Review: DOUBLE ACT at Southwark Playhouse (Borough)

Date: 24th March 2025

Stars: 3

You don’t expect a show that opens with a man taking a day off work to end his life to be… funny. But Double Act, now playing at Southwark Playhouse Borough, is full of surprises. It’s bold, bizarre, and somehow manages to mix clowning, physical comedy, and a really honest conversation about men’s mental health without feeling like it’s trying too hard.

Written by and starring Nick Hyde, this is a two-hander that throws you right into the mind of a 27-year-old junior data analyst who’s decided he’s had enough. What follows is a strange, funny, and at times gut-wrenching 90 minutes that swings between humour and heartbreak with impressive agility.

There’s real power in the simplicity of the set – just black, white, and a few well-placed props. It feels like a sterile, lonely space that mirrors the main character’s internal world. And Hyde is excellent in the lead. You can feel the weight he’s carrying, even during the funniest moments. Oliver Maynard, playing what seems to be a manifestation of his inner voice – or possibly chaos, or conscience – brings energy and unpredictability that keeps things moving at pace.

The clowning and physical comedy aren’t just thrown in for laughs – they’re used cleverly to show the push and pull of thoughts, the noise of anxiety, and the disconnect between what we feel and what we show. It’s not overdone, either. Most of the humour lands just right, offering some much-needed lightness in an otherwise heavy subject.

There are moments, though, where it tries a bit too hard to be clever. A few symbolic sequences feel like they’re trying to say something profound, but the meaning gets lost in the movement. And the middle section does lag a little – it could do with a tighter edit to keep the emotional thread from fraying.

The blend of comedy and tragedy is brave, but it’s a tricky balance, and at times the tone veers into confusion. A couple of scenes had me wondering if I was meant to laugh, cry, or just sit there quietly unsure.

Still, Double Act is a refreshingly original piece of theatre. It’s messy in places, but it’s also honest, creative, and well-performed. It opens up difficult conversations in a way that feels human and real – no big speeches or clichés, just a man trying to make sense of his own head.

If you’re up for something a little different, a little weird, and a little heartbreaking (in the best way), it’s well worth catching before it finishes on April 5th. It’s not trying to change the world, but it just might make you look at someone differently tomorrow.

Tickets are available here: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/double-act/