NEW PLAY SHOWMANISM****

SHOWMANISM**** at  Hampstead Theatre (until 19 July) is unlike anything you have seen in the past. It’s a one man show that gives us an amazing display of the voices of well-known people. That they seemingly all come out of the mouth of one actor, Dickie Beau, who lip-syncs the words of actors like Ian McKellen, Peter Sellers, Fiona Shaw as well as David Cameron, Cilla Black and many others, makes it more amazing.

But it’s not just famous voices,  Dickie Beau gives us his view of the history of theatre and performance and performers. He is mesmerising to watch as both physically as well as vocally he moved into positions to illustrate the words. Using props and costume changes, he transforms himself many times. The production is beautifully put together by Jan-Willem Van Den Bosch, who directs the piece, which has been co-devised with Beau.

Make sure you enter the auditorium a little while before the performance starts; look up to see Beau crawling across the ceiling. In 90 minutes he gives us a true theatrical experience.

Written by CARLIE NEWMAN