★★★★

“an incredibly fun, comedic and beautifully heart-warming show that everyone can enjoy”

Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s ‘Why am I So Single?’ debuts in the West End, following the writers’ extremely successful ‘Six’. This new musical cleverly follows a meta portrayal of the pair exploring the issues of their love life and by proxy their own personal issues. The two best friends – under the pseudonyms ‘Nancy’ and ‘Oliver’ – sit in Oliver’s flat after being given the task of writing their next big fancy musical, and after various discussions of their failed dates decide that’s what the musical should be about. Through the medium of many a big fancy musical number, the conclusion of their failed love lives is far more heart-warming than one would expect.

The show opens with its meta framing of the narrative, with the writers talking to us directly through the characters. They state that all stories in the show are based on true events but with all people given different names. Set designer Moi Tran and costume designer Max Johns deserve so much credit for the way the stage moves from having literal set pieces and then ensemble actors seemingly transition to replace them. This was extremely enjoyable to watch and added a lot of fantastic comedic elements – my favourite being whenever the leads interacted with the human rubbish bin. The whole design of the show makes you feel like you’re at a party throughout – with the lighting (Jai Morjaria) primarily being a mix of pink and purple washes that change in time with the music.

The performances throughout the show are stellar and every single cast member is extremely committed. The ensemble shine throughout in both their musical and comedic performances. A mention has to go to Noah Thomas who plays Artie – an extremely strong performance that showed care and empathy for the leads while also telling them the truth when they need to hear it. One of his numbers is also a fantastic tap routine and a great tap routine is always a pleasure to watch. But, of course, the stars of the show are Jo Foster as Oliver and Leesa Tulley as Nancy. Both are incredibly powerful artists and were a pleasure to watch on stage. Foster particularly shines in the number ‘Disco Ball’, where they really are giving the audience everything and it’s such a privilege to be able to see such beautiful vulnerability on stage. Tulley’s performance also shows off her incredible vocal range and talent, and her solo ‘Lost’ brought many people in the audience to tears.

One of my favourite numbers was ‘Meet Market’ – not only a great song with fantastic routines on stage, but also great commentary on the dehumanising nature of dating apps. There were some songs that I felt weren’t necessary and took focus away from the main plotline. The main one I took issue with was a song about a bee, which seemingly is only in the show for the sake of one word play based joke. Unfortunate because two and a half hours already feels quite long for this show, so when the number played at the end of Act 1, I did begin to get quite restless.

‘Why am I So Single?’ is an incredibly fun, comedic and beautifully heart-warming show that everyone can enjoy. Musical theatre millennial fans will particularly enjoy the many show references and referrals to Friends. And with the West End musical scene sticking with its theme of even more movie musicals, it’s great to see something new and fresh bringing heart and soul into the theatre.

THE BELT at the Coronet Theatre

★★★★★

“an intoxicating dialogue between history and innovation”

The Coronet Theatre’s first-ever site-specific immersive event, The Belt, is an extraordinary fusion of dance, history, architecture and technology, led by South Korea’s renowned Ambiguous Dance Company. The experience unfolds in two distinct parts, guiding the audience from the dark depths of despair to the heights of imagination and innovation. Set in the Grade II listed, restored and reimagined Victorian Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill, this engaging performance fully uses both its hidden and public spaces.

Part 1 – Past: An Intimate Encounter with History

With no more than fifty audience members, divided into five groups, we are led on an atmospheric journey through the lesser-known spaces of the theatre. From the basement used as an air-raid shelter during World War II through backstage corridors and machine rooms and across its rooftop to the theatre’s distinctive cupola, this phase feels like a private expedition into the heart and soul of the building, mostly lit by candlelight.

Choreographed by Boram Kim and performed by seven dancers (Kyungmin Jang, Hak Lee, SeonHwa Park, SoJeong Im, DeokYong Kim, GyuEun Han and Jisoo Gong), five short dance works unfold in these intimate settings. Each room, transformed for this five-day residency, presents a different mood: unsettling (The Room of Struggle and Despair), joyful (The Room of Communication), playful (The Room of Creation), hypnotic (The Room of Precision) and transcendent (The Room of Identity). The music selection is equally diverse, from disco beats to Ravel’s Bolero and Michael Jackson’s Beat It.

The contrast between the restored Victorian architecture and the contemporary fusion of hip-hop, ballet and acrobatics is captivating. Ambiguous Dance Company’s blend of styles – from sharp, street-inspired movements to fluid, balletic gestures – creates an intoxicating dialogue between history and innovation. The dancers’ costumes, along with the music, set dressing, sound and lighting design, further enhance this dynamic interplay.

Part 2 – Future: A Visionary Spectacle of Technological Innovation

The second part of The Belt shifts to the theatre’s main stage, a liminal space where the past meets the future and where raw human physicality meets cutting-edge technology. Here, the full company, including choreographer Boram Kim, delivers a high-octane performance. While rooted in traditional movement, the choreography embraces a futuristic aesthetic, complemented by pulsating dance music and dynamic lighting. The dancers’ costumes, nodding to fetish wear and cyberpunk, feature a mix of leather, mesh and lace, with some dancers wearing face coverings that blur gender lines and challenge binaries.

The Theatre as a Living Museum

What makes The Belt truly special is how it integrates the Coronet Theatre itself as a central character in the performance. The building’s rich history, quirky aesthetic and architectural features are not merely backdrops; they are woven into the storytelling. As you move through the intimate spaces in Part 1 and experience the explosive action on the main stage in Part 2, you feel the presence of those who have walked these passageways over the past century, making The Belt a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of dance, history and cultural innovation.

Category Archives: Reviews

WHY AM I SO SINGLE?

★★★★

Garrick Theatre

WHY AM I SO SINGLE? at the Garrick Theatre

★★★★

“an incredibly fun, comedic and beautifully heart-warming show that everyone can enjoy”

WHY AM I SO SINGLE? at the Garrick Theatre

Reviewed on 10th September 2024

by David Robinson

Photography by Danny Kaan

Previously reviewed at this venue:

BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF | ★★★ | June 2024

FOR BLACK BOYS … | ★★★★ | March 2024

HAMNET | ★★★ | October 2023

THE CROWN JEWELS | ★★★ | August 2023

ORLANDO | ★★★★ | December 2022

MYRA DUBOIS: DEAD FUNNY | ★★★★ | September 2021

WHY AM I SO SINGLE?

WHY AM I SO SINGLE?

Click here to see our Recommended Shows page

THE BELT

★★★★★

Coronet Theatre

THE BELT at the Coronet Theatre

★★★★★

“an intoxicating dialogue between history and innovation”