Show: Bubble Show For Adults Only
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: Barons Court Theatre (Below the Curtain's Up Pub) 28a Comeragh Road, London W14 9HR
Credits: Presented by Bubble Laboratory
Type: Sardines
Author: Jess Pether
Performance Date: 23/09/2022
Bubble Show For Adults Only
Jess Pether | 23 Sep 2022 00:09am
Photo: Cris Berserker
Did you know it’s possible to create bubbles filled with smoke? To make square bubbles? Small bubbles within one giant bubble? Wear a skirt made of bubbles? Or set fire to bubbles?
I didn’t until last night!
Bubble Show for Adults Only is absolutely bonkers. I saw it performed at the tiny Baron’s Court Theatre, which is located in the basement of the Curtain’s Up pub in Kensington. To say I was close to the stage is an understatement. I was warned as I entered that I’d probably get wet, which seemed likely as I surveyed the large containers of bubble mixture on the stage.
The show is described as “part physical theatre, part bubble artistry and part neo-burlesque”, but this didn’t really help prepare me for what I was about to witness. The cast of two is made up of Iulia Benze and Kurt Murray who both have abs you could bounce a basketball off. I know this because they’re half naked for a large portion of the performance.
From the get-go, you can feel their OTT energy and craziness, both traits that are very much needed to pull off the wet and messy spectacle that follows. They both throw themselves into the performance headfirst and bring the audience along with them.
There’s a loose storyline about a couple who meet for a date, try to get jiggy with each other, then end up stuck in the monotony of every-day life. But the main focus of the show is bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles.
Whilst most of us are familiar with bubbles from childhood or perhaps the odd hen party gift bag, Bubble Laboratory theatre company take things to the next level. There’s much to be shocked about (it’s adults only for a reason) and plenty to gasp at as the bubble artistry and physical tricks get wilder and more demanding.
The show isn’t sophisticated, in so much as it’s a little rough around the edges, but this only adds to the fun. Some parts are straight up slapstick and others are so overtly rude, in a comedic way, that you feel all you can do is gasp, giggle and look at your neighbour in disbelief. But there were parts that were genuinely spellbinding and quite moving. At one point, Kurt uses sign language to sing a song whilst also making bubbles with his hands, a description which doesn’t actually do this part of the show justice.
It’s hard to convey, without giving too much away, exactly what the show is like. I’ve never seen anything like it and doubt I ever will again. Shocking, hilarious, remarkable and surprising, it has to be seen to be believed. I left with a smile… and a wet jumper, as promised.