Cockfosters by Thomas Woffenden and Hamish Clayton. Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 until 3 January 2026, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Marshall Stay.

Cockfosters by Thomas Woffenden and Hamish Clayton. Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 until 3 January 2026,

4☆☆☆☆.  Review: William Russell.

“Hilarious trip to the end of the line.”

Back by popular demand this account of a journey on the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Cockfosters taken by an unsuspecting young man returning from a disastrous visit to Venice and a young woman returning from an equally flawed trip to a yoga retreat in Mexico find herself tell just how they managed to survive the people one meets on such journeys. It is very funny, anything but subtle and the four supporting actors play a multitude of roles and keep involving the audience in the goings on. James, played by Sam Rees-Baylis, has lost his luggage after returning from Venice where his girlfriend dumped him, while Tori, played by understudy Verity Bajoria at the performance I saw, has been back packing and far too many suitcases humping on a trip to find herself which has come to an end. They sit in the same carriage and eventually, as sometimes happens, end up talking to one another as the weird and wonderful people who travel in and run tub trains descend on the scene. The best are the lost Americans unable to looking for a hotel somewhere ham in the address who find travelling south on the northern line beyond comprehension. Littered round the carriage – and handed out to the audience – are copies of Retro, a delicious send up of the London freebie Metro. The music accompaniment adds to the frantic fun and while the carriage may never end up standing room only, as most tube trains are these days, all human life is there. If ever there was a case for riding a bike instead this, is it. The jokes are mostly old but told regardless. It has had previous runs at other fringe venue, but this one is the Big One. Get out your Oyster card and go.

Cast

Beth Lilly – Tori

Sam Rees-Baylis – James

Charlie Keable, Liam Horrigan, Princess Donnough, Emily Waters – multi roles

Verity Bajoria – Understudy

Creatives

Director – Hamish Clayton.

Set Designer - Gareth Rowntree.

Songwriter – Thomas Woffenden.

Lighting Designer – Ben Sayers.

Songwriter – Rich Longdon.