Review: Lessons on Revolution (Jermyn Street Theatre)

Review by Rosie Holmes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lessons on Revolution, by Samuel Rees and Gabriele Uboldi, is a thought-provoking production that is unlike any show I have ever seen before. If you’re looking for a show that combines elements of history, activism, and performance in a completely unique way, this one is for you. The show has been described as ‘documentary theatre,’ and it’s a term that encapsulates its essence perfectly: part play, part lecture, part history lesson. But that shouldn’t act as a deterrent, while it may sound academic on paper, the execution is far from dry. Having enjoyed a successful run in Edinburgh, this London run at Jermyn Street Theatre only serves to increase the performance’s urgency due to its proximity to the centre of the action it revolves around.

The piece centres around two timelines: the 1968 student protests at the London School of Economics (LSE) and contemporary struggles faced by students today. Rees and Uboldi (or Sam and Gab, as they encourage the audience to call them) explore the protests that arose when LSE students occupied a lecture hall in 1968, demanding the university sever its ties with apartheid-era Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia). LSE students protested the appointment of Walter Adams as Director of the Schoo, as Adams had a prior presence in Rhodesia and was complicit in the white minority rule of the regime. This historical story works in tandem with the contemporary story of students in London today, Sam and Gab’s experiences of unsafe housing, queerness, and the struggle of making art.

What sets Lessons on Revolution apart from typical theatre is the seamless blending of performance, personal narrative, and this documentary effect. Sam and Gab open the show by offering squash and biscuits, quickly establishing a relaxed, almost conversational tone. This informal start sets the stage for what feels less like a traditional play and more like an intimate discussion with friends. They preface the show proper by saying they are not professional performers, though this seems hard to believe given their charisma and excellent chemistry. They both star in and co-created the show, and their semi-autobiographical approach adds layers of authenticity to the performance.

While it might take a moment to catch up with all the names and characters, the use of audience participation (totally voluntary, and arranged pre-show, so don’t worry!) helps keep the energy up and the storytelling dynamic, but in fact serves as more than just fun. This technique works well to ensure Sam and Gab retain their powerful voices throughout, never having to imagine them as someone else, which may have diluted the strength of their narrative.

The set design is minimal yet impactful. Jermyn Street Theatre in an intimate space and lends itself well to this performance, the set design unassumingly utilises the space well. The main set piece is an overhead projector on which important images are displayed, serving well as a visual tool but also evoking the location of the 1968 lecture hall in which the protests in question took place. At the same time, the set also grounds us in the present, with biscuit packets, a record player and dining room table, it could also be the flat in which Sam and Gab wrote this play, discussed the possibility of change and revolution and explored the interconnectedness of the past and present.

Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of the show is the ambiguity of its message. While some might expect a clear, definitive takeaway, Lessons on Revolution doesn’t aim to dictate a singular conclusion. Instead, it invites the audience to draw their own interpretations from the facts presented. The piece encourages reflection on the continuity between past and present struggles my own takeaway was the potential for change when people come together in solidarity.

Ultimately, Lessons on Revolution is a show that defies easy categorization. It’s a powerful reminder that theatre can be both a tool for activism and a space for deep personal reflection. In a world where protest and the fight for justice remain ever-relevant, Rees and Uboldi’s work is not just timely, it’s necessary. It’s a production that challenges, inspires, and invites us to consider our own roles in the ongoing struggle for change.

Lessons on Revolution plays at Jermyn Street until 3rd May 2025, tickets and more information can be found here - Lessons on Revolution | Jermyn Street Theatre

Photos by Jack Sain