Review: LOVE’S A BEACH, Soho Theatre

Following a hugely successful run at VAULT Festival, Love’s a Beach graced the stage of Soho Theatre for one night only last night. This show brilliantly and hilariously explores the professional highs and personal lows of the modern influencer. Cyrus and Ben are former winners of a reality dating show and we meet them at a time when the promotional offers are flowing in and the pair are forced to evaluate their priorities and what they want to use their platform to promote.

The cracks in their picture-perfect relationship begin to show when their professional ambitions pull them in different directions, exposing the loneliness and alienation of monetising your character and your relationship.

Will Johnston and Katie Sayer’s script is tight and zippy, packed with a roll of increasingly ridiculous brand deals. The writing is clever and informed. The rise of the influencer is often lauded as a kind of social evil, and although an increasingly popular career choice for children, leaves TikTokers and YouTubers prey to inhuman levels of ridicule, judgement and disdain. Johnston and Sayer’s script presents Cyrus and Ben with warmth and fond humour, presenting the plight of what could be an incredibly easy target with gentle satire, nuance and empathy.

James Akka plays the vain and shrill twink Cyrus, who is driven by a lust for fame and attention. Akka’s performance is side-splitting, but also heartbreaking. He brings a remarkable fragility to the boisterous and brazen Cyrus that really makes this show sing.

Iain Ferrier is the more measured and grounded Ben, who wants to use his celebrity powers for good to protect badgers and beavers. Ferrier is an excellent foil to Akka and the two spark as they bounce off one another. Phoebe Gibby has been gifted with a ferociously talented cast who thrive under her direction.

Part of Soho Rising Festival, we hope this punchy one-off performance gets another life onstage. Sharply observed and eye-wateringly hilarious from the off.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett