Review: VICTORIA'S KNICKERS, Soho Theatre

The second offering in this year's National Youth Theatre REP Season is just as brilliant as the earlier reviewed Consensual. In Victoria's Knickers, Josh Azouz and Ned Bennett - who previously collaborated together on Buggy Baby - have combined brains to make another bonkers piece of theatre, this time set around the love between Queen Victoria and an ordinary, yet extraordinary boy.

Lending itself to the odd fairytale trope, Victoria is a young girl desperate for a normal life, who is bogged down by political expectation and the call of duty. Boy Jones offers her a new and exciting way of living - the pair just need to go to Blackpool in order to get it. Every night he sneaks through windows and down chimneys visiting the queen, whisking her away on lots of brilliant adventures.

An infatuation quickly emerges between them, and it's all going great, until Victoria remembers that she is of royal blood and Boy Jones has no noble heritage. She is bound to marry someone with a title, as is dictated by societal expectation. For this reason there love can never be, no matter how pure it is.

Bennett's production is exactly what you expect: quirky, cool, surreal, over the top, and yet, it still makes the correct impact. The company fully immerse themselves in his direction, allowing the wacky to become the normal. There are so many highly watchable moments that come from a dedicated company of talented individuals.

Original songs are sung and live music is performed - it allows the cast to showcase even more impressive skills. Alice Vilanculo is a particular highlight throughout; she sings, raps and performs Victoria so brilliantly, it's hard not to rewrite history and imagine the monarch as this kind of person forever.

Simran Hunjun stands out as Victoria's overprotective mother, providing many caricature comedy moments as well a beautifully performed solo song, which demonstrates her stunning vocal range. Aidan Cheng does so much with so little, making a huge impression as the slightly deranged, psychotic palace guard.

There are so many more wonderful performers, which goes to show how brilliant this company of young actors are. Victoria's Knickers won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly mine. It really is a job well done.

Victoria's Knickers at the Soho Theatre until 10 November

Meet the REP Company

Photo credit: Helen Murray

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