REVIEW: WASTEMAN by Joe Leather at VAULT Festival 14 – 16 February 2023

‘Bringing the impressive direction and inspiring script all together is Leather’s brilliant performance’ ★★★★★ 

Joe Leather’s Wasteman is a huge success and, if it wasn’t already sold out, I’d urge you to head to the Vaults as fast as you can just to see Leather in action. The audience are taken deep into the life of a bin man / wanna-be drag artists / a queer man finding their way in the world and wondering how to navigate their career, their friends, their art, and who they want to be.

Wasteman is expertly put together by director Kat Bond, with the jumps between each of Leather’s anecdotes happening smoothly and creatively. We go from 8 year old Leather trying on a sparkly pageant dress in their mates caravan, to their morning rubbish round, to a musical number, to a heartfelt exposure of the trials and tribulations of being a queer person, a solo performer, and a drag artist. Like a well-made BBC 3 sitcom, the transitions between each of these moments are just as exciting and surprising as Leather’s performance itself. The smooth integration of props, costume, lighting, and sound makes Wasteman not just a great stand-alone performance by Leather but a superb overall production that will surely have another successful life beyond the Vaults this week.

Leather’s writing takes the audience on many twists and turns, offering moments to laugh, cry, and question. The script goes beyond what one might expect from a typical drag-show, and instead what has been written is a highly sophisticated piece of theatre.

Bringing the impressive direction and inspiring script all together is Leather’s brilliant performance. They make the funny moments funnier and the serious moments even more profound. The audience is unable to take their eyes off Leather, who guides them through all the different stories, characters, emotions, and events effortlessly. The musical numbers, which had the risk of feeling eggy were executed well and certainly added to the many skills that Leather successfully showcased in one tight-packed show. Not only could Leather sing and dance, they could make the audience laugh and cry as we hung on his every word and were mesmerised by his impressive performance.

Overall Leather and their team create another stand-out show that is as entertaining as it funny as it is heartfelt. I have been saddened to hear this week at The Vault Festival is desperately looking for a new home and having to raise £150K in just three short weeks to secure its future. It is productions like Wasteman that epitomise fringe theatre and that deserve to have spaces like the Vault Festival to continue to support and celebrate them. I hope for the sake of future shows like Wasteman that the Vault Festival is able to continue to provide a space where creatives of all backgrounds can bring their work and share their stories for many years to come.

Images: Corrine Cumming @capturedbyCorrine

WASTEMAN by Joe Leather at VAULT Festival 14 – 16 February 2023

Directed by Kat Bond

Twitter @leathermyjoe

Reviewed by Amy Tickner

Amy is a theatre maker based in North London. She has directed for many companies at various pub theatres across London and her debut play ‘Jammy Dodgers’ had successful runs at Theatre N16, Etcetera Theatre, The Cockpit, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.