Life’s A Drag
★★★★☆ Never drags
theSpace on the Mile (Venue 39): Sun 3 – Sat 23 Aug 2025 (odd dates only)
Review by Hugh Simpson
There is a great deal going on in Life’s A Drag, from Not Today Satan Theatre and New Celts at theSpace on the Mile on odd dates throughout the Fringe. Too much, perhaps – but the end result is funny, touching and well put together.
A newcomer is parachuted into the final stages of a well-known drag-based reality TV competition, much to the chagrin of the two established remaining competitors. The backstories and motivations of the characters are revealed as well as the machinations of the TV company, as represented by the show’s producer.
A scene from Life’s a Drag. Pic: Not Today Satan Theatre.
The play is written by Conor O’Rourke, with Jake Sleet credited as having ‘conceptualised’ as well as directed the piece. There are huge areas of personal and political experience touched on, with intelligence and humour.
As a result, it can start to feel a little breathless, and would surely work better as a two-act play with some extra time. Which is not something you can say of many roughly hour-long plays at the Fringe. As it is, this goes over the hour by 15 minutes and still ends rather abruptly, but not before exposition in the form of monologue that could be handled better with more time.
impressive
The play as it stands is impressive, however, and very well acted. Oli Jefferson (also on costume duty), Holly Walker and Ross Gillan play the three contestants. Jefferson’s ‘newbie’ has a combination of naiveté and steel, Walker’s Pam Sexual is a compellingly brittle backstabber with deep insecurities, and Gillan’s comparative veteran is a mixture of self-regard and knowing humour.
Gillan is particularly funny in a play that is not short of laughs to go along with the more serious points about homophobia, and relationships. Alastair Brison’s producer, apparently all solicitous but with an undoubted hidden agenda, also displays considerable comic ability.
A scene from Life’s a Drag. Pic: Not Today Satan Theatre.
There are cameos for assured tech operator Lewis Linning, and by Lewis Mullan as part of Sleet’s clever video content. There should also be a mention for Rosie Jayne O’Donovan’s choreography.
Sleet’s direction, meanwhile, makes great use of the acting space, so the action flows and feels unforced. Invention and theatrical know-how abound in a production that comes heartily recommended.
Running time: One hour and 15 minutes (no interval).
theSpace on the Mile (Space 3), 80 High St, EH1 1TH. (Venue 39).
Sunday 3 – Saturday 23 August 2025 (odd dates only).
Odd dates only: 4.35 pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Instagram: @nottodaysatantheatre
Members of the cast of Life’s a Drag. Pic: Not Today Satan Theatre.
ENDS
