Swedish @ The Bread and Roses Theatre (Clapham Fringe 2021) Review

Life… death… and all the plans in between… bold concepts explored in Brian Beaton’s black comedy, Swedish.

Two criminal masterminds reunited, Swedish observes the intense meeting between duo Butlins Bill and French Face Frenchie.  Hustle-esque, the duo plan their next job – a seemingly straight forward premise, however the evening gradually descending into an existential event. Billy Colvill’s humorous Butlins Bill and John Smallshaw’s cool French Face Frenchie perfectly capturing the show’s comedic air, Beaton’s script witty, placing focus on the art of conversation.

Swedish entertains from the get go, tapping into the absurd, memory plays an important role within the show, both reflecting on the events that have shaped them. We hear of lost loves and missed ambitions, the show focussing more so on the duo and their motivations, rather than the event at hand, making the piece even funnier.

Isabel Melim, Hugo Linton, Kim Maouhoub brilliantly complete the ensemble with scenes that place around the duo’s meeting, adding to the show’s quirky, absurdist feel. The concept of time challenged, as time slows down watching it – each moment demanding for all to suspend belief – a surrealist, imaginative evening.

Review written by Lucy Basaba.

Swedish was shown from Friday 24th to Saturday 25th September 2021 at the Bread and Roses Theatre as part of Clapham Fringe 2021. To find out more about the festival, visit here…

Swedish will show at the Blue Elephant Theatre on both Friday 5th and Saturday 6th November 2021 at the Blue Elephant Theatre. To find out more, visit here…

To read our interview with the Bread and Roses Theatre about the Clapham Fringe Festival, visit here…

Written by Theatrefullstop