Cockfosters at Turbine Theatre

Cockfosters, the tube station with a name to make even the most prudish among us smirk, powers into the Turbine Theatre. The space forms part of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment and holds a 94-seat capacity. This intimate setting combined with the fact it sits within railway arches could not be better suited to a play centred on the London Underground. Generating new work is the driving objective of the venue. The unique voices of writers Tom Woffenden and Hamish Clayton have already proved a hit with audiences. The production enjoyed two sold-out runs prior to this, and it seems third time is the charm with obtaining tickets harder than bagging a seat during rush hour.

Tori and James are travelling from Heathrow to the end of the line. Despite the unwritten rule of not talking to strangers, they embark on awkward chit-chat. Then comes the arrival of a host of eclectic characters who might burst into (original) song one moment and say something pithy and profound the next. We meet a series of weird and wacky individuals throughout a series of skits, with the ensemble cast each displaying excellent comic timing.

All the frustrations and pleasures of the London Underground are placed under the microscope in the space of an hour or so, sans interval. With laugh-out-loud moments aplenty and some tear-inducing “did they just say that?” moments, the play serves as the perfect pick-me-up during this bleakest of months.

While light on narrative, this is a comically astute observation of tube etiquette and a humorous examination of all one might see or encounter during their commute. The pace flows at a healthy tempo and the cast do not miss a beat. For this kind of surrealist comedy to work, each actor must be on their A-game and that is what we witness here. Kit Loyd, Charlie Keable, Amy Bianchi, Ed Bowles, Saul Boyer, Natasha Vasandani and Beth Lilly are all worthy of mention. As an ensemble, they each excel and delight. 

Woffenden and Clayton know both their subject matter and their audience. Cockfosters and all its absurdity will linger long after one disembarks and if the crowd response is any indicator, might we even expect a fourth run?

Jonathan Marshall
Images: Slow Mojo Collective

Cockfosters is at Turbine Theatre from 9^th until 20^th January 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.