Camden Fringe 2025: Please Shoot the Messenger at Hope Theatre
Playing at the Hope Theatre as part of Camden Fringe, Please Shoot the Messenger is an eccentric, fun and unique one-woman play, written and performed by LAMDA graduate Rachael Dowsett and directed by Jacob Proctor.
After a plague devastates the kingdom, a messenger (Dowsett) is appointed by the king to find a cure. The messenger must then embark on an epic journey to locate doctors who may be able to help, encountering many characters along the way. The part is played with impressive versatility and energy by Dowsett, who seamlessly flits between voices and accents at lightning speed. She effortlessly morphs from timid American to formidable Scotsman, and even transforms into a dog, adopting distinct mannerisms and personalities for each role. It’s an incredibly physical performance, which showcases the sheer range and star power of the talented young writer/actor.
Studded with amusing references to Shakespeare and a witty use of wordplay, the play firmly transports viewers into its world, while knowingly winking at its modern-day audience. When commenting on the small stature of the monarch, the messenger acknowledges to the TikTok generation in the crowd that “everyone loves a short king” (a Gen-Z slang term that reaffirms the self-worth of short men). A creative use of sound effects and brief interjections of music also add to the immersive experience.
The performance is full of laugh-out-loud entertainment, and in its brief runtime, it provides an eclectic array of emotions and characters. The intimate semi-circle set is perfect for the play’s inclusion of audience participation, as the messenger playfully appoints several attendees as characters on the quest. One person was handed a line, which they had to read on the cue of a harmonica, enhancing the whimsical and surreal tone. Please Shoot the Messenger is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of theatre, and a great example of just how much fun a one-person play can be.
Gala Woolley
Photos: Courtesy of Please Shoot the Messenger
Please Shoot the Messenger is at Hope Theatre from 13th until 15th August 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
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