Alright Bitches! at Above the Stag Theatre

credit PBGstudios

If there’s one thing we’ve missed these couple of years, it’s a package… holiday.

Jason’s dream getaway would be climbing the trail to Machu Picchu. But his hot younger boyfriend Ollie is more interested in Manchu Picchu, a gay bar in Gran Canaria’s less-than-salubrious Yumbo Centre. And it’s Ollie’s turn to choose.

So here they are celebrating their first anniversary in the trashy tropics, looking forward to such romantic treats as gay bingo and riding the inflatable banana. With predatory neighbours and cheap cocktails, what could possibly go wrong?

Alright Bitches! is part one of a trio of comedic plays that are the essence of what Above the Stag Theatre is about. Having gone through a lot of changes in recent years it is great to see the first of this trio, Alright Bitches! being brought back to the main house and seeing them go back to their roots in this revamped version.

The most noticeable change since I first saw the show in the old venue in Vauxhall in 2016 is the set. Both the set design by Davis Shields and the lighting design by Joseph Ed Thomas are some of the best you will find at any fringe theatre and this show is no exception. Looking over the balcony to the sea from the somewhat rundown hotel in Grand Canaria it really does feel like you are there.

The choreographed music breaks during the scene changes really lift the performance and provide energy to the show that helps keep the audience on side. It makes you want to leave the show and jump right to your closest queer beach bar!

The writing from Martin Blackburn does hold up for the most part and the campness and in-jokes won’t fail to get a laugh from this audience. Sadly it seems the cast might not yet be so familiar with delivering comedy, with the timing of jokes frequently off or lines dropped which could be roof-lifters with more experience. Josiah Eloi is the star of the show here in his role as Max with great comic timing and laughs abound!

Alright Bitches! is on at the Above the Stag theatre until the 14th of June, tickets start from £12.