Derren Brown: Only Human Review at Apollo Theatre London

Derren Brown: self proclaimed psychological illusionist, mentalist, and master of mind control? After having the privilege of seeing his latest show, Only Human, I can attest to all of the above. We came away from the Apollo last night with our jaws still firmly on the floor, and they stayed there for a large majority of our commute home.

‘What about the show was so utterly brilliant?’ I hear you ask.

Well this is what makes this review one of the strangest I may ever write, because in order to keep the show’s integrity for future audiences, everyone (us reviewers in particular) were asked to keep a vow of silence. And after Brown’s performance, I don’t doubt that collectively, we will keep our word: after all, the show was all about persuasion and the human nature of herd mentality.

So what can I tell you?

From the moment you enter the theatre, there are moments of optional audience participation-we joined in with before we had even reached our seats. Once we had sat down, there were props waiting for you. Audience curiosity was spiked, paranoia was beginning to build. I have to hand it to the team involved; it was a slick operation all round. It wasn’t just a show, but an experience, and the subliminal messaging had already begun even if you hadn’t realised it yet. Something which Brown can’t take all the credit for- writers Stephen Long and Andrew O’Connor had clearly worked overtime collaborating to make this show the masterpiece it is.

Interestingly, although I am a longstanding Derren Brown fan this was my first time seeing him live – and my partner who attended with me is a complete skeptic. By the interval, he was still doubtful. By the end, he was a believer.

There was a moment at the start of the show where certain individuals were escorted out of the theatre and brought back in a few moments later. I got to see the start of the show which, for me, was brilliant and made you really question everything within seconds- questions such as ‘is this real?’ were running through my head and the audience’s nervous laughter showed we were all clearly thinking the same thing. However, for those that were taken out of the theatre, my partner had a hard time getting into act 1 as he felt confused, and there was no explanation of what had just happened either so instead of being in the moment, he felt he initially had to work a little harder to enjoy the experience.

However, that all changed by Act 2.

Act 1, although clever, was generally light hearted, full of laughter and the fundamentals of psychology- why do we think the way we do? Do any of us truly have free will?

Act 2 however had you gripping the edge of your seat. The mood had changed, it was dark, it was electric- sometimes literally. There is a moment where your perception shifts, and you genuinely do not know what is about to happen. Charlie O’Connor (Original Music & Arrangements), Beth Duke (Sound Design), and Simon Wainwright (Video Design) deserve a huge shoutout, as the particular moment I am referencing could not have happened without every segment working seamlessly together, capturing what can only be described as an out of body experience. Not to mention Simon Higlett’s incredible vision on set design. You go from thinking this is a regular stand up illusion show to being transported into a completely different world so quickly you can’t quite believe what is happening right in front of you.

The message throughout the show is crystal clear – the idea that we are all ‘Only Human’ is fascinating in ways previously we hadn’t thought- and it is not a negative. It is subjective, it is powerful, and can be used to better ourselves as people.

Derren Brown’s showmanship is something of an art form, although it is clear he is far from just a showman. He knows exactly how long to build tension before breaking it with perfectly timed humour. There are moments where you think he’s made a mistake but then it is all brought back at the end of the show, surprising you with tiny details you had completely forgotten about. I would also like to commend his absolute commitment to duty of care – the audience volunteers were invited to Stage Door after the show so he could explain exactly what had happened and answer any questions they may have had regarding what they experienced during the show.

So I guess the big question is this: after 11 West End shows, 23 years on stage, and a career spanning almost 35 years, does Derren Brown: Only Human live up to expectations? As I can’t reveal too much, you may have to go and find out for yourself. However, if you are prepared to question your instincts, have your reality shifted, and are open to having your mind read – I highly recommend that you do.

Derren Brown really is one of a kind, and Only Human is no exception.

Derren Brown: Only Human plays at the Apollo Theatre until 30 January 2027

Where I Sat

We sat in Stalls H1 and H2 and had a fantastic view, although within the Stalls I truly don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. You’ll have a great time, and don’t think if you sit upstairs you are safe from audience participation. Willing volunteers are selected from all levels of the theatre – if you’ve been to a Derren Brown show before, you’ll know he is a big fan of frisbees…

Have You Seen Derren Brown’s Only Human?

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Reviewed by Jessica Jaynefor SeatPlan, October 2026