A fellow critic and I were met with some bombastic chat as we entered the Cabaret Club set, “it’s frightfully exciting to be out in the provinces”, one of the performers quipped. A satirical and cutting glimpse into bourgeois 1920s society, this was a delightful experience. Staged from the point of view of an author developing his characters, the audience thrived as they made decisions on the actions of protagonist and wannabe starlet Gwen, in her desperate pursuit of fame. Should she go to a nightclub or to the races? Follow her head or her heart? The cast reacted to audience-led narrative with delightful cheer, all the while illuminating the darker sides of 1920s glamour. A hilariously interactive, innovatively directed performance.

Zoo Southside, 12-27 Aug (not 14) 4.30pm.
tw rating 4/5 | [Adam Bloodworth]