Greek tragedy mixed with chaos, Jasper Lee-Lindsay’s REX is pretty tricky to put into words. What I can say, however, is that this was by far the most entertaining production I have seen in recent memory. 

The show begins as a retelling of Sophocles’ Three Theban Plays but, within no time, audiences are in the midst of a show that is part stand-up, part stage tech hijinks and part personal tangents. I was particularly struck by the pacing of this show which felt rapid but never rushed. Jasper Lee-Lindsay kept the audience on our toes with impeccable comedic timing, self-deprecating humour and skilful set-ups and pay-offs. I have never heard an audience so engaged and invested in a show.

I must also commend the production’s use of multimedia, which felt like a marathon just watching it as an audience member. From a PowerPoint with a ridiculous number of slide transitions, to many revealing Google tabs, to an MP4 of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream always on retainer, I loved that REX used multimedia in a metatheatrical, self-aware way.

Whether you’re someone like me who is guilty of taking the classics a little too seriously, or someone that doesn’t even know the difference between ‘Oedipus’ and ‘octopus’, REX truly has something for everyone and is guaranteed to make your stomach hurt with laughter. I cannot recommend this show enough, and hope to see future developments or a sequel in the future. 

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REX is playing at Shopfront Arts Co-op until 12 April 2025. Tickets can be purchased here.

Presented as part of Shopfront Arts Co-op's ArtsLab: REVERB Festival. Written and performed by Jasper Lee-Lindsay, mentored by Zoe Coombs-Marr.

Images by Lucy Parakhina ⠀