Review by Amelia
The ticket was gifted in return for an honest review
Ride the Cyclone, written by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, follows six teenagers who perish in a freak roller-coaster accident. In a strange limbo, they’re offered one final chance at life — each must argue why they should be the one to return.
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| The company of Ride The Cyclone. Photo by Danny Kaan. |
The musical first debuted with Atomic Vaudeville in Victoria, British Columbia, in 2009, before transferring to Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto in 2011 and touring Western Canada in 2013. It later found success internationally, including an Off-Broadway run in 2016 and further productions in Chicago, Sydney, and Buenos Aires. This new staging at Southwark Playhouse Elephant marks the show’s UK premiere, running through til January, after strong interest prompted the release of additional tickets.
This show is pure chaos from the outset — and it’s glorious. Think Six’s competition format, but cranked up: the five members of the St Cassian’s Chamber Choir each perform a song laying out their dreams, their quirks, and why they deserve a second shot at life. We get cabaret, rap, and even opera. It sounds like it should be a mess, yet it clicks together effortlessly. Every style lands, every performer gets their moment, and the whole thing fizzes with energy. The tone shifts with the arrival of Jane Doe, the headless, unidentified member of the group whose eerie presence changes the room instantly. And holding the chaos together is Karnak, the fortune-teller. Edward Wu somehow turns a nearly motionless character into the funniest, most captivating presence onstage. It’s the first thing I’d mention to anyone when explaining just how good this show is.
The cast is simply electric. Every performer brings powerhouse vocals, and it’s hard to imagine these songs delivered any better. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you there were three professional debuts happening on that stage. No stranger to the London audiences, Baylie Carson, effectively the group’s leader, is as brilliant as ever — their infectious energy lights up the stage from the moment they step on. This is the third role I’ve seen Baylie take on, and their consistency is genuinely impressive. Their chemistry with Robyn Gilbertson is effortless; the dynamic of the popular, razor-sharp girl and her sweet, overlooked best friend is played with real warmth. Gilbertson gives an endearing performance as Constance, and though she waits the longest for her spotlight, her moment near the end is worth every second. They’re joined by Grace Galloway as Jane Doe, who brings a wonderfully strange energy to the stage. Her operatic number is spellbinding — and if she hasn’t played Christine yet, she absolutely should.
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| The company of Ride The Cyclone. Photo by Danny Kaan |
The male-presenting roles are tackled by Damon Gould as Noel, Bartek Kraszewski as Mischa, and Jack Maverick as Ricky, with all three come in at full throttle, each offering something completely different. Gould’s cabaret-inspired number is a total showstopper, and you can feel their past experience in Cabaret paying off. It was a real standout for me, costume changes and all!
Then the vibe flips again as Kraszewski launches into a rap-and-autotune crowd-pleaser that absolutely brings the house down. The mix of Ukrainian folk, breakdancing, and sheer chaos shouldn’t work, but it’s weirdly, wonderfully satisfying.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes a sci-fi bop about being sexy. You genuinely couldn’t make this stuff up — except someone did, and I’d love to know what on earth inspired them, because this show is delightfully whacky.
Director–choreographer Lizzi Gee has this production nailed to perfection. With so many different dance styles in play, the choreography never feels like decoration; it drives the story forward every single time. Add in the sheer number of props and moving pieces, and the complexity of these tracks becomes clear. Massive credit to the two understudies, because this show is no easy feat.
The set is inventive and striking, managing to feel expansive without overwhelming the intimate space, and fully transforming into a believable fairground. Ryan Dawson Laight’s costumes may look simple at first glance, but there are some brilliant surprises tucked away in them. Layer on top the clever illusions, sharp lighting design, and countless other details, and you’re left with a production that feels meticulously crafted. The entire creative team deserves serious applause for pulling off something this impressive.
Ride the Cyclone plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until the 10th of January with limited availability, so get your tickets while you can. This is one rollercoaster I urge everyone to board.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tickets for Ride The Cyclone are available from https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/ride-the-cyclone/
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| Grace Galloway as Jane Doe. Photo by Danny Kaan |
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