★★★★★

“His timing is razor-sharp, his transitions effortless, and his control of tone masterful”

Kieran Hodgson delivers a bold, intelligent, and deeply authentic performance in Voices of America, a show that is as much about laughter as it is about longing. From the moment he steps onto the stage, microphone in hand and nothing else but his vivid energy, Hodgson takes the audience on a whirlwind journey through memory, pop culture, and political commentary. It’s a one-man show that feels like a full-cast production, because Kieran becomes the cast himself.

At its heart, this is a show about nostalgia, but not the kind that’s saccharine or rose-tinted. It’s the nostalgia of family car rides in the summer, the soundtracks of our childhoods, and the way Hollywood shaped our dreams of America. Hodgson conjures up those formative moments: the films we obsessed over, the music we blasted in our bedrooms, the accents we tried to mimic while dreaming of lives across the ocean.

But this isn’t just a sentimental look back, it’s a smart, witty dissection of the American mythos, especially as seen through British eyes. The America Hodgson presents is one of contradictions and disillusionment, a country that sells the dream of freedom and reinvention but doesn’t always live up to its own legend. His brilliant impersonations of American presidents – each one carefully observed and hilariously distinct – underline this point, portraying a nation constantly trying to define itself. Interestingly, there’s one president he deliberately omits, inviting the audience to fill in the blank and question why.

The fact that Kieran Hodgson is a three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee is no surprise. His timing is razor-sharp, his transitions effortless, and his control of tone masterful. With nothing but a mic, he builds a world onstage: part comedy gig, part confessional, part historical satire. He makes you laugh with references to pop culture absurdity, then suddenly pulls you into a deeper, more intimate memory, only to throw you back into fits of laughter again.

A standout moment is when he recalls landing two lines in the superhero movie The Flash – a story delivered with such self-deprecating charm that you find yourself thinking, “Oh come on, he’s perfect for that part!” Even if it was just as a sandwich boy, his retelling makes it feel like the role of a lifetime. That’s Hodgson’s gift, he finds emotional truth and comedic gold in the smallest, most personal details.

Voices of America is a love letter to what we thought America was, and a satire of what it turned out to be. But more than that, it’s a show about identity, voice, and growing up, both personally and politically. It’s funny, moving, biting, and brilliant.

If you ever doubted that a microphone and one man could carry an entire audience for 60 minutes without pause, Kieran Hodgson will prove you wrong.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(ISH) at @Sohoplace

★★★★

“a bumper pack of Christmas crackers – plenty of bangs, groan-worthy jokes, gimmicks and a squeaky toy”

In Scrooge-like fashion, the gremlins struck the press night of Nick Mohammed’s madcap festive spectacular causing the performance to be curtailed. They struck again on this second attempt, with technical difficulties interrupting the final act.

Such is the nature of A Christmas Carol(ish), starring Nick Mohammed’s gremlin-esque alter-ego Mr Swallow, that many of the audience thought the interregnum was part of the production’s nod-and-wink playfulness. The whole thing is a teetering calamity with sufficient nods to the perils of live entertainment to make an appearance by the stage crew almost inevitable.

The downtime was short-lived and towards the climax. By then the four-strong cast had garnered enough goodwill and provoked enough merriment to ensure most stayed around to see the story out.

Just as well, because still to come was Mohammed’s wire walk to retrieve a special parcel lodged in the roof at @Sohoplace. A real nail biter. You underestimate multi-talented Mr Mohammed at your peril.

This is Mohammed’s show – writer, lyricist, star – and it’s been upscaled from earlier incarnations with extra razzle and indeed dazzle. Helpfully, he introduces himself for those unfamiliar with his nasally high-pitched irritant character Mr Swallow, based on a real-life English teacher blended with a hint of Mr Bean.

The plot, such as it is, is modelled on the Dickensian classic with Scrooge replaced by Santa. But don’t attempt to follow the original text too closely – it’s a gumbo pot of festive treats. God appears (voice only) and the nativity story also gets a look-in with a faintly alarming but very funny replay of the birth of Jesus with Mr Swallow as a scouse midwife. Look away now kids.

In director Matt Peover’s song-speckled staging, Mohammed is ably and gamely supported by diva Rochelle (Ghosts’ Martha Howe-Douglas) who is doing them all a favour between Lloyd-Webber gigs; put-upon impresario Mr Goldsworth (David Elms); and ratty orphan Rudolph (Kieran Hodgson). They’re all playing roles in Mr Goldsworth’s production with overconfident and under rehearsed Mr Swallow the rogue element. You can understand why technical difficulties are the least of the production’s concerns.

Special mention for the set (Fly Davis) which appears like a Victorian Amazon warehouse, with boxes to the ceiling, but becomes, at various points, a glowing cityscape with candlelit windows, an advent calendar for character vignettes and, of course, a climbing wall for Mr Swallow’s high stakes scramble.

The reference that springs to mind is – admirably – one of those classic Morecambe and Wise plays “what Ernie wrote” with endless mugging, undercutting, quick fire gags and bags of whimsy. Quick-witted and winning Mohammed is at the centre of it all. He brings his impish charms to what has evolved into an ambitious and glittery production that delivers more often than not.

It’s a bumper pack of Christmas crackers – plenty of bangs, groan-worthy jokes, gimmicks and a squeaky toy. Mishappy Christmas, Mr Swallow.

KIERAN HODGSON: VOICE OF AMERICA

Soho Theatre

★★★★★

“His timing is razor-sharp, his transitions effortless, and his control of tone masterful”

KIERAN HODGSON: VOICE OF AMERICA

Soho Theatre then Edinburgh Festival Fringe ahead of UK Tour

Reviewed on 17th June 2025

by Beatrice Morandi

Photography by Matt Stronge

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

Kieran

Kieran

Kieran

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(ISH) at @Sohoplace

★★★★

“a bumper pack of Christmas crackers – plenty of bangs, groan-worthy jokes, gimmicks and a squeaky toy”

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(ISH) at @Sohoplace

Reviewed on 26th November 2024

by Giles Broadbent

Photography by Matt Crockett

Previously reviewed at this venue:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(ISH)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(ISH)

JOIN US