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.
REVENGE: AFTER THE LEVOYAH
Soho Theatre
Reviewed on 11th December 2025
by Hannah Bothelton
Photography by David Monteith-Hodge
