Fleabag Tickets

Good to see the primary source that evolved the TV show. Even more impressive with it being delivered single-handedly in a story telling style with no reliance on a set. Definitely had the feeling history was being made by an extremely talented individual and I can say ‘I was there’.

pl6125 03 Sep 2019

Phoebe Walker-Bridge packs a punch in her delivery and timing in this show. She has the crowd eating out of the palm of her hands, knowing exactly how to deliver the jokes and leave you hanging on her every word in more serious moments. Not an easy feat for an hour long monologue, yet I was captivated throughout.

TM89 21 Aug 2019

In London’s West End there are hot tickets and then there is a ticket to the opening night of ‘Fleabag’, the triumphant theatrical return of Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Since debuting in an Underbelly Cowgate venue at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 as a one-person show, Fleabag has evolved into a critically acclaimed and internationally beloved BBC Three Series, celebrated for its raw and unfiltered take on female sexuality. And while some media outlets bemoan the play’s unapologetically adult language and unashamed feminism (they already have the vote, after all), it is clear from the roaring applause of the opening night crowd that this London homecoming will be dubbed a smash-hit. Being as theatrically savvy as I am, with my finger pressed tightly on the pulse of West End theatreland it will surely come as no surprise to anyone that I managed to score myself a seat to this hotly anticipated night at the Wyndham’s – of course I’m joking, I booked it in a very happy and blissfully unaware accident. Fans of the BBC series will note many key differences in the stage version. Fleabag’s philandering brother in law is Scottish, not American, her wicked Stepmother (played unforgettably on the screen by Olivia Colman) is reduced to a single throwaway line and there is no mention of the infamous ‘Hot Priest’, Andrew Scott’s season two character who was heralded as an unexpected sex symbol. In truth, though audiences will be quick to assure themselves they love this version just as much, Fleabag on stage is a more primitive version that provides the perfect vehicle for Waller-Bridge’s blistering characterisation but ultimately lacks some of the nuance and depth of its televised evolution. That doesn’t mean it’s not a thrilling night at the theatre; Waller-Bridge’s performance resonates throughout the auditorium of the Wyndham’s Theatre, eliciting all manner of laughs from awkward giggles to outrageous guffaws. Her skill as both a writer and actor are on full display here and while audience expectations may curb the original shock value of her wild, sexual admissions, they will surely be taken aback by the play’s building intensity, no longer an episodic series of events, it is rather a sixty-five minute descent into hysteria. In many ways, experiencing this story in a live theatrical format is far more intense, the Fleabag character is discernibly different from her TV counterpart, less knowing, less sure of herself and more emotionally susceptible to the tumultuous circumstances she experiences. The play’s final scenes even feature some agonising plot points that were deemed too dark for television, so fans have at least that much surprise to look forward to! So while this particular outing may not be Fleabag at its most sophisticated, there are still plenty of reasons to murder for a ticket – the chance to witness Phoebe Waller-Bridge excelling in her craft, the sheer snobbery of being able to say you were there and the fascinating study of how a piece can transform itself from an unknown one hander in a dimly lit Scottish vault to the hottest ticket in the nation’s capital. There might even be a free G&T in it for you.

mickeyjotheatre 12 Oct 2019