The Penny Dreadfuls

Pleasance Courtyard,
12-30 August, 18.00

For the Penny Dreadful fan of recent years, there’s some sadness to their latest offering. Gone is the Victoriana, gone the attachment to theatrical narrative. No longer the unique, fiercely original act they were, this bold change of formula had to be brilliantly executed. Fortunately for them and us, it is.

With the cult frills stripped away, the Pennies produce one of the most intelligent sketch sets around. Replacing the narrative is a high-voltage, classily designed staging of lengthy, well-developed sketches woven together with a sophisticated structure of seeding and call-backs. Together, this creates a substantive show and sense of through-line, putting them a head above their competitors.

As they leaving behind their wonderful past peculiarities, I imagine they will become less dearly beloved to the cult devotee, but more widely loved by mainstream audiences. If they retain this level of intelligence, theatricality and craftsmanship, it will be richly deserved.

– Will Young