Review: AVENUE Q at Shaftesbury Theatre

Stuart King 17 April, 2026, 09:31

The last time I saw AVENUE Q, was shortly after it first opened on Broadway back in August 2003. At that time, George W Bush was US President, Tony Blair was UK Prime Minister and the second Iraq War had become a subject of considerable concern and contention. And so the world turns!

AVENUE Q. Noah Harrison (Princeton) and Company. Photo by Matt Crockett

Thankfully, the show which I gleefully remember for its New York energy and irreverent songs like “Everyone's A Little Bit Racist”, “The Internet's For Porn”, “Schadenfreude” and “You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want When You're Making Love” still packs a wallop and resonates with current audiences, primarily because the inherent truth in their lyrics hasn't changed and human beings (contrary to the belief of many nowadays) are absolutely capable of laughing at themselves and society's ridiculousness.

With a book by Jeff Whitty and music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the show is loosely based on the beloved Sesame Street format with original puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon. Directed by Jason Moore, the production then leans on skilled actor-singers (under the guidance of the brilliant Talk To The Hands puppet coaches Iestyn Evans and Andy Heath) to deliver performances of super-sharp timing and considerable dexterity to land the spacial choreography of Ebony Molina which ensures everyone is in the right place at the right time, (with their hand up the right puppet!), on an uber-frenetic stage.

Princeton (Noah Harrison) arrives at AVENUE Q bemoaning the worthlessness of his English degree and looking for a cheap place to live while searching for his life's purpose. He finds a place with former child TV star Gary (whose character is based on the late Gary Coleman who played Arnold in Diff'rent Strokes and is played here by Dionne Ward-Anderson).

Kate Monster (Emily Benjamin) lives next door and pines for a soul mate. Before long, and with a little help from matchmaking neighbours Brian (Oliver Jacobson) and his gal Christmas Eve (Amelia Kinu Muus), they are discovering the first flush of lust. Exotic pole dancer Lucy the Slut (also Emily Benjamin) stirs the hormones of many including Princeton, but most certainly not Rod (also Noah Harrison) the Republican Investment Banker who is trapped in his self-imposed closet (“My Girlfriend Who Lives In Canada”) but has an almighty crush on his straight flatmate Nicky (Charlie McCullagh) who suspects Rod's predilection (“If You Were Gay”). With Meg Hateley, Angelis Hunt, Lesley Lemon and Jessica Niles Kadi providing further supporting characters, AVENUE Q is awash with colour, spectacle, humour and heart. It deserves to run forever.

If you need your spirits lifting get yourself along to AVENUE Q which is scheduled to continue at the Shaftesbury Theatre until the autumn and runs a snappy 2 hours 15 mins including the interval.

Avenue Q Tickets