Review: See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical (Capital City College, King's Cross Centre)

Review by Ria Tanaka

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Five strangers interrogated about a bag left unattended at Kings Cross Station. This is the premise of See it. Say it. Sorted. The Musical, written and directed by Lewis Long, with music and lyrics by Eve Edwards. A comedy about love, loss, and the connections we can make with strangers, what initially looks like an exploration of a dark and scary subject matter, is actually a fun, quirky musical filled with dark humour. After a sell out run at Edinburgh Fringe earlier this year, See it. Say it. Sorted. The Musical is back, this time as part of the Bloomsbury Festival here in London.

The musical is performed in a black box studio with very minimal set designed by Felix Zombory-Moldovan, made up of grey train station seating, a small announcement board showing a delayed train scheduled to arrive from Edinburgh Waverley station, and a wooden piano. Though it was simple, I really appreciated the attention to detail. I particularly enjoyed the yellow tape used to mark the edge of the stage as if it were the edge of a train station platform, and the replica train tickets with the program linked on a QR code that were handed to us as we entered the theatre. Not to mention the fact that this production was literally performed in Kings Cross, with the station itself only an eight-minute walk away. Talk about setting the scene!

Inspired by the diversity and chaos of a busy train station, many of the directional choices made by Long bring that hustle and bustle to the stage with skill, something that is hard to emulate when your cast consists of only six actors. One choice I loved was at the start of the show when the character of Stanley, played by Rudi Rance, ran through the entirety of the second row of the audience as if he were running through a packed train. Long’s bold and busy staging was spot on in recreating the overstimulating setting of Kings Cross station, though I did think that this same style felt a bit messy when it came to some of the scenes when the five strangers were being questioned in confinement.

  The stillness of the more personal scenes was particularly beautiful, it just made me feel like I wanted even more. My favourite moment of the show was when the character of Sam, played by Luke Michels, uses BSL (British Sign Language) to sign the words being sung by Sophie, played by Leah Dawson. Amongst the comedic chaos, this was an intimate moment of theatre magic.

Packed with laughs, the comedic timing of the scenes were performed with great skill by the cast made up of new talent, all of them being students at UCL in London. I particularly enjoyed Ashley New’s performance of the role, Jules, a chronically stressed woman who continually bickers with her husband Rich, played by Harry Renell. I know I could absolutely relate to her! New brought a brilliant energy to the stage, capturing that relatable mix of exasperation and affection that comes with long-term relationships. Renell’s dry delivery and subtle physical comedy made their scenes together even funnier, and the two bounced off each other with effortless chemistry.

The music by Eve Edwards was playful and filled with some gorgeous harmonies yet still managed to pack an emotional punch. From upbeat ensemble numbers to quieter solos, the songs felt true to the characters and the world they inhabited, adding warmth and personality to each moment. There was a clear understanding of how music can heighten storytelling, and I especially appreciated how the score balanced humour with sincerity. That being said, a few of the melodies could have been a little catchier — there were moments when I found myself wishing for a tune that really stuck in my head after leaving the theatre. Similarly, some of the transitions between scenes and songs felt a little uneven, as if the stakes or emotional tension briefly dipped before the next number picked things up again. A touch more fluidity and a few stronger musical hooks could really elevate what is already a clever and heartfelt piece, keeping the audience fully swept up in its rhythm from start to finish.

Overall, See it. Say it. Sorted. The Musical is an inventive and refreshingly original show that turns something mundane, you could say a safety announcement, into a story full of heart and humour. It’s chaotic, clever, and bursting with youthful energy, proving that even in a place as hectic as Kings Cross, connection can be found in the most unexpected of circumstances. A truly brilliant piece of fringe theatre that deserves to keep travelling far beyond the platform it started on.

See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical. played a limited run until October 18th as part of the Bloomsbury Festival

For more information visit https://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/events/see-it-say-it-sorted/

Photos by Jack Kirby