Review: Gutter VIII, The Pen Theatre

At a time where extreme actions and oppression dominate the headlines, do we need a form of art so fearless it can confront this head-on, and even demand laughter? Perhaps Bouffon is the answer – a form of comedy that embraces the grotesque and the outcast, using exaggerated, often ugly characters to mock power, expose hypocrisy, and say the things society would rather keep hidden. It laughs from the margins, weaponising absurdity and cruelty not for shock alone, but to confront uncomfortable truths and turn them back on the audience. Bouffon thrives in discomfort, asking us not only to laugh, but to question who – and what – that laughter serves.

The Gutter comedy collective champions dangerous, ugly, and joyful work, giving artists permission to push boundaries and confront what society would rather ignore, with the Bouffon ethos sitting at the heart of everything it strives to achieve, evident through its programming, collaborators, and artistic choices. The group’s importance lies in the space it creates for politically urgent, risk-taking comedy that challenges power, exposes cruelty, and reminds audiences that laughter can be a form of resistance.

Framed as a grotesque parody of a British television game show, the Gutter night is hosted by Rod Peacock and Becky Dix, played by Tom Greaves and Coral Bevan. Together they skewer the familiar cruelty of mainstream entertainment that humiliates those deemed “less fortunate” for public consumption. Their performance exposes how cultural hostility toward homelessness in London is fuelled not by truth or accountability, but by ignorance – and how that ignorance protects those truly responsible. This confrontation is delivered with a necessary and well-measured brutality: Bouffon demands it.

Bevan’s Becky Dix – mute, feral, and razor-sharp – is a standout. Every physical choice is infused with immaculate comedic timing while remaining grounded in reality. Paired with Greaves, the duo work in perfect harmony, anchoring the chaos with a clear satirical aim. Within the game-show structure, guest performers repeatedly invade the stage, bringing with them a wide range of characters and provocations.

The show is headlined by the unforgettable Dairy King, who delivers a gloriously absurd performance in which we encounter the character in full, udders and all. Nothing quite prepares you for the indefinable skill required to sustain such a ridiculous yet sincere figure in search of love. The work is surreal, committed, and deeply unsettling.

Across the lineup, identity is explored through characters designed not to fit in but to disrupt, provoking laughter first and reflection immediately after. Cameron Sinclair Harris presents The Bride from her work in progress Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace, exposing the gothic hysteria embedded within marriage through sharp one-liners and escalating chaos. Anastasiya Ador delivers Bouffon at its most politically potent, interrogating citizenship and the absurdity of bureaucratic systems by transforming into a literal bag for life, making the message as hilarious as it is unmistakable. Maya Ricote offers a frenetic piece that grapples with beauty, youth, and ambition, mirroring the absurdity of modern expectations.

Threaded throughout the night is Limehouse Liam, played by Sam Murphy, used to interrogate voyeurism and televised cruelty. As he answers quiz questions about London’s housing crisis, winning a blender before scrambling for cash on the floor, the audience is forced into uncomfortable complicity.

As a Bouffon night bringing together innovative creatives, Gutter delivers some of the most vital alternative comedy London has to offer. It amplifies the best and worst of human nature, weaponising parody and turning society’s grey areas – and outright evils – into tools of critique. When done this well, the result is politically urgent, disturbingly funny, and utterly alive.

Producers: Tom Greaves and Coral Bevan

This show has completed its current run. Gutter hosts similar events periodically at The Pen Theatre.