The Office Party describes itself as an “anti-capitalist, anti-corporate, satirical, immersive performance debauchery”. It is a late present (that began even later than its listed time) that runs nicely into the evening – a queer cabaret showcasing a wide range of expertise acts, with the underlying premise of it being an archetypal, underwhelming workplace social gathering. The use of the area is enjoyable, with a “catering” desk of wierd cheese and biscuits and office-themed posters plastered on the partitions. DJs Angel Hodgson aka Pegasus Boy and Beth Sitek aka DJ Name? have a robust playlist going, together with a ‘Work Bitch’ remix,…
Rating
Ok
A late evening cabaret of curiosities that may profit from having some additional time labored on it.
The Office Party describes itself as an “anti-capitalist, anti-corporate, satirical, immersive performance debauchery”. It is a late present (that began even later than its listed time) that runs nicely into the evening – a queer cabaret showcasing a wide range of expertise acts, with the underlying premise of it being an archetypal, underwhelming workplace social gathering.
The use of the area is enjoyable, with a “catering” desk of wierd cheese and biscuits and office-themed posters plastered on the partitions. DJs Angel Hodgson aka Pegasus Boy and Beth Sitek aka DJ Name? have a robust playlist going, together with a ‘Work Bitch’ remix, paired with a video montage of the solid in workplace situations. Performers transfer by the viewers area and there’s interplay between solid and viewers members; we’re requested to which division we belong and instructed we’re fired, as an example. I seen there have been identify labels and appraisal kinds going round, however couldn’t appear to supply these to get entangled myself. Seating additionally proved to be a problem. There have been quite a lot of seated tables marked as reserved, leaving everybody else to sit down on cramped steps or the ground.
The present opens with Shryl Kole (Michelle Madsen) and Danly Steele (Lizzy Shakespeare) welcoming us to the workplace social gathering, with jokes on finance and admin. We are then wheeled by quite a lot of cabaret acts, together with clowning, comedy, and dance. There are some nice performers inside this choice: I’ve by no means seen one individual deal with so many hula hoops (Mariam Olayiwola aka Amazi), and the viewers response was sturdy. It is nice to come across an area that enables for lesser seen modes of efficiency in London’s theatre, with emphasis on queer acts. However, the evening would profit from a better general sense of cohesion and plot.
The workplace humour is floor degree, with company lingo about HR and the monetary yr being the joke itself. This may very well be additional developed. The premise of the present is tenuously linked to the content material and does little to satirise the company world aside from presenting absurdity. As a cabaret evening that is all high quality, however the idea of it being an workplace social gathering felt shoehorned in and undercooked.
The Office Party is a robust idea, however disappointing in its execution. There are some big themes that may very well be pulled out, however the present doesn’t transfer exterior the one be aware of absurdist mockery. The viewers have been totally entertained, and it’s an opportune evening for selection acts, however the general manufacturing high quality may very well be taken up a notch to unlock its full potential.
Created and Produced by: Bait Theatre
The Office Party performed as a part of VAULT Festival 2023. It has now accomplished its present run.