Hannah Hirst Dunton

There are so many predictably phrased ways I could tell you how much I enjoyed Friend (the One with Gunther). Oh. My. God. Could it *be* any more satisfying? Out of five stars, it should be seven… seven… SEVEN... It’s just kick-you-in-the-crotch, spit-on-your-neck fantastic.

This operatic frolic through well-chosen tunes was introduced immediately as ‘silly’ by performer Tamara Stein, and silly it was: the baroness’s characterisation was overblown and full of charisma, and her tale was a melee of exaggerated emotional outbursts.

In this extraordinary immersive show for one participant at a time, you’ll find yourself a temp for Sarah Jane, an absent actuary. As you negotiate her tasks, understanding and mysteriously precarious position, you’re the main character of her story – but how good will you be at her job?

Aionos, as theatre, aims at something unique. It blends VR, streaming and in-person performances to open up the medium. Unlike in gaming, live performers take on avatars with which VR players can interact. Unlike in traditional shows, performers based anywhere can interact with audiences based anywhere simultaneously. It has potential to be extraordinary, but it’s also very much a work in slow progress.

The premise of the show may have been one of the most unusual I’d ever encountered. Could it really be what it sounds like? Is there any way that’ll work? Short answers: yes and yes.

If you’re a Buffy fan, go and see this show – and you likely won’t need the rest of this review to convince you. Just go.

This perennial favourite seasons one of the bard’s most audience-pleasing works with irreverence, humour – and pastries!

These two dastardly doses of death and drama execute both victims and performances with panache.