Dweeb-a-Mania wins the smackdown in an outstanding triumph from Polka Theatre! This is the funniest, the finest fighting fiction you will see in the ring, with talent bursting from its sequinned seams! Rating
Unmissable!
DING DING! And here we are at the Polka Theatre‘s fabulously reimagined Adventure Theatre for what has to be the most sensational, sequinned show of the season: give it up for Dweeb-a-Mania! This exceptional fighting fiction sees an entire wrestling ring fill the studio, ready to host the funniest, the most exciting, brilliantly written and performed play any kid could ask for. Take your tissues because you will literally be crying with laughter!
This show really has everything – comedy, action, drama, pathos, sport, science and sequins. It’s the story of dorky girls Norah and Kemi, who get left out of everything but are desperate to go to popular Bentley’s Year 6 Leavers’ party. To complicate matters, it has a WWE theme. After establishing this stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, the pair decide to train as wrestlers to get in, and enlist Bentley’s younger sister Lily to train them. She’s a fount of knowledge, having had to watch all the matches at home, and trades her help for assistance on her big science project. But then they discover girls aren’t allowed in the ring…
Dweeb-a-Mania is a tale of reinvention, self-belief, friendship, teamwork and acceptance, set at that most difficult of times, the pre-teen move to secondary school. It presents it all effortlessly: there’s no preaching, no levering in worthy stories, just outstanding storytelling, beautifully staged and performed by an exceptional cast. Dazzlingly entertaining, this show had the audience gripped from start to finish. They leaned in attentively to the compelling storyline, but come the end just went wild, thumping the air, cheering and totally embracing the energy of a full on wrestling match.
The cast are incredible! Movement Director DK Fashola and Fight Director Nora Iso-Kungas have clearly put them strictly through their paces and they are just flying. Notably, with only 48 hours’ notice Tom Storey has stepped in as Bentley after a cast injury and he is jaw-droppingly impressive, stealing scenes with a stunningly OTT performance before delivering a sensitive, emotionally engaging shift. And in the other corner, giving Storey a real run for his money, Amy Blake as Norah is also phenomenal, demonstrating exceptional talent in comic timing, physical performance and even displaying actual tears, which is really moving. Blake makes a superb team with Chidera Ikechukwu as Kemi, who delivers an excellent performance that finds a perfect balance between nerd and needy. And Grace Carroll as Lily clearly really enjoys the playful power of her incredible science project, deftly bringing quiet strength to the character of an intimidated child and a smile to the audience’s faces.
Kate Lias’ awesome set and costume design is exciting, fun and impressively inventive – completely rethinking the conventional studio space. Meanwhile, Ellie Isherwood’s dynamic sound design makes the auditorium throb excitingly, and additional drama from bold lighting choices by Jane Lalljee brings the wrestling world alive.
This production really demonstrates what Polka does so well, putting young audiences right at the centre of the experience and supporting the creativity that serves them. Winner of the Polka Playwriting Award 2025, Sarah Middleton’s slick, flawlessly crafted script perfectly finds the balance between silly and supportive. Yes, there are flying rotisserie chickens and breath-taking, oversized science experiments, but we also see young people empowered to smash gender definitions, to collaborate and to achieve on their own terms. Once again it’s a brave, bold programming choice that speaks respectfully to and about modern children, representing them by recognising their stories.
This is without doubt the perfect show for children. That being said, I’ll be making a mask and booking a ringside seat again really soon!
Written by Sarah Middleton
Directed by Hannah Stone
Set & Costume Designer Katie Lias
Composer and Sound Designer Ellie Isherwood
Lighting Designer Jane Lalljee
Movement Director DK Fashola
Fight Director Nora Iso-Kungas
Dweeb-a-Mania is aimed at ages 8-13 and runs at Polka Theatre until Sunday 9 November.
