Police Cops In Space

This is the second show and follow-up to the award-winning “Police Cops,” and also links to “Police Cops: The Musical.” I have not seen either of these shows and did not feel as if I missed any jokes or needed backstory. The show runs for an action-packed 60 minutes. With no set to speak of, this show is all about the acting and the many low budget costumes.

I know a lot of reviews use the term ‘masterclass’ quite robotically, but this show really is a masterclass in performance techniques. If you are a student of the performing arts, I would urge you to watch this. Not knowing what to expect, it took me a while to warm up to this particular sense of humour—robots in silver speedos, talk of sliding around on the floor chasing a boiled egg—but as the play went on, I became more involved.

The cast of three makes up all the characters in this throwback 80s-style sci-fi show, ranging from robots, little children, hunky pilots, and everything in between. All three cast members were great performers, captivating our attention, and they couldn’t have pulled it off without the precision of lighting hitting every cue to indicate change of location.  The use of voice and physicality is quite something. 

Sprinkled in the mix, we have more than one epic montage, dance sequences, and fights, some of which use slow motion and reverse. There are a few moments that seem like adlibs which even had the cast looking like they were questioning what had just happened. I wouldn’t say they broke character, just that they have self-aware moments which enhance the comedy, this includes threatening to bring people up on stage.

We then get the physical theatre elements involved; one of the standout moments for me was when they created a Tron-style Lightcycle using only two glow sticks.

While this is all true, I should warn you of its ridiculous nature. There are so many nods to old sci-fis and police dramas I wasn’t sure what was a reference and what was just a trope. Fathers dying giving son a quest, an unlikely partnership, crashing ships in swamps to name a few. While most people would have seen some of these films or their remakes, there seemed to be a few “Animals of Farthing Wood” references that I’m not sure everyone would get but added to the complete absurdity that we witnessed.

At the end, the show even sets up for a third instalment with echoes of a famous time travel franchise, which could only lead to more ridiculousness.

This show was reviewed at the Underbelly Festival, London on the 1st August 2024 and runs until the 18th August 2024.  Tickets available here: Police Cops in Space – Underbelly (underbellyfestival.com)

Review written by Valentine Gale-Sides

Police Cops In Space (curtaincallreviews.co.uk)