Andrew Maxwell @ Assembly George Square Theatre

The personal and political vye for attention in Andrew Maxwell's Showtime

Review by Ben Venables | 16 Aug 2017

Andrew Maxwell is finding the world incomprehensible. On politics he's been wrong about everything. Including the election of Donald Trump, whom Maxwell decides to keep the mentions of to a minimum.

There are two main ideas going on in Showtime, and the media circus surrounding Trump – which Maxwell is keen not to add to – is a nod to this title. We make theatre out of events that really only need to be known by a few relevant people, and certainly not recycled 24 hours a day. The second element of the show is his relocation to a seaside town whose residents are full of national or nationalist pride – even a view from the coast on a clear day is considered an eyesore by some. This move, and Maxwell's happy domesticated life – a baby daughter has just arrived – has also burst the north London social and political bubble he'd previously been a part of.

As he describes his new home town and populates it with nuanced characters, there are strains of Billy Connolly to his storytelling. Maxwell always keeps Showtime engaging, but it does fizzle out a little about halfway through as he concentrates too much on the personal rather than try to untangle the political knots he initially brings up.


Andrew Maxwell: Showtime, Assembly George Square Theatre, until 27 Aug (not 14), 9pm, £12-15