Review: Cockfosters (Turbine Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Customer Service Update: This review contains no shortage of puns relating to the tube – some of which are so awful you may consider sticking your head under ground. Reader discretion is advised.

After three sold out runs in a year, the off-the-rails comedy Cockfosters returns to the Turbine Theatre in Battersea for another journey. I had heard great things about this from its previous runs but had a severe delay when it came to attending the show myself. There was no way I was missing it this time though (Who knows how long I’d have to wait for the next one?) but having gotten on board much later than others, would I mind the gap?

Cockfosters tells the story of a singular tube journey as strangers Tori and James meet on the Piccadilly Line at Heathrow and begin the long and treacherous journey to, you guessed it, Cockfosters. Through the course of 38 stops over one hour, they meet every kind of person you would expect to see on the tube in an eventful and surreal adventure that might prove to change their lives.

On paper, the premise of Cockfosters could prove fairly one-note and dull. However, this proves to be the complete opposite as Tom Woffenden and Hamish Clayton’s writing takes the mundanity of a bog-standard tube standard and ramps up the absurdity factor, creating a ridiculous and far-fetched world that is also scarily familiar, amplifying the occurrences Londoners witness on the tube every day and have stopped batting an eyelid at. Buskers, American tourists, Man-spreaders, the music blasters who have seemingly never heard of headphones – you name it, they’re present and how they appear is a stroke of genius. One of the funniest sequences came from an ingenious look at the adverts we come face to face with on the underground. Pure comedy gold, these came thick as fast, each funnier than the last with the inclusion of “Poems on the underground” in particular providing the biggest laugh of the evening for me.

In their writing, Woffenden and Clayton find the perfect blend of recognisable situations and ridiculousness, finding the funny in every aspect of a seemingly inconsequential tube journey. The result is a riotous hour of comedy where the laughs never stop. Their ability to craft a great joke, come up with a clever punchline or feature a fantastic sight gag puts them at the same level as Police Cops and Mischief Comedy with often hilarious results makes this a highly entertaining hour of theatre that left me wanting more. .Integral to this is the burgeoning love story between Tori and James. While the variety of people and situations they find themselves in threatens to derail their story, thankfully it never derails the comedy itself. Cockfosters also attempts to bring a bit of history to the mix as it celebrates 160 years of the London underground with a smattering of facts you may not have been aware of… though the next joke is never too far away.

Hamish Clayton’s direction further fuels the comedic factor, with grand performances and gestures perfectly playing out on the cramped stage at the Turbine theatre. Every thought involved with this production adds to the success of it, from the pre-show announcement advising of delays to the busker and thrown papers everywhere as you finally enter the theatre. A moment of audience participation provided a moment of unscripted hilarity and interactivity. While Cockfosters is meticulously crafted in its form, part of me did want it to feel slightly more spontaneous at times – should the show return in a longer form (it may be the length of a tube journey now but delays can help that), perhaps a little more of that could be thrown in sporadically.

Cockfosters also features original songs by Jay Foreman, Rich Longdon and Tom Woffenden. From the buskers ode to how great the tube is to a hen do’s ode to being “pissed”, these come in quick succession in one section of the play, providing one of the most enjoyable sequences in a consistently great show. I did wonder if the numbers should have been peppered throughout instead rather than be performed together, though that speaks more for my constant need for people to burst out into song - not just on stage, in everyday life… but please never on the tube!

The cast of seven provide excellent comic performances with a great service on their lines. Sam Rees-Baylis and Beth Lilly lead the cast as Tori and James in two equally charismatic performances, expertly keeping it together as their fellow cast members appear in increasingly absurd ways. Amy Bianchi and Harry Bradley consistently entertain in their performances, Ed Bowles delights as a hairy busker and Natasha Vasandani has an incredible breakdown as she grapples with her own mortality in a highlight sequence. The cast are completed by Kit Loyd in a versatile mix of roles, none more memorable than in the multiple appearances of James’ obnoxious friend Richard. There is nothing understated about any of this magnificent seven’s performances and thankfully so. These are overblown, exaggerated performances that and showcase not only the brilliance of the writing but their own talents as they expertly and effortlessly bring the comedy to life.

Sometimes, all you want in theatre is a good laugh and Cockfosters strikes on every level in that regard. While the tubes themselves may struggle to run on time, there is no issue with timing here in this incredibly funny and consistent play. I did get the sense that, as great as this production is, there is still room for it to grow – while it may be four stars for me personally at the moment, I see it can easily get to a five-star show when it is completely sorted. Whatever happens next, I’m sure that this isn’t the end of the line for this hilarious ride of a show – I certainly hope to see a future life for Cockfosters so it doesn’t terminate here. This is one show I’m very glad I tapped into.

Cockfosters plays at the Turbine Theatre until 31st August. Tickets from www.turbinetheatre.com

Photos by Marshall Stay