REVIEW: LOOK BEHIND YOU by Daniel Wain at Theatre at the Tabard, 17 January - 3 February 2024

'A thoroughly enjoyable experience' ★★★★ ½

It's Panto time (Oh no, it … sorry)! But it's behind-the-scenes Panto. Which is arguably even better. 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Strut and Fret's production of Look Behind You, Daniel Wain's farce comedy gem. And thank heavens it's back.

We're backstage. There are posters and pamphlets of Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, theatre reviews, and of course, Michael Frayn's Noises Off, the greatest and most iconic of all farce comedies. Panto actors come and go, as they go on stage and then exit. We have the soap star, the thespian, the starlets, the pop star, the seasoned veteran ... you name it, they're all here. And, of course, because every farce needs a straight woman, we have long-suffering, wise-cracking Maggie, ushering them on stage and frankly keeping the whole thing afloat. The friendship, career and romantic dynamics of this lot are the perfect foil for this type of comedy. And it works. Granted, some plotlines are slightly clichéd and the characters tend to become stereotypes here and there, but what's great about it is that these are stories we like seeing in this context. This is what we imagine theatre-folk to be. It's fun, it's harmless and it gives us plenty of laughs. Like Panto itself, we're watching something we're already familiar with. And crucially, those plotlines give way to the more emotional moments in the show. We get a glimpse into the lives of these characters, and we watch their friendships develop. Mostly because they're there for a common cause: the theatre and what it all means.

The jokes come at you a mile a minute. The kind of stuff you make a mental note to quote in a casual conversation later. The ASDA/Waitrose one is a particularly hilarious moment that sort of comes out of nowhere, and the '16 husbands' gag is Panto perfection.

But it is as hard to pick a favourite joke as it is to pick a favourite character. This ensemble cast is the perfect group of people to spend an evening at the theatre with. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

LOOK BEHIND YOU by Daniel Wain OU Theatre at the Tabard, 17 January - 3 February

Box Office https://tabard.org.uk/whats-on/look-behind-you/

AGE GUIDANCE: Warning: Look Behind You contains lots of Pussy, Dick… and Nuts. Over 14’s only

Cast and creatives:

Ellie Armstrong as Suzanne Brett / Chorus Member

Barney Hart Dyke as Director

Cait Hart Dyke as Camille Crabbe / Fairy Bowbells

Olivia Jackson as Wendy Westcott-Hall / Tommy the Cat

Annabel Miller as Maggie Dunn

Anna Piggott as Jessie Musto / Alice Fitzwarren

Steve Pratt as Robin Eldridge / Alderman Fitzwarren

Oliver Redpath as Nicholas May / Idle Jack

Caroline Ross as Bernie Bigelow / Captain Barnacle

Mia Skytte as Norma Bailey / Queen Rat

Matt Tester as Finn Caffrey / Dick Whittington

Daniel Wain as Sam Nancarrow / Sarah the Cook

Directed by Barney Hart Dyke & Designed by Richard Evans

Photography by Marc Brenner

Reviewer Carol Saint Martin is a screenwriter, playwright, pop culture blogger and reviewer. Her TV pilot DEADLINE, REDFERN CITY and her stage plays have reached the finals of several competitions. Her first short film will be coming out in 2024.