★★★½

“this slick two hander pulses with life”

‘Most Favoured’ breathes new life into the Christmas story with a fresh, funny and heartfelt take on a cornerstone of Christianity. With a stellar cast and staging, it offers audiences a vibrant alternative to the usual festive fare.

Mary’s hiding a secret. Enter Mike, a clueless US tourist obsessed with KFC. After a whirlwind one-night stand, Mary lets her guard down… only to discover Mike has a secret too.

Written by award winning playwright David Ireland, ‘Most Favoured’ is an offbeat spin on a familiar story. Ireland makes striking use of contrasts: the oversharing Mary is set against the taciturn Mike, with rapid fire exchanges cleverly offset by silence. There are shrewd dynamic shifts, each character leaving the other speechless, and we power through a kaleidoscope of emotions in record time. Yet the twist proves predictable and the dialogue thereafter takes on overtly religious tones, losing some of its earlier sparkle and thinning the plot. The ironic finale – complete with a hilarious callback – lands with mischievous flair, though feels slightly misplaced after the devotional detour. Still, this is an entertaining spin that brings the story bang up to date.

Directed by Max Elton, Literary Associate Director at Soho Theatre, this slick two hander pulses with life. Staged as a single scene, the production sustains momentum through varied use of space and natural blocking. The contrasting characters are vividly realised, with nuanced reactions and expressive detail revealing inner worlds. The pacing is strong overall, though a few pregnant pauses could be trimmed. Still, shifts in tempo add texture and help us forget we’re in the same hotel room.

Ceci Calf’s set and costume design is spot on. The set convincingly evokes a well-known chain of budget hotels, complete with a witty window gag. The costumes are very on brand for each character, especially the use of colour which the clothes on the floor don’t immediately give away.

Amy Daniels’ lighting design is understated yet effective, lending the production a naturalistic feel. The closing fade, paired with a tongue in cheek reveal, provides a witty final flourish.

Marcus Rice’s sound design is pared back but intentional, using music sparingly for maximum impact. Naturalistic effects such as the shower are deployed with precision, adding just enough texture to bring the scene to life.

The cast is superb. Lauren Lyle – two-time BAFTA Scotland award winner – humanises Mary with gritty allure. Lyle deftly balances feistiness with tender vulnerability, her facial expressions effortlessly charting hope, betrayal and hurt with skill. Alexander Arnold, best known for roles in ‘Skins’ and ‘Yesterday’, is a quirky yet endearing Mike. Arnold’s deadpan reactions counter Lyle’s heightened energy, while sly comic beats – such as repeatedly eyeing the KFC during an impassioned speech from Mary – showcase his timing. Together, the pair make a charming oddball couple, delivering a masterclass in the art of showing rather than telling.

‘Most Favoured’ is a quirky, witty Christmas romp with a heart of gold. While the writing feels like a tale of two halves, the assured delivery maintains momentum, making this an engaging and entertaining seasonal show.

REVENGE: AFTER THE LEVOYAH

Soho Theatre

★★★

“chaotic and irreverent”

What do you get when you mix action movies, gangsters and Judaism? ‘Revenge: After The Levoyah’ of course, a mad farce that tackles antisemitism through breakneck comedy and slick multi roling. Though the structure and escalation leave me wanting more, the show’s originality and audacity make for a refreshing seasonal offering.

In pre pandemic Essex, Jewish twins Lauren and Dan mourn their grandfather who – unbeknownst to them – was more than your average butcher. When ex-associate Malcolm Spivak turns up to offer condolences – and end Jeremy Corbyn’s antisemitism by kidnapping him – they steer clear. At least, until neo-Nazi harassment forces them back, plunging them into murder, abduction and chaos. Can they escape before they’re in too deep?

Nick Cassenbaum’s ‘Revenge: After The Levoyah’, winner of a Fringe First at Edinburgh 2024, earns its buzz with an irreverent script blending sincerity, politics and farce. Two actors conjure a chorus of characters, with some hilarious transitions and characterisations. Genuinely touching moments are mixed into the levity. That said, the reliance on Jewish archetypes and untranslated Yiddish leaves some humour beyond my reach. Some of the many gangsters fade away, and the two main characters lack meaningful development beyond Lauren’s radicalisation. With Corbyn captured too easily and his imprisonment falling short of true farcical chaos, the stakes and absurdity never quite launch, leaving the ending feeling incomplete.

Emma Jude Harris’ direction, with fight direction by Robin Hellier, ground the play in realism before spiralling into chaos, demonstrating crisp comic timing and well judged shifts in pace. Yet what initially feels like a hard left at Corbyn’s capture fails to go full mettle, leaving the climax lacking oomph and shading the irony with perhaps unintended darkness. Also, I find framing the stage with two bookcases of unused props somewhat puzzling. That said, the use of lighting and sound succeed in evoking the pulse of an action movie, transporting us convincingly from Essex to somewhere more fantastical.

Alys Whitehead’s set and costume design is simple yet striking, keeping the focus on the actors as they flit between characters. The initial sparseness evokes the solemnity of a levoyah (funeral), with a few items of furniture effectively creating new spaces and even characters. The towering blackboard is a hilarious addition though feels underutilised, as do the bookcases of untouched props. The ripped, grimy costumes immediately foreshadow the chaos to come.

Amy Daniels’ lighting design, with associates Abigail Sage and Graham Self, proves effective and arresting. Shifts in tone convey changes in mood, with pops and flashes punctuating dramatic peaks. The gameshow style sequence adds irony to the introduction of the motley crew of gangsters.

Adam Lenson’s sound design, with musical supervision by Josh Middleton, integrates effects seamlessly, earning laughs in their own right. Music and ambient cues – from helicopters, police sirens, and more – conjure an action film. Foreshadowing the ironic final music is a clever touch, underscoring the stark contrast between the play’s beginning and end.

Gemma Barnett and Charlie Cassen embody twins Lauren and Dan respectively as well as a host of other characters with impressive commitment. Their slick transitions and strong physicality make the entire cast believable. Their stage presence is magnetic, aided by deft shifts in pace, and their dynamic movement maintains momentum across the performance.

‘Revenge: After The Levoyah’ is chaotic and irreverent, if in need of a little development. Though for anyone eager to step off the seasonal path, this could be just the ticket.

Tag Archives: Amy Daniels

MOST FAVOURED

★★★½

Soho Theatre

MOST FAVOURED

Soho Theatre

★★★½

“this slick two hander pulses with life”

MOST FAVOURED

Soho Theatre

Reviewed on 15th December 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Danny Kaan

MOST FAVOURED

MOST FAVOURED

MOST FAVOURED

REVENGE: AFTER THE LEVOYAH

★★★

Soho Theatre

REVENGE: AFTER THE LEVOYAH

Soho Theatre

★★★

“chaotic and irreverent”