Sandals, Songs and Side-Splitting Laughs - Thespians Review at The New Theatre
Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to review Thespians at the New Theatre Cardiff, Mischief Theatre's first-ever musical, and what an absolute riot it turned out to be.
From the moment the curtain rose, it was clear that this wasn't going to be your average trip back in time. Set in Ancient Greece in 534 BC, Thespians takes a wonderfully ridiculous premise and runs with it at full speed, delivering two hours packed with laugh-out-loud comedy, clever wordplay, catchy musical numbers and the kind of glorious chaos that Mischief Theatre has become famous for.
Written by Jonathan Sayer, co-writer of The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, alongside Ed Zanders, Thespians feels like a natural evolution of the Mischief formula. The trademark mayhem is still there, but this time it's wrapped up in a musical packed with infectious energy, sharp choreography and some genuinely brilliant songs.
The story follows Thespis and his sister Poly, inhabitants of the tiny island of Ikaria, where absolutely nothing ever happens. When a devastating drought forces the island's entire population – all five of them – to travel to Athens and compete in a deadly prayer competition, an absurd adventure unfolds that ultimately leads to a discovery that changes the world forever.
At its heart, however, it's the cast that makes Thespians such a joy.
James Spence is wonderfully likeable as Thespis, bringing charm, innocence and excellent comic timing to the role. Claire-Marie Hall shines as Poly, delivering a performance full of warmth, wit and determination. Luke Latchman, Marc Pickering and Mia Jerome complete the eccentric island residents with plenty of memorable moments and fantastic ensemble work throughout.
“Greek puns, catchy songs and relentless laughter”
Rhys Taylor almost steals the show as The Tyrant, delivering a hilariously over-the-top villain who had the audience roaring with laughter every time they appeared. Their performance perfectly balances menace and absurdity, making them one of the evening's standout characters.
Guiding us through the madness are narrators Allie Dart and Matt Cavendish, whose chemistry and comic delivery help keep the increasingly ridiculous story moving at a cracking pace. Their interactions with both the audience and the action on stage provide some of the night's biggest laughs.
And there are plenty of laughs.
The script is absolutely packed with Greek-themed one-liners, puns and running jokes. Some are delightfully silly, some are wonderfully clever and some arrive so unexpectedly that you find yourself laughing long after the next joke has landed. The audience barely had time to catch their breath before another punchline arrived.
What impressed me most was how seamlessly the comedy, music and choreography work together. The production never feels like a comedy with songs awkwardly inserted; instead, the musical numbers become part of the joke, often elevating scenes to an even more ridiculous level. The cast attack every number with infectious enthusiasm, and the result is enormously entertaining.
Visually, the production embraces its ancient Greek setting while maintaining the playful, tongue-in-cheek style that fans of Mischief Theatre will instantly recognise. Every design choice serves the comedy, allowing the performers and script to remain front and centre.
What makes Thespians particularly special is that it appeals to such a broad audience. Fans of The Play That Goes Wrongwill find plenty to love, but the musical format gives the show its own distinct identity. It feels fresh, inventive and genuinely different from anything Mischief has produced before.
By the final curtain, the audience was clearly having as much fun as the cast on stage. The laughter was constant, the energy never dipped, and the evening flew by in what felt like a matter of minutes.
Thespians is a brilliantly funny musical packed with comedy, chaos and clever writing. It's an evening full of laugh-out-loud moments, memorable performances and enough Greek puns to last a lifetime.
Whether you're a longtime Mischief Theatre fan or simply looking for a fun night out, Thespians at the New Theatre Cardiff is well worth the journey.
Read / Listen to Cast Interivew:
https://www.theeditwales.com/theedit-articles/62ekyungwzkyebbttue8bt0mvnmmjk
Book Tickets:
https://trafalgartickets.com/new-theatre-cardiff/en-GB/event/musical/thespians-tickets
