Brighton Fringe theatre review

The rancid culture that gets exposed depressingly often in the Met and other police forces deserves every satirical kicking that it gets. However, Powercut Theatre’s new show on the topic is a blunt cudgel, wielded inelegantly, which proves short on both wit and insight, though not on justifiable anger.

The narrative sketches tell of a sergeant abusing his power and position of trust to attack a woman, which his colleagues merrily dismiss as banter. And it’s all interspersed with verbatim quotes from the Casey Report which found institutionalised misogyny and racism at the heart of the Met, as well as hollow words about bad apples and promises to change from various chief constables.

It’s all sadly familiar, which unfortunately isn’t good for dramatic or comedic surprise. The four-strong troupe are very keen to hammer home the obvious and unarguable point that this is all wrong and needs to change, but at the expense of an interesting or funny show. The comic element comes from the women and non-binary cast playing the male copper characters as cartoonishly awful. Subtle it ain’t – and even so, they manage to jumble up the narrative.

That every performance is dialled up to ‘shout’ (and even so, sometimes gets downed out by the intrusive soundtrack) adds to the  amateurish feel, often confusing volume for raucousness. Scenes cheaply shot on mobile phones don’t help, especially as they are needless. since  the IRL cast just step to the side of the stage to let us watch them.

Elements such a shout-along audience quiz and a corny Theatre In Education style presentation of the face the police would like to present just add to the noise of a show that, unfortunately, does no justice to the important message it wants to convey. Still, the performers seem to be enjoying their rambunctious jibes at police toxicity.

Review date: 18 May 2023
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett