhodgepodge.com/

Reviewer Seb is a playwright currently based in Reading, writing for stage and audio in London and Manchester.